The Week Ahead
FRIDAY 26
Heat at Pistons ESPN 8 p.m. | Shaquille O'Neal returns to Detroit for the first time since the NBA Finals, but this time the outcome may be different. His current high-scoring sidekick, Dwyane Wade, actually likes to pass the ball. He's averaging 7.2 assists per game.
SATURDAY 27
The Bayou Classic Grambling State vs. Southern NBC 2 p.m. | The halftime Battle of the Bands makes this a classic. Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera HBO PPV 9 p.m. | Morales, the super featherweight champ, meets the only man who's beaten him.
SUNDAY 28
Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year 2004 FOX 4:30 p.m. | Before unveiling our pick we'll look back at the year's top stories. Saints at Falcons FOX 4 p.m. | A family feud: The QBs--New Orleans's Aaron Brooks and Michael Vick--are second cousins.
MONDAY 29
In Stores: Beneath the Surface by Michael Phelps | In an autobiography written with SI's Brian Cazeneuve, the 19year-old who won six gold medals in Athens, speaks about his initial fear of water, his struggle with ADHD and his older sister's dashed Olympic dream.
TUESDAY 30
Army vs. Navy: Dec. 7, 1996, ESPN Classic 5 p.m. | As President Clinton and 69,237 others looked on in a relentless, freezing rain, the Cadets overcame a 21--3 deficit to win 28--24. It was the biggest comeback in the 114year-old series, which resumes on Dec. 4.
WEDNESDAY 1
No. 2 Wake Forest at No. 6 Illinois ESPN 7 p.m. | Great guards galore. The Demon Deacons' Chris Paul was a preseason AllAmerica, while Deron Williams and Dee Brown give the Illini a top backcourt. Happy Birthday! | Hall of Fame golfer Lee Trevino turns 65.
THURSDAY 2
Women's College Basketball: No. 6 Duke at No. 1 Tennessee ESPN2 7:30 p.m. | Without Alana Beard, the second overall pick in the 2004 WNBA draft, the Blue Devils will look to Monique Currie (12.3 points per game last year) as they try to upset the Lady Vols.
COLOR PHOTO
ALAN DIAZ/AP (WADE)
COLOR PHOTO
MIKE EHRMANN/WIREIMAGE.COM (BROOKS)
COLOR PHOTO
DAVID BERGMAN/CORBIS (ARMY)
COLOR PHOTO
THAD PARSONS/ICON SMI (DUKE)
COLOR PHOTO
LENNY IGNELZI/AP (TREVINO)
COLOR PHOTO
MEL LEVINE (BIRTHDAY HAT)
COLOR PHOTO
WWW.SPORTSPUBLISHINGLLC.COM (PHELPS BOOK)
COLOR PHOTO
MICHAEL MARTIN/ICON SMI (DRUM MAJOR)