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Gameplan
WATCH
NFL Draft
It's hard to believe, but this event was once held without input from Mel KiperJr.—the mock-draftnik didn't join ESPN until 1984, four years after it beganlive draft broadcasts. Fans who want to follow in pre-'84 fashion this weekendcan flip from ESPN to the NFL Network or listen to SIRIUS NFL Radio. Thedownside to the latter: You can't see players' nine-button suits.
WATCH
Penn Relays
One of the nation's oldest and largest track and field competition, hosted bythe University of Pennsylvania, is run for the 115th time beginning thisThursday. (ESPN2 has highlights on Saturday at 4 p.m.) The Relays draw top pro,college and high school athletes, but this year's main draw may be the Jamaicanteam: Olympian Asafa Powell will run.
WATCH
Phillies at Marlins
The series was supposed to feature only one NL East powerhouse—and given thedefending world champ's slow start, maybe it does. Philly began the season 5--6and had the NL's worst ERA (6.87). The surprising Marlins, meanwhile, won 11 oftheir first 12. How are they doing it? See for yourself on the MLB Network thisSaturday and TBS on Sunday.
• CHECK OUT
Dancing kings Who says Tiger, Derek and Roger lack personality? O.K., many ofyou, but Woods, Jeter and Federer lighten up in their newest ad for Gilletterazors. (Find it on YouTube.) It's a Saturday Night Fever spoof that has themdecked out in leather and strutting to Stayin' Alive. It's amusing, but beware:Federer's awkward head bop might cause a panic at the disco.
LISTEN
Moving Forward
Think Bernie Williams was smooth in center? Wait till you hear him on jazzguitar. The ex-Yankee just released his second album of smooth jams, to ravereviews: Jazz Times says he "should be embraced by fans of Latin-tingedinstrumental music." The CD also has a version of Take Me Out to theBallgame and a live cut of Williams and Bruce Springsteen doing Glory Days.
FOLLOW
Tribeca Film Festival
The ESPN Sports Film Festival is a subset of Robert De Niro's annual downtownManhattan cinema fest. (Nonattendees can keep up at tribecafilm.com.) Thisyear's most-anticipated flicks: Spike Lee's documentary Kobe Doin' Work, abehind-the-scenes look at Kobe Bryant's life, and The Lost Son of Havana, whichfollows Cuban exile Luis Tiant on a trip to his homeland.
The Pop CultureGrid
Athletes in the mix | Lady Gaga is ... | I really need to give up ... | Catch phrase I'm so over | Love once made me ... | In five years Lindsay Lohan will be ... |
ADAM LIND Blue Jays LF | Eccentric | Soda and fast food | "Get 'em tomorrow" | Wonder what it is | Still a joke |
CHASE HEADLEY Padres LF | A children's singer | Biting my fingernails | "Cool beans" | Watch a chick flick | Staying out of trouble |
CHRIS JAKUBAUSKAS Mariners P | A singer | My shopping habit | "For sure" | Realize I'd do anything for it | Off the scene |
PAUL KONERKO White Sox 1B | A pirate singer? | Texting | "Not so much" | Get married | On a tired celebrity-rehab show |
INSIDE THE GRID
Lohan (above) has been in rehab three times forsubstance abuse, been arrested twice for DUI and been the subject of countlesstabloid headlines—and Lind believes the worst is yet to come for the22-year-old actress. "She'll be much worse than she is today," he says.Adds Jakubauskas, "Pop culture rules say, Those who come in quick, go outquick."
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COURTESY OF ESPN (KIPER)
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BILL FRAKES (POWELL)
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JOHN REID III /MLB PHOTOS/GETTY IMAGES (MASCOT)
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COURTESY BBDO (FEDERER)
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DON EMMERT/AFP/GETTY IMAGES (WILLIAMS)
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JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (BRYANT)
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MICHAEL BUCKNER/GETTY IMAGES (LOHAN)
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DAVID E. KLUTHO (KONERKO)
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LISA BLUMENFELD/GETTY IMAGES (JAKUBAUSKAS)
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BRAD MANGIN (HEADLEY)
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TONY DEJAK/AP (LIND)
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NOEL VASQUEZ/FILMMAGIC/GETTY IMAGES (LADY GAGA)
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LEW ROBERTSON/CORBIS (RING)
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ALEX CAO/GETTY IMAGES (SODA)
