Gameplan
• WATCH
Ella Es El Matador (She Is the Matador)
A segment of the PBS documentary series POV, this gripping film (premieres Sept. 1) follows two women—one Spain's only female professional bullfighter and the other an aspiring matador who ran away from her family in Italy—as they attempt to make their way in the male-dominated, macho world of bullfighting.
• CHECK OUT
The Baseball Project
Armed with a songbook containing jaunty tunes about everyone from Ted Williams to Big Ed Delahanty, the baseball-loving indie rock supergroup (led by Scott McCaughey of the Minus 5 and Steve Wynn of Dream Syndicate, and backed by R.E.M.'s Peter Buck on guitar) is touring throughout the fall, beginning on Aug. 26 in Portland.
• WATCH
Old Spice High School Showcase
Jonesing for some football and can't wait for the college season to kick off next week? There will be plenty of talent on display when Dallas-area powers DeSoto and Cedar Hill meet under the Saturday-night lights (ESPN 7 p.m.). Cedar Hill is led by senior Ben Malena, who rushed for 2,202 yards and 35 TDs last year and has committed to Texas A&M.
• READ
Our Boys
In 2008 New York Times writer Joe Drape moved his family to Kansas for a year to write about high school football in Middle America. And it doesn't get more Middle America than Smith Center (pop. 1,931), which is nearly the geographical center of the U.S. Drape's engaging read follows the town's pride and joy, the Redmen, who entered the season on a 54-game winning streak.
• WATCH
Manchester United vs. Arsenal
So much for "boring, boring Arsenal," as the Gunners are often known. Using a more attack-minded 4-3-3, Arsenal scored 10 goals in its first two Premier League games, including two from Cesc Fabregas. Man United comes into the showdown (Fox Soccer Channel, Saturday, noon) on a roll, too. They scored five goals against Wigan last Saturday.
• WATCH
Braves at Phillies
Last year it was CC Sabathia who put up eye-popping numbers after being traded by Cleveland. This year it's Cliff Lee. In his first five starts as a Phillie, Lee went 5--0 with an 0.68 ERA, bolstering a rotation plagued by injury (Brett Myers) and ineffectiveness (slumping Cole Hamels). The lefty is scheduled to start on Saturday (MLB.TV, 7 p.m.); Sunday's game is on ESPN at 8 p.m.
The Pop Culture Grid
Athletes in the mix | _____ is a good girl gone bad | Pairs of sneakers I own | _____ is the next big thing | Artist I've seen the most in concert | Guilty pleasure dance song |
STANFORD KEGLAR Titans LB | Jessica Simpson | About 40 | UFC | Never been to a concert | Looking for the Perfect Beat by Africa Bambaata |
JAYSON FOSTER Ravens WR | Britney Spears | At least 10 | Rapper Pastor Troy | 2 Step by DJ Unk | |
JUAN DIAZ Boxer | Angelina Jolie | 10 | Obama's health-care plan | Rapper Baby Bash | Whatever You Like by T.I. |
TYRELL SUTTON Packers RB | Rihanna (left) | About 20 | Lower gas prices | Lil Wayne | Poker Face by Lady Gaga |
Inside the Grid
Sutton has a history with Lady Gaga's pop hit. "I hosted a drag show at Northwestern last year," says the former Wildcats running back. "One of the performers came out to that song. Plus my roommate played it every day on his computer. Since then I can't get away from it."
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©TALCUAL FILMS (MATADOR)
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YEP ROC RECORDS (BASEBALL PROJECT)
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JIM REDMAN/MAXPREPS.COM (MALENA)
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FELIPE TRUEBA/EPA (FABREGAS)
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MATT SLOCUM/AP (LEE)
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JONATHAN BRADY/CORBIS (LADY GAGA)
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EVAN AGOSTINI/AP (RIHANNA)
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NFL PHOTOS/GETTY IMAGES (SUTTON)
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NFL PHOTOS/GETTY IMAGES (FOSTER)
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THOMAS B. SHEA/ICON SMI (DIAZ)
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JOE ROBBINS/GETTY IMAGES (KEGLAR)
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NED MATURA (SNEAKERS)
TWO PHOTOS