The Week Ahead What To Watch And Watch For
FRIDAY 12
EUROPEAN SHORT COURSE SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP > A record 550
swimmers from 40 nations get wet in Dublin. Powerhouse Germany is
led by Thomas Rupprath (left), the champ in the 50-meter
backstroke and 100-meter fly.
NUGGETS AT 76ERS > 'Melo meets AI, who leads the NBA in scoring
(29.4 ppg) and steals (2.95 per game).
SATURDAY 13
DIVISION I MIDGET POP WARNER FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS > Nearly half
a century since Glenn Warner (right) passed away, four age
divisions (ranging from 7 to 16) kick off their own little Super
Bowls.
DIVISION II FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ESPN 4 PM > Defending
champ Grand Valley State meets North Dakota.
SUNDAY 14
MEN'S SOCCER COLLEGE CUP ESPN2 2 PM > The championship, at
Columbus Crew Stadium in Ohio.
TARGET WORLD CHALLENGE ABC 3 PM > Host Tiger Woods tees off at
the Sherwood Country Club with 15 of the world's best golfers.
The winner of the 72-hole stroke-play event receives $1.2
million; other proceeds go to the Tiger Woods Foundation.
MONDAY 15
EAGLES (10-3) AT DOLPHINS (8-5) ABC 9 PM > Does Rush still think
Philly's QB is overrated? The Eagles have won six straight with
Donovan McNabb completing 113 of 180 passes for 1,513 yards and
nine TDs.
PANTHERS AT RED WINGS 7:30 PM > Florida's played better since
Rick Dudley took over as coach, but Detroit's on a 10-4-2 run.
TUESDAY 16
DVD RELEASE: SEABISCUIT > In the making-of feature included here,
director Gary Ross explains why it took four months to plan shots
of Tobey Maguire talking at 45 mph.
MEMPHIS (8-4) VS. NORTH TEXAS (9-3) NEW ORLEANS BOWL ESPN2 7 PM >
Bowl season kicks off as Memphis makes its first postseason
appearance since '71.
WEDNESDAY 17
PRINCETON AT NO. 4 DUKE ESPN2 7:30 PM > A battle of the smart
kids. Duke is ranked fourth, but upset specialist Princeton (4-1)
has sizzling junior center Judson Wallace (23.0 ppg).
MAVERICKS AT CELTICS ESPN 8 PM > Antoine Walker (averaging 17.2
ppg and a team-best 10.3 rebounds) returns to face his former
team--and former costar Paul Pierce--for the first time.
THURSDAY 18
BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW FOX SPORTS NET 8 PM > Ben Affleck gets
comfy on the couch with surfer Holly Beck (left).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Jobless Charles Oakley, 40, says he still has
"gas in the tank." And opinions. On new NBA unis: "They're
wearing dresses." On LeBron: "The best thing since my man Funny
Cide."
COLOR PHOTO: THOMAS KIENZLE/AP (RUPPRATH)
B/W PHOTO: BETTMANN/CORBIS (POP WARNER)
COLOR PHOTO: COURTESY OF NHL (PANTHERS LOGO)
COLOR PHOTO: MANNY MILLAN (OAKLEY)
COLOR PHOTO: MEL LEVINE (BIRTHDAY HAT)
COLOR PHOTO: JIM RUSSI (BECK)
COLOR PHOTO: FRANCOIS DUHAMEL/UNIVERSAL (SEABISCUIT)
COLOR PHOTO: DAVID WALBERG (WOODS)