SI View The Week in TV Sports
DON'T MISS
Thursday 6/17
U.S. Open
ESPN THURSDAY AND FRIDAY 11 AM AND 5 PM; NBC 3 PM
Ah, the pitter-patter of putters. When grand old Pinehurst No. 2
(couldn't they have reserved No. 1 for this shindig?) plays host
to the Open for the first time, the turtle-backed slopes of its
greens may drive normally staid fellows to Dalyesque fits of
frustration. David Duval (right) and Tiger Woods head the field
as each tries to win his first Open. (Wouldn't it be nice to see
these "rivals" play in the final twosome during the closing
round on June 20 on NBC?) But our sentimental choice is Tom
Lehman, who has more than a layman's understanding of major
bummers: He began the final round of each of the past four Opens
standing no lower than second and has never won.
HIGHLIGHTS
Saturday 6/12
Mystics at Comets
NBC 4 PM
The 'mique--No. 1 draft pick Chamique Holdsclaw--shall inherit
the league. Or so the WNBA hopes. Why else would expansion
Washington, which in its first season finished a dismal 3-27, be
featured twice this week? The first appearance comes today
against two-time defending champion Houston. Wearing number 23
and armed with a Nike deal, Holdsclaw then travels to her
hometown, New York City, to face the Liberty (Monday, ESPN, 7:30
p.m.). At this stage of her pro career, and given her
nonsupporting cast, forgive her if she's more ordinary than
Jordanary.
Stanley Cup Finals
ESPN SATURDAY AND TUESDAY 8 PM; FOX THURSDAY 8 PM (IF NECESSARY)
The last time Buffalo hosted a Stanley Cup finals, in 1975,
there was more than playoff atmosphere in the air. The stifling
late-spring heat and humidity in unair-conditioned Memorial
Auditorium gave rise to a palpable fog. Peering at blood through
knee-high clouds, fans wondered if they were at a KISS concert.
Tonight's Game 3 action at Marine Midland Arena should be
climate- and goalie-controlled. Against the Stars' Ed Belfour
and the Sabres' Dominik Hasek, two of the NHL's best netminders,
scorers like Joe Nieuwendyk of Dallas and Jason Woolley of
Buffalo may succumb to vapor lock.
Monday 6/14
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel
HBO 10 PM
In the best of four new segments, SI senior writer Frank Deford
sits down for an entertaining chat with the major league umpires'
union leader, Richie Phillips, in hopes of better understanding
the deteriorating relationship between the umps and mankind. Says
Phillips, "Umpires feel as though, hey, if you don't think that
we're very important, let's see if you can do without [us]." Also
featured: a Real Sports/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED piece on tennis's
Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, and their dad, Richard.
Wednesday 6/16
NBA Finals
NBC WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY 9 PM
Through Monday there was still hope that we'd see the first
Finals matching two former ABA franchises, the Pacers and the
Spurs. (Let's have Louie Dampier toss up the ceremonial
red-white-and-blue jump ball.) Tonight's game, which could be
the first or second of the Finals, depending on when the Eastern
finals end, will be played at the Alamodome, where the
backboards are not all that's square. The Admiral, David
Robinson, the admirable Tim Duncan and the admeasuring point
guard Avery Johnson will make the Spurs the favorites, on and
off the court, whether they host the Knicks or the Pacers.
ALL TIMES EASTERN. SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. SOURCE:
NIELSEN SPORTS MARKETING SERVICE.
COLOR PHOTO: JIM GUND
THE RATING
1.4
Rating for ESPN's May 30 telecast of the game between Mark
McGwire's Cardinals and Sammy Sosa's Cubs. Knicks-Pacers on NBC
that evening had almost six times the viewership.
[B0X]
THE ZAPPER
Last Saturday's scenes from New York included Yankees pitcher
Orlando Hernandez tossing his mitt to first base to get an out,
jockey Chris Antley stabilizing the broken left foreleg of
Charismatic and Knick Larry Johnson making a game-winning
four-point play. After the last, NBC's Tom Hammond said, "Stay
tuned for World's Most Amazing Videos." Hey, we had just seen
them.... The Sports Illustrated For Kids Good Sport Award Show
will air on Nickelodeon (Saturday, 2 p.m.)