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The Weeks Ahead
THURSDAY 6/29
U.S. Women'sOpen
She's only 18, but Morgan Pressel is already a wizened Open veteran. In 2001,at age 12, she became the youngest player to qualify for the tournament, andlast year Pressel (above) would have won it as an amateur if not for amiraculous bunker shot by Birdie Kim. (Pressel finished second, two strokesbehind Kim.) If the LPGA rookie wins at Newport (R.I.) Country Club, she'll bethe youngest major winner. Thursday and Friday ESPN 2 p.m., Saturday and SundayNBC 3 p.m.
TUESDAY 7/4
Nathan's FamousHot Dog Eating Contest
It's the perfect way to celebrate the nation's birthday: an orgy of conspicuousconsumption. San Jose State student Joey Chestnut set a U.S. record by eating50 wieners at a qualifier in May, but the favorite at Coney Island will befive-time champ Takeru Kobayashi, who won last year by downing 49 dogs. ESPNnoon
Kokoyakyu: HighSchool Baseball Documentary filmmaker Kenneth Eng examines Japan's nationalbaseball tournament, a celebration of hardball skills and traditional Japanesevalues that transfixes the nation every August. Kokoyakyu follows two teams:Chiben, a powerhouse baseball academy, and Tennoji, an Osaka public schoolmaking its first tournament appearance since 1949. PBS 10 p.m.
FRIDAY 7/7
Red Sox at WhiteSox
Don't expect many ninth-inning rallies in this series. Boston's rookie closer,Jonathan Papelbon, leads the league with 23 saves and has allowed just two runsin 35 outings. Chicago's Bobby Jenks (22 saves) knows about rookie magic too:Last year the fireballer (left) burst on the scene with six saves down thestretch and four more in October. Check listings
SATURDAY 7/8
Wimbledon SinglesFinals
Five months after winning her first Grand Slam title, in Australia, AmélieMauresmo (above) goes for her first at the All England Club. If form holds, thetop seed will have to beat defending champ Venus Williams in the quarters and2004 winner Maria Sharapova in the semis to make today's final. The gentlemendecide their championship the next day. Saturday and Sunday NBC 9 a.m.
SI PICK OF THEWEEK
TUESDAY 7/11
Star Gazing
This year's midsummer convergence of baseball's best will be at Pittsburgh'sPNC Park, and once again what happens in July will affect how things turn outin October. For the fourth straight year the league that wins the All-Star Gamewill get home field advantage in the World Series. Not that the American Leagueand its second-leading vote getter, Angels slugger Vladimir Guerrero (above),need any help when the leagues clash. The junior circuit hasn't lost anAll-Star Game since 1996, and AL teams, with an overall 104-64 record, havebeen far superior to their National League counterparts in interleague playthis season. Fox 8 p.m.
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LARRY GOREN/ICON SMI (GUERRERO)
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BOB MARTIN (MAURESMO)
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MARK COWAN/ICON SMI (JENKS)
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DARREN CARROLL (PRESSEL)
