Game Plan
• WATCH
Spurs at Lakers
It's a rematch of last year's West finals, when L.A. took down the defending champs. Last week, in their first meeting since then, San Antonio returned the favor with a 112--111 win at home, thanks to Roger Mason Jr.'s last-second jumper. "What goes around comes around," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. This game is on ABC, so fans everywhere can see what's next.
• BUNDLE UP
For the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships
No roofing! More than 250 four-person teams will compete in the fourth annual shinny celebration, starting Friday on Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis. (Follow the tournament at uspondhockey.com.) Players should sharpen their skates, dress in layers—and bring a shovel. They are required to help clear the ice if it snows.
• WATCH
The Express
The DVD of last year's Ernie Davis biopic hit stores on Tuesday—fittingly, the day of Barack Obama's inauguration. In 1961 the Syracuse back became the first black player to win the Heisman; the following year he was the first African-American NFL No. 1 pick. The Express tells Davis's story (he died of leukemia at 23) with grace and power, much like he ran.
• WATCH
U.S. Figure Skating Championships
The streak is over: Ice dancers Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, winners of five straight U.S. titles, withdrew from the nationals because Agosto has a back injury. There will still be stars in Cleveland (and on NBC). Defending champs Mirai Nagasu (ladies), Evan Lysacek (men) and Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker (pairs) will be there.
• COMPARE
New York uniform patches
The city's big league teams unveiled sleeve logos they will wear to mark their new stadiums this season. The Yankees' is cool, with a rendering of the old and new stadiums' facades. Reviews of the Mets' blue-and-orange number were not as good. Said comedian Stephen Colbert, "Notice the way the patch mirrors its fans, by not wanting to actually say it's for the Mets."
The Pop Culture Grid
How do sports stars fit in? | Celebrity crush that I'm over | ____ really makes me go hmmm ... | I'd never date someone who ... | Real men don't ... | I'd like to buy ____ from an infomercial |
STEVE ZAKUANI Sounders FC F | Rihanna | Technology | Smokes cigarettes | Watch Desperate Housewives (top) | Miracle Blade |
LEANDRO BARBOSA Suns F | Eva Mendes | A pretty girl walking down the street | Doesn't have nice fingernails and toenails | Act too scared | Rosetta Stone language software |
PATRIK BERGLUND Blues C | Jennifer Aniston | Disasters | Has a bad personality | Cry | A combo iron and vacuum cleaner |
JOE LAUZON MMA Fighter | Britney Spears | The Real Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny | Smokes | Make excuses and aren't hypocrites | A Showtime rotisserie |
INSIDE THE GRID
As Seen On TV products aren't just for little old ladies and insomniacs. Barbosa, who hails from Brazil, has a particular linguistic motivation. "Greek is tough," says the NBA's leading sixth man. "I went to Athens, and it was hard to understand." Lauzon seeks the flavor of his youth. "This is my favorite way to make chicken," he says. "My parents used to have one, and chicken came out the best on it."
PHOTO
COURTESY JOE LAUZON (LAUZON)
PHOTO
DAVID E. KLUTHO (BERGLUND)
PHOTO
GREG NELSON (BARBOSA)
PHOTO
DILIP VISHWANAT/GETTY IMAGES (ZAKUANI)
PHOTO
GREGG DEGUIRE/WIREIMAGE/GETTY IMAGES (ANISTON)
PHOTO
LAWRENCE MANNING/CORBIS (NO SMOKING)
PHOTO
BURKE/TRIOLO PRODUCTIONS/BRAND X/CORBIS (TISSUE BOX)
PHOTO
ANDREW ECCLES/ABC/EVERETT COLLECTION (HOUSEWIVES)
PHOTO
D. CLARKE EVANS/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES (BRYANT AND MASON)
PHOTO
COURTESY U.S. POND HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS (HOCKEY)
PHOTO
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS (THE EXPRESS)
PHOTO
PETER PETROV/AP (NAGASU)
FOUR PHOTOS