Week Ahead
SATURDAY 3/31
NCAA Final Four
In what could be his last college game, Ohio State's Greg Oden will bang insidewith a future NBA rival: 7'2", 278-pound Georgetown center Roy Hibbert.Both are likely lottery picks in this summer's draft—assuming they decide to gopro. The other national semifinal is a rematch of last year's title game: UCLAand defending champ Florida.
CBS 6 p.m.
76ers at Nets
As usual, Philly needs AI to come up big to make the playoffs. No, not that AI.The Sixers have gone 23--24 since trading Allen Iverson to Denver and have anoutside shot at the postseason, thanks largely to guard Andre Iguodala (above),who is averaging 18.1 points per game. Philly is in 11th place in the EasternConference. One of the teams it's chasing is New Jersey, which is seventh buthas lost six of 10.
Check listings 7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY 4/1
Goody's Cool Orange 500
Even when Jeff Gordon loses, he wins. Last week's third-place finish at Bristolput Gordon atop the Nextel Cup standings, and his clean driving—he narrowlyavoided a collision with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Busch on the lastlap—helped Busch claim his first victory of the season. Gordon will chase hisfirst 2007 win in Martinsville, where he has won three of the last fiveyears.
Fox 1:30 p.m.
Maple Leafs atRangers
With two weeks left in the season, five points separated six teams in the racefor the last three Eastern Conference playoff spots. New York (87 points, sixthin the East) and Toronto (82 points, 11th) were two of those teams. To clinchtheir first back-to-back berths in 10 years, the Rangers will need more stoutgoaltending from Henrik Lundqvist (left), who is 8--3 in shootouts.
Check listings 7 p.m.
TUESDAY 4/3
On shelves: The Natural: Director's Cut
This is no warmed-over DVD version of a classic. Twenty-three years after TheNatural's release, director Barry Levinson tells the story of Roy Hobbs the wayhe always wanted to, with a completely recast first act (the film now beginswith a series of flashbacks) and 15 minutes of footage that originally landedon the cutting-room floor.
SI PICK OF THEWEEK
SUNDAY 4/1
Right Where We Left Off
It's Opening Day 2007—or, as some disgruntled Mets fans might think of it, Game8 of the '06 NLCS. The Cardinals begin their World Series title defense byhosting the team they beat to get to the Fall Classic. They'll hand the ball toChris Carpenter (right), one of the few starters they know they can count on:He was second in the NL in ERA (3.09) last year and finished third in the CyYoung Award voting. (By contrast, three projected members of the St. Louisrotation have a combined 18 big league starts.) The Mets will most likelycounter with Tom Glavine (left), who starts the season with 290 wins.
ESPN2 8:05 p.m.
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LISA BLUMENFELD/GETTY IMAGES (IGUODALA)
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JOHN IACONO (GLAVINE)
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JOEL AUERBACH/US PRESSWIRE (CARPENTER)
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SONY PICTURES (THE NATURAL)
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MIKE STOBE/GETTY IMAGES (LUNDQVIST)