THE WEEK AHEAD
FRIDAY
13
OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONIES NBC 8 PM > Let the Games begin! The 28th Summer Olympics kick off with the Parade of Nations and the torch-lighting ceremony. Details are being kept hush-hush, but rumor has it that part of the infield of the 75,000-seat Olympic Stadium will be filled with water.
SATURDAY
14
NO HUDDLE NFL NETWORK 7:30 PM > Get a look at half the league, as host Paul Burmeister surfs among eight preseason games. • HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Earvin Johnson, born in Lansing, Mich., turns 45. These days Magic is a vice president of the Lakers, and he just opened Compton‚Äôs first Starbucks.
SUNDAY
15
CARDINALS AT BRAVES ESPN 8 PM > They‚Äôre not as renowned as an erstwhile trio of Atlanta aces, but Braves starters Mike Hampton, Russ Ortiz and Jaret Wright are 16‚Äì0 since July 1. • PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, FINAL ROUND CBS 2 PM > KISS fanatic Shaun Micheel (right, in makeup) defends his crown.
MONDAY
16
SEAHAWKS AT PACKERS ESPN 8 PM > Seattle coach Mike Holmgren visits Lambeau, where he went 84‚Äì42 as the Packers‚Äô coach from 1992 to ‚Äô98. He lost twice on the tundra last year, including a playoff OT defeat. • ON THIS DATE: 1954 > President Eisenhower signs a bill revising the Internal Revenue Code--and SI publishes its first issue.
TUESDAY
17
OLYMPIC SWIMMING NBC 7 PM > Michael Phelps could take home two gold medals tonight--in the 200-meter butterfly and 4×200 freestyle relay--a big step in his quest to top Mark Spitz’s 1972 record of seven. And 15-year-old Katie Hoff races in the 200 IM.
WEDNESDAY
18
U.S. MEN’S SOCCER VS. JAMAICA ESPN2 7 PM > The United States begins the group stage of World Cup qualifying at National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. The U.S. is undefeated in 13 games against the Reggae Boyz, but Jamaica is no pushover: The team features Damani Ralph, who is fourth in MLS with eight goals.
THURSDAY
19
OLYMPIC WOMEN‚ÄôS GYMNASTICS ALL-AROUND FINALS NBC 8 PM > Carly Patterson--whom Mary Lou Retton called the ‚Äúnext queen of gymnastics‚Äù--won silver in the worlds but was third in the Games trials. • LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES ESPN 8 PM > Title game for 11- and 12-year-olds, from Portland.
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YANNIS BEHRAKIS/REUTERS (TORCH)
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KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/AP (JOHNSON); MEL LEVINE (HAT)
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NITIN VADUKUL (MICHEEL)
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BETTMANN/CORBIS (EISENHOWER)
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MARK J. TERRILL/AP (PHELPS)
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TONY QUINN/WIREIMAGE.COM (RALPH)
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JONATHAN FERREY/GETTY IMAGES (SOFTBALL)