The Week Ahead
FRIDAY
22
Professional Bull Riders World Finals OLN 9 p.m. | The top 45 riders saddle up in Vegas for $3 million in prize money. NBA preseason, Heat at Hawks TNT 9 p.m. | Shaq likes the Heat: Miami's new center had 17 points in 22 minutes in his preseason debut.
SATURDAY
23
Head of the Charles | More than 300,000 pack the banks of Boston's Charles River for the world's grandest two-day rowing event. The three-mile course starts at Boston University. World Series, Game 1 FOX 7:30 p.m. | The 101st Fall Classic begins.
SUNDAY
24
Subway 500 NBC 1 p.m. | Martinsville Speedway has a brand-new surface. How fast is it? Jeff Gordon broke the four-year-old track record in testing last week. Jets at Patriots CBS 4 p.m. | Will the streak survive? The Pats go for 21 in a row against a fellow unbeaten.
MONDAY
25
Sports Illustrated at 50 ESPN 9 p.m. | A look back at the evolution of SI and sports in America since 1954. Jim Brown, Mark McGwire and Serena Williams talk about making the cover, while writers such as Dan Jenkins and Roy Blount Jr. recount SI's early days.
TUESDAY
26
The Story of Darrell Royal CSTV 7 p.m. | A documentary about the Texas football coach who won three national titles and made 16 bowl appearances from 1957 to '76. Narrated by Matthew McConaughey, it includes interviews with Willie Nelson and George W. Bush.
WEDNESDAY
27
Happy Birthday! Mary T. Meagher turns 40. Nicknamed Madame Butterfly, the three-time gold medalist set a world record in the 100-meter fly (57.93) in 1981 that stood for 18 years. She's now married to former U.S. speed skater Mike Plant and is the mother of two.
THURSDAY
28
1984 World Series, Game 5 ESPN Classic 5 p.m. | Kirk Gibson's blast off San Diego's Goose Gossage capped Detroit's dominant season. No. 23 Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech ESPN 7:30 p.m. | The stingy Hokies D looks to stop the ACC's top rusher, P.J. Daniels.
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STANLEY LEARY/WIREIMAGE.COM (RODEO)
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HEAD OF THE CHARLES® REGATTA (2, ROWING)
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RICK STEWART/GETTY IMAGES (BRADY)
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V.J. LOVERO (SI COVER)
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WALTER IOOSS JR. (ROYAL)
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RONALD C. MODRA (MEAGHER)
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MEL LEVINE (HAT)
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JACQUELINE DUVOISIN (GIBSON)