
Things To Do This Week
WATCH
Spirit Game: Pride of a Nation
(May 26 in theaters; June 20 on VOD)
A powerful story of identity, sovereignty and spirituality, this documentary is about the quest of the Iroquois Nation to win the World Box Lacrosse Championships on its native grounds in upstate New York in 2015. The film features the four Thompson brothers—two of whom played at SUNY-Albany and are among the most decorated players in NCAA history—and appearances by Bill Belichick, Jim Brown and Al Gore.
READ
It Happens Every Spring by Ira Berkow
Berkow, a Pulitzer Prize winner and longtime writer for The New York Times, offers a collection of his favorite pieces, including his stories about Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Cal Ripken Jr., Jim Abbott and Mark McGwire. As much as the personalities, it's the little moments Berkow recounts (Ralph Branca pleading with Bobby Thomson's shot to "sink, sink!") and forgotten figures (Ping Bodie) that make the book sing.
CHEER
U.S. Men's Soccer vs. Mexico
(June 11, 8:30 p.m. ET, on FS1)
Even nonsoccer fans can appreciate this one. The rivals have been facing off for 80 years, but the U.S. has only won once (2012) at the intimidating Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The fervor in the stadium is matched by boisterous fans outside—they have been known to pull the fire alarm at the U.S. team hotel. This time the stakes are high: The U.S. is desperate for points after a slow start to 2018 World Cup qualifying.