Week Ahead

Watch to watch and watch for

THURSDAY 8/23
The Barclays
Taking a cue from NASCAR (who'da thunk?), the PGA instituted a playoff series, the four-tournament FedEx Cup, designed to encourage players not to skip regular-season events. Ironically, the guy atop the standings heading into Week 1, Tiger Woods, is skipping the first "postseason" tournament, saying he's "drained" after winning the PGA. No worries for Woods, though: His lead is large enough that he can still win the Cup (above) by playing in the remaining three events. (Through Sunday)
Golf Channel and CBS Check listings

SATURDAY 8/25
Major League Lacrosse Championship Weekend
The third-seeded Rochester Rattlers must knock off the Western Conference champs, the L.A. Riptide, to advance to Sunday's title game, but the Rattlers have two things working in their favor: home field advantage (they are hosting the final four) and John Grant Jr. The attackman (right) had seven goals and three assists against Boston on Aug. 11, bringing his season point total to a league-record 71. (Philadelphia and Denver play in Saturday's other semi.) Final: Sunday
ESPN2 1 p.m.

SUNDAY 8/26
Braves at Cardinals
St. Louis has jumped back into contention in the NL Central by winning eight of 12. Today's scheduled starter, Adam Wainwright, has been hot in August—the righty has an ERA of 1.96 in his three starts this month.
TBS 2:15 p.m.

MONDAY 8/27
U.S. Open
Eleventh-ranked Marion Bartoli (left)—not Amelie Mauresmo—is the Frenchwoman to watch. Mauresmo, who has struggled after winning two majors in 2006, pulled out of the Open with groin problems. Bartoli, meanwhile, beat top-seeded Justine Henin to reach the finals at Wimbledon last month. (Through Sept. 9)
USA and CBS Check listings

TUESDAY 8/28
On Shelves: Blades of Glory DVD
Will Ferrell and Napoleon Dynamite himself, Jon Heder, form the first male-on-male figure skating duo in this comedy. With more content (and laughs) in the special features, Blades should have triple-Axeled straight to DVD. Highlights include a feature on Hector the Psychofan and a deleted plotline involving the skaters' shared past.

SI PICK OF THE WEEK

SUNDAY 8/26
Eagles at Steelers
As they celebrate their 75th anniversaries, the NFL's two Pennsylvania franchises can reflect on their interesting shared history—they merged into the Steagles during World War II—and ponder the questions they now face. Pittsburgh, which finished 8--8 last year and missed the playoffs, is breaking in a new coach (Mike Tomlin) for just the second time in 36 years. And Philadelphia's success rests on the surgically repaired right knee of quarterback Donovan McNabb (above), whose preinjury record last year, 5--5, left something to be desired.
NBC 8 p.m.

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STAN BADZ/PGA TOUR/WIREIMAGE.COM (TROPHY)

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ALAN SCHWARTZ/CAL SPORT MEDIA (GRANT)

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ALAN SMITH/ASP/CAL SPORT MEDIA (BARTOLI)

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AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES (MCNABB)

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