The Week Ahead
FRIDAY 19
Coaches vs. Cancer Final ESPN2 9 p.m. | College hoopsters compete for a good cause at Madison Square Garden; since 1996 the tournament has raised $2.1 million to fight cancer. This year's format features teams--including No. 6 Syracuse--from 16 conferences.
SATURDAY 20
Stanford at No. 4 California Fox Sports Net 3:30 p.m. | Two hours before the Big Game, the Bears parade through Berkeley. Ironman World Championship NBC 4 p.m. | In Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 1,728 triathletes swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run a marathon.
SUNDAY 21
Ford 400 NBC 1 p.m. | NASCAR's Chase for the Cup ends in Miami. Happy Birthday! | Earl (the Pearl) Monroe turns 60. The NBA Hall of Famer will open a supper club in Harlem next year. "It looks out on the water so you can see some pearls out there," he says.
MONDAY 22
Patriots at Chiefs ABC 9 p.m. | After leading the NFL in scoring defense last year, New England is 11th--bad news considering that Kansas City boasts a potent offense that didn't miss a beat with Priest Holmes sidelined last week. Derrick Blaylock ran for 186 yards.
TUESDAY 23
St. Joe's at No. 4 Kansas ESPN2 10 p.m. | With Jameer Nelson and Delonte West in the NBA, gunner Pat Carroll (45.4% from three last season) must lead the Hawks to an upset. Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel HBO 10 p.m. | A profile of explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes.
WEDNESDAY 24
Pistons at Cavaliers ESPN 7 p.m. | After a thrilling 38-point performance against the Suns last week, LeBron James takes on the defending champs. Quintuplets FOX 8:30 p.m. | Amanda Beard guest stars as--surprise!--an Olympic gold medal swimmer.
THURSDAY 25
Colts at Lions CBS 12:30 p.m. | Detroit plays on Turkey Day for the 65th time. Bears at Cowboys FOX 4:30 p.m. | Tuna on Thanksgiving? Dallas coach Bill Parcells hasn't had much to be thankful for, recently calling his 3--5 team "stupid." Destiny's Child plays at halftime.
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BETTMANN/CORBIS (MONROE)
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MEL LEVINE (HAT)
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MANNY MILLAN (CARROLL)
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JOE MCDONALD/CORBIS (TURKEY)
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PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/GETTY IMAGES (BEARD)
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SCOTT D. WEAVER/ICON SMI (BLAYLOCK)
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BARON SEKIYA/WEST HAWAII TODAY/AP (TRIATHLETE)
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