The Weeks Ahead
SATURDAY 25
Heat at Lakers ABC 3 p.m. | Boxing Day isn't until tomorrow, but we'll keep an eye on Shaq and Kobe, who meet in L.A. There's also holiday cheer at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN, as the Pacers and the Pistons renew acquaintances for the first time since the Malice at the Palace.
TUESDAY 28
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel HBO 10 p.m. | Meet Kyle Maynard, who became one of Georgia's top high school wrestlers despite being born without arms below the biceps and legs below the thighs. Now a freshman at Georgia, Maynard wrestles on the club team.
THURSDAY 30
Continental Tire Bowl, Boston College vs. North Carolina ESPN2 1 p.m. | The Eagles have won four bowl games in four years--the nation's longest run. Holiday Bowl, Cal vs. Texas Tech ESPN 8 p.m. | Cal's J.J. Arrington is second in the nation in rushing yards.
FRIDAY 31
Liberty Bowl, Louisville vs. Boise State ESPN 3:30 p.m. | In Memphis both defenses figure to be all shook up. The Cardinals have the nation's top offense, with 537 yards and 50.27 points per game, while the Broncos are second (512 yards and 49.73 points).
SATURDAY 1
Rose Bowl, Michigan vs. Texas ABC 5 p.m. | Two of the nation's most storied programs finally meet. Capital One Bowl, Iowa vs. LSU ABC 1 p.m. | The Tigers, led by defensive end Marcus Spears and cornerback Corey Webster, have the nation's third-best D.
TUESDAY 4
Orange Bowl, Oklahoma vs. USC ABC 8 p.m. | Each school in the national-title game has a QB who's won the Heisman (Matt Leinart of USC and OU's Jason White, the 2003 winner) and a running back who easily could have (USC's Reggie Bush and OU's Adrian Peterson).
WEDNESDAY 5
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search NBC 8 p.m. | Just in time for winter, our new six-episode reality show features 12 undiscovered models competing for a spot in the 2005 SI Swimsuit Issue and a $1 million modeling contract. We know: What took us so long?
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