THE WEEK AHEAD
FRIDAY 3
HOCKEY WORLD CUP, U.S. VS. SLOVAKIA ESPN2 7 PM > Slovakia arrives in St. Paul with a team boasting five players who have at least one 30-goal NHL season. • THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO NBC 11:35 PM > Bernie Mac stops by to talk about his baseball movie, Mr. 3000.
SATURDAY 4
DERBY DREAMS SPEED CHANNEL 8 PM > Think Spellbound on wheels. The film, narrated by NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne, follows seven kids as they build Soap Box Derby cars. • LAMON BREWSTER (30--2) VS. KALI MEEHAN (29-1) SHOWTIME 10 PM > Brewster puts his WBO heavyweight title on the line.
SUNDAY 5
CUBS AT MARLINS WGN 3 PM > Florida topped Chicago in last year's NLCS, but in Miami the Marlins won't be able to rely on Steve Bartman. • HEAD TO HEAD WITH JAMES BROWN FOX SPORTS NET 9 PM > Brett Favre talks about his late father, and Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher demonstrates his workout.
MONDAY 6
NO. 5 FLORIDA STATE AT NO. 6 MIAMI ABC 8 PM > The Seminoles welcome their in-state rivals--whom they haven't beaten since 1999--to the ACC. Florida State senior QB Chris Rix (3,107 yards in 2003) threw two costly interceptions in last year's game. • NHRA DRAG RACING U.S. NATIONALS ESPN2 7 PM > At Indianapolis Raceway Park, a Labor Day tradition celebrates its 50th anniversary.
TUESDAY 7
IN STORES: ESPN25: 25 MIND-BENDING, EYE-POPPING, CULTURE-MORPHING YEARS OF HIGHLIGHTS > Great moments from the network's first 25 years plus Charles Hirshberg's essay on the evolution of the highlight clip. Best reason to buy? It comes with a DVD of SportsCenter commercials.
WEDNESDAY 8
ON THIS DAY > In 1914 Boston's "miracle" Braves--who had been in the NL cellar on July 15, 11 1/2 games back--moved into first place. They went on to win the World Series. • RED SOX AT ATHLETICS 10 PM > Ninety years later a Boston nine takes on the team it knocked out in a thrilling five-game ALDS last year.
THURSDAY 9
COLTS AT PATRIOTS ABC 9 PM > The defending Super Bowl champs are riding a 15-game winning streak. The pregame show, which starts at 8, features Jessica Simpson, Mary J. Blige, Lenny Kravitz and Elton John. Don't expect any wardrobe malfunctions from Jessica--her performance will be shown on tape.
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