Week Ahead
THURSDAY 4/20
Shell HoustonOpen
The good news for Vijay Singh (right): He's the tournament's two-time defendingchamp. The bad news: It's no longer being held on the course he has mastered.The field, which also includes John Daly and David Toms, will christen theTournament Course at Redstone Golf Club, a track that, at 7,457 yards, is 12yards longer than Augusta National. Thursday and Friday USA 4 p.m., Saturdayand Sunday CBS 3 p.m.
SATURDAY 4/22
WladimirKlitschko vs. Chris Byrd
In the old days, Pravda would have a field day with this: If Klitschko (above,right) beats Byrd (left) for the IBF belt, three of the world's fourheavyweight champs will come from former Soviet Republics. (Sergei Liakhovichof Belarus has the WBO belt, and Nicolay Valuev of Russia is the WBA champ.)The Ukraine's Klitschko (45-3) won a unanimous decision over Byrd (39-2-1) in2000. HBO 5 p.m.
NBA Playoffs
Welcome to the postseason, LeBron James (page 46). After collapsing down thestretch in the past two seasons, James and the Cavs both finished strong.Cleveland won 13 of its last 16 games, and James had a string of nine gameswith at least 35 points. Check listings
SATURDAY 4/22
SI PICK OF THE WEEK
Running Hot
NASCAR returns to Phoenix where Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle both run well. Thatmeans things could get interesting at the Subway Fresh 500; the last time theyraced in close quarters, two weeks ago in Texas, Busch wrecked his formerteammate. Biffle's girlfriend, Nicole Lunders (above, left, with Biffle), tookexception and nearly started a catfight with Busch's fiancée, Eva Bryan (right,with Busch) on pit road. Fox 8 p.m.
TUESDAY 4/25
On Shelves: LoveMe, Hate Me
Unlike Game of Shadows, which meticulously tracked Barry Bonds's steroid use,Jeff Pearlman's biography of the Giants' slugger focuses on his upbringing andbackground to trace Bonds's evolution into one of the greatest hitters--and oneof the most consistently troubled personalities--the national pastime has everseen.
Red Sox atIndians
Ace of the future? Try closer of the present. Boston's Jonathan Papelbon(right) is 6 for 6 in save situations and hasn't allowed a run. He'll need hisbest stuff as the Sox head to Cleveland for a three-game set with the Indians,who are hitting .350 at the Jake. Check listings
WEDNESDAY4/26
Billie Jean King:Portrait of a Pioneer
This one-hour documentary profiles the tennis great and tireless campaigner forequal rights for women. She made her boldest statement on the court, at theAstrodome in 1973, when she crushed Bobby Riggs in their Battle of the Sexes.HBO 10 p.m.
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GENE BLYTHE/AP (BIFFLE AND LUNDERS)
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RUSTY JARRETT/GETTY IMAGES (BUSCH AND BRYAN)
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ADAM HUNGER/US PRESSWIRE (PAPELBON
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ERICK W. RASCO (BOOK)
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JUERGEN SCHWARZ/REUTERS (KLITSCHKO AND BYRD)
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DAVID WALBERG (SINGH)