Week Ahead
SI PICK OF THEWEEK
THURSDAY 4/6
The Frozen Four
There have been 25 Hobey Baker Award winners, but only four have won a nationaltitle and hockey's Heisman in the same year. With two of the three 2006 Hobeyfinalists in the Frozen Four in Milwaukee, that select club could expand. (Theaward is handed out on Friday, a day before the final.) In one semifinal ChrisCollins, the NCAA's second-leading scorer (61 points), leads Boston Collegeagainst North Dakota. Meanwhile, Wisconsin's Brian Elliott (above), thenation's top goalie, makes the Badgers the favorites over Maine. Thursday ESPN23 p.m., Saturday ESPN 7 p.m.
THURSDAY 4/6
The Masters
Tiger Woods may skip Augusta to tend to his ailing father, Earl, who hascancer. But if the four-time champ (above, with Phil Mickelson) plays, he'llfind ideal conditions for long hitters like himself. The course is now 7,445yards, second-longest ever for a major. Thursday and Friday USA 4 p.m.,Saturday CBS 3:30 p.m., Sunday CBS 2:30 p.m.
SATURDAY 4/8
Zab Judah vs.Floyd Mayweather
Before a January fight against Carlos Baldomir, Judah, then the WBO and IBFwelterweight champ, looked ahead to this bout with a T-shirt reading PRETTYGIRL'S NEXT. (Mayweather's nickname is Pretty Boy.) His trainer should have hadone declaring I'M WITH STUPID. Judah (34-3) lost his WBO belt to Baldomir;keeping the IBF title will be tough against Mayweather (35-0), who pound forpound is boxing's best. PPV 9 p.m.
SUNDAY 4/9
Beach TennisUSA
The tour launches its second season, in Santa Monica, Calif., where playerswill compete on beach-volleyball courts and volley until the ball hits thesand. "This game is addictive," says founder Marc Altheim. Checklistings 1 p.m.
Samsung/RadioShack 500
He was on probation and $10,000 poorer after his postrace shove of Matt Kensethon March 26, but Jeff Gordon (left) didn't seem bothered on Sunday--he finishedsecond in the DirectTV 500. He'll try to keep the good times rolling at TexasMotor Speedway, where he's never won. Fox 1:30 p.m.
MONDAY 4/10
Mavericks atClippers
Sam Cassell is no stranger to the postseason; he's been there 10 times. TheClippers are another story. The veteran guard (left) has L.A. on pace for itsfirst playoff spot since '97. If the Western Conference standings hold, theClippers' first-round foe will be Dallas, which has only three playersaveraging double digits against the Clips. Check listings 10:30 p.m.
TUESDAY 4/11
On Shelves:Wrigleyworld
Former Kansas City Star sportswriter Kevin Kaduk has written a fast-paced,first-person account of a season of ball hawking, ticket scalping and beerguzzling with the Cubs' faithful on Chicago's North Side.
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GREG ANDERSON (ELLIOTT)
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NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY (BOOK)
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ROBERT BECK (CASSELL)
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NIGEL KINRADE (GORDON)
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SHAUN BEST/REUTERS (WOODS)