Week Ahead
SUNDAY 12/10
No. 23 Maryland at Boston College
Every Eagles game feels like souvenir-ball night, what with all of the rocks Sean Williams (right) has been swatting into the stands. The 6'10" junior is averaging an NCAA-best 7.7 blocks per game for BC. He will be challenged by Maryland; the Terps have had just 20 shots rejected in their first eight games—all wins. Check listings 6:30 p.m.
Division II Semifinals, Delta State at Grand Valley State
Talk about getting hot at the right time. Behind a stifling D and QB Scott Eyster (right), Delta State, which finished the season 9--2, has knocked off an undefeated team on the road in each of its last two playoff games (North Carolina Central and North Alabama). Next up is 13--0 Grand Valley State. Bloomsburg takes on Northwest Missouri State in the other semi. ESPNU 5:30 p.m. and ESPN2 7 p.m. Check listings
Broncos at Chargers
So far, so-so for Jay Cutler. The Denver rookie QB threw for 143 yards and two TDs in his debut, a 23--20 loss to Seattle on Sunday. The Broncos' ground attack kept them in that game, but Cutler likely won't get as much support this week. The Chargers are sixth in the NFL in rushing defense and held Buffalo's Willis McGahee to 26 yards on 16 carries on Sunday. CBS 4:15 p.m.
MONDAY 12/11
Mavericks at Jazz
In his first 84 games with Utah—roughly one season's worth—Carlos Boozer has averaged 17.2 points and 8.8 boards. Alas, it's taken him more than two years to put up those numbers. But he's finally healthy, a big reason why the 14--4 Jazz are atop the Western Conference standings. To stay there, Utah will have to slow down Dallas, which has won 12 of 13. Check listings 9 p.m.
TUESDAY 12/12
On Shelves: Talladega Nights DVD
Country-boy drivers are a dying breed in NASCAR these days: The last six champs have hailed from outside the South. Will Ferrell's redneck racer Ricky Bobby, however, is strictly old school (make that good ol' school) in one of the year's most fun flicks.
SI PICK OF THE WEEK
SATURDAY 12/9
The Hard Way
After you've gone through the hell Kassim Ouma has, a few rounds in the ring with Jermain Taylor doesn't seem so bad. When Ouma (right, against Kofi Jantuah in 2005) was six he was kidnapped by guerrillas and forced to fight in the civil war in his native Uganda. In 1997, while in the U.S. with the Ugandan national team, he defected, and his father was beaten to death in retaliation. Tonight the indefatigable Ouma (25-2-1)—he holds the record for most punches thrown in a 10-round fight (1,331)—moves up a class to take on Taylor (25-0-1), the WBC and WBO middleweight champ. HBO 10 p.m.
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AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES (OUMA)
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COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES (DVD)
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TRAVIS CHAMBLEE (EYSTER)
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JIM ROGASH/WIREIMAGE.COM (WILLIAMS)