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Week Ahead

What to watch and watch for

SATURDAY 1/7

Zab Judah vs. Carlos Baldomir
Is Judah (above) looking ahead? Last month at a press conference promoting this fight with Baldomir, the undisputed welterweight champ referred to Floyd (Pretty Boy) Mayweather as "Pretty Girl" Mayweather. (Oh, snap.) Within weeks the undefeated Mayweather had signed on to face Judah (34-2, 25 KOs) in April. But first Judah has to get past Baldomir (41-9-6), the WBC's top contender. Showtime 9 p.m.

U.S. Army All-American Bowl N
early 80 of the nation's best high school football players make their way to San Antonio for a part all-star game, part media op. In 2003 Chris Leak declared live from the sideline his intention to sign with Florida. Last year 17 players followed suit, announcing their college choices at the game. This year's top undeclared player is offensive lineman Sam Young from St. Thomas Aquinas High in Fort Lauderdale. Says his high school coach, George Smith, "He has no negatives." NBC 1 p.m.

SUNDAY 1/8
SI PICK OF THE WEEK

Heartland Showdown

Though Pittsburgh and Cincinnati have played in the same division for 35 seasons, their shared history has been pretty tame. The most scurrilous smack talk came in 1987, when a Steelers assistant referred to then Bengals coach Sam Wyche as Wicky Wacky Wyche. And they once went 15 years without playing a game in which both teams had winning records. Their tepid rivalry will intensify with their first postseason meeting--in Cincinnati, where the Steelers won 27-13 in October as Willie Parker and Jerome Bettis (above) combined for 187 yards. CBS 4:30 p.m.

TUESDAY 1/10

Anything to Win
In 1980 she nearly scammed her way to a victory in the Boston Marathon. Now Rosie Ruiz (left) will finally tell her side of the story. The disgraced runner gives her first on-camera interview since being stripped of her title after it was alleged that she had run less than a mile. Game Show Network 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY 1/11

No. 14 Maryland at No. 1 Duke
Last year the Terps missed the NCAA tournament for the first time in 12 years. This year, with four new starters, Maryland is 10--2 and riding a five-game winning streak. The Terps have five players scoring in double figures, including point guard D.J. Strawberry (left); Darryl's son also leads the team in assists and steals. ESPN 9 p.m.

THURSDAY 1/12

Pistons at Spurs
The follow-up to the Christmas Day 'fro down in Motown won't be quite as hairy a proposition now that San Antonio's Tim Duncan (right) has gone and cut his hair. Detroit's Ben Wallace (left) still has his retro 'do, though. The Pistons won last month's matchup and are threatening to become the first team to win 70 games since the 1996 Bulls. TNT 8 p.m.

 

TWO PHOTOS

DAVID BERGMAN (BETTIS, STRAWBERRY)

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DOUG SEHRES/AP (DUNCAN)

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JEFF HAYNES/AFP/GETTY IMAGES (WALLACE)

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BETTMANN/CORBIS (RUIZ)

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DAVID E. KLUTHO (JUDAH)