Week Ahead
SATURDAY 8/12
AVP ManhattanBeach Open
2004 Olympic gold medalists Kerri Walsh (above, right) and Misty May-Treanor(left) have won eight of 10 tournaments this season. The best competition onthe AVP tour might just be between the two teammates: Two-time MVP Walsh islooking to reclaim the award after getting beat out by (who else?) May-Treanorin 2005. Check listings
AFLACAll-American Classic
The stands will teem with radar guns at Tony Gwynn Park in San Diego, where 38top high school seniors will be on display for an East versus West game. Amongthem: Michael Main (left), a Deland, Fla., righthander whose 99-mph heaterhelped him rack up 62 strikeouts in just 31 1/3 innings of work last season.Twenty-nine Classic alums have been drafted in the first round in the pastthree years, including 2005 top overall pick Justin Upton. Fox Sports Net 3p.m.
SI Pick of the Week
SATURDAY 8/12
Soft Landing
Not all boxers are boorish brutes like Mike Tyson. Last week Oleg Maskaevshowed his concern for others when he petitioned the Nevada boxing commissionto install extra padding on the floors of Caesars Palace. Why? In 1999 Maskaevknocked Hasim Rahman out with a devastating right hand (above) that sent Rahmancareering out of the ring and onto the concrete floor. Maskaev, 37, said hewanted to cushion Rahman's fall if it happens again in their WBC heavyweighttitle fight. The 33-year-old Rahman says if he loses his belt to the Kazakh,he'll consider retiring. PPV 9 p.m.
SUNDAY 8/13
Basketball, USAvs. Lithuania
So far, so good for the U.S., which routed Puerto Rico last week in its firstexhibition game. Now we'll see how the Yanks play overseas, as they head toSeoul for a rematch of the 2004 Olympic bronze medal game. The U.S. won thattime 104--96 (after losing a preliminary-round game to Lithuania 94--90),overcoming 24 points from Arvydas Macijauskas (above)--who just signed a $11.6million deal to play in Greece after the Hornets cut him loose. NBATV 1a.m.
NFL Exhibition,Redskins at Bengals
After an eventful summer Cincinnati might, with a nod to The Longest Yard,rename its team the Mean Machine. Four Bengals were arrested in the off-season,and a fifth was suspended by the NFL for violating the league's substance-abusepolicy. Washington, meanwhile, added highly regarded offensive coordinator AlSaunders to improve an already potent unit that ranked 11th in the NFL in totaloffense. NBC 8 p.m.
TUESDAY 8/15
On Shelves: NFLTeam History: The San Francisco 49ers
The story of the 60-year-old franchise is told in a two-DVD set. Highlightsinclude former coach Bill Walsh reflecting on the success of his West Coastoffense. Step one: Get Joe Montana (left) to play quarterback.
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DARRYL DENNIS/ICON SMI
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JAMIE SQUIRE/GETTY IMAGES
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GERO BRELOER/EPA
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RONALD C. MODRA
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BILL FRAKES