SI View The Week in TV Sports
Saturday 9/12
U.S. Open Women's Final
Martina Hingis, 17, labels Steffi Graf, 29, as past her prime.
Serena Williams, 16, aims a forehand smash at the head of Arantxa
Sanchez Vicario, 26. The women's game has seen more backbiting
(which reminds us, Marv Albert was scheduled to get married Sept.
9) than a Pink Ladies' pajama party in Grease. Among the teen
queens vying to be the Queens queen, last year's finalists,
Hingis and Venus Williams (18), were still thriving at week's
end. However, expect Flushing Meadows fans to rally behind any
"old" guard finalist, such as Sanchez Vicario, Jana Novotna (29)
and Monica Seles (24).
CBS, 11 AM
MEN'S FINAL, SUNDAY, 4 PM
Texas at UCLA
Lone Star State mismatches: the Alamo, the Branch Davidians and
the ATF, the Anna Nicole Smith-J. Howard Marshall marriage, and
the 66-3 branding the Bruins gave the Longhorns in Austin last
September. UCLA quarterback Cade McNown (far left) threw a
school-record five touchdown passes that day while Texas running
back Ricky Williams was held to a career-low 36 yards on 13
carries. McNown, who led the nation in passing efficiency in
1997, and Williams, the nation's top rusher, are Heisman
contenders. Hey, Longhorns defenders: If you are in the path of
6'9", 310-pound Bruins tackle Kris Farris, U-don't-CLA, UC-stars.
ABC, 3:30 PM
Mac and Sammy Watch
These Bat Packers are a pair of true swingers. Although they
spurn endorsement deals left and right, Mark McGwire of the
Cardinals and Sammy Sosa of the Cubs are so money. ESPN has cut
in to programming to show their at bats, and every sports
highlight show has become Pop-Up Video. Because this is a
two-man race to the finish, the drama will not subside even if
Roger Maris's home run record is eclipsed. At week's end Fox was
planning to air Saturday's Brewers at Cubs game (4:05 p.m.) and,
possibly, Cardinals at Astros (8:05 p.m.). ESPN had dibs on
Wednesday's Pirates at Cardinals (7:35 p.m.) and Cubs at Padres
(10:35 p.m.). As events warrant, the networks could add or
cancel games or shift them to their sister networks, FX and
ESPN2. Also, they could acquire the rights to Cubs games slated
for WGN: Sunday against the Brewers (2 p.m.), Thursday at the
Padres (5 p.m.) and Friday against the Reds (3 p.m.).
Sunday 9/13
Buccaneers at Packers
How the NFL's Baywatch compares to the David Hasselhoff version:
1) Green Bay fans? Cheese implants on heads; Baywatch female
lifeguards? Well, you know; 2) Brett Favre, three league MVP
awards; Hasselhoff and cast, zero Emmys; and 3) Reggie White,
still playing in Green Bay; Pamela Anderson, Gena Lee Nolin and
Alexandra Paul, playing elsewhere. Tampa Bay sackmaster Warren
Sapp is eager to resume the friendly yet feisty conversation he
had with Favre (whom he's shown tackling, left) during the Bucs'
21-7 divisional playoff loss at Lambeau Field last January. Tampa
Bay, which sent seven players to the Pro Bowl after last year's
breakthrough 10-6 season, will be satisfied with nothing less
than sending 45 to Super Bowl XXXIII in Miami.
FOX, 1 PM
Friday 9/18
Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Oscar De La Hoya
To prepare for his 104th pro bout, the 36-year-old Chavez
(99-2-2) trained in the ski-resort town of Breckenridge, Colo.
When he steps into the ring in Las Vegas against WBC
welterweight champ De La Hoya, 25, Chavez may need a lift
ticket. In their 1996 fight, De La Hoya (left) stopped his
boyhood idol in the fourth round by opening a cut above Chavez's
left eye. Now, says De La Hoya (28-0), "I want to be the first
to knock him out." Why is the Golden Boy granting a rematch to
Chavez, an aging bull but one with a punishing right hook? Their
first bout drew a record $78 million closed-circuit gross, a
figure this one probably won't match.
PPV ($39.95), 9 PM
THE ! ZAPPER
One Esteemed St. Louis sportscaster was able to share in Mark
McGwire's glory last weekend while another was notable for his
absence. Jack Buck, 74, did the local radio play-by-play for Big
Mac's 60th home run on Saturday, a call picked up live by ESPN.
Meanwhile NBC's Bob Costas, 46, had no national platform. With
all the goodwill surrounding the chase to catch Ruth and Maris,
wouldn't it have been nice to hear baseball savant Costas in the
ESPN booth on Monday with Jon Miller and Joe Morgan?
ALL TIMES EASTERN. SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
COLOR PHOTO: PETER READ MILLER [Cade McNown passing football]
COLOR PHOTO: JOHN BIEVER [Warren Sapp tackling Brett Favre]
COLOR PHOTO: V.J. LOVERO [Oscar De La Hoya boxing Julio Cesar Chavez]
