The Lineup: Saturday and Sunday, August 24-25

Author:
Mike Bebernes
Publish date:
Aug 24, 2013

Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

Report: Ryan Braun consumed performance-enhancing Adderall while writing his apology letter. Send tips to SI.TheLineup@gmail.com. (Bold indicates a national broadcast. All times Eastern.)

Pregame Reads

Revisiting Moneyball with one of its key boosters during the Billy Beane era for Nautilius.
Ben Cohen chronicles the death of the Heisman campaign for the Wall Street Journal. SI's Martin Rickman rebuts that the publicity tour still runs at small schools.
Josh Levin of Slatetells the tale of the worst baseball card of all time.

Starter

Little League World Series Championship Game: Teams TBD 1:00p.m. (ESPN)

After Saturday's semifinals (12:30p.m. on ABC) it will be either the little fellas from California or Connecticut taking on Japan or Mexico for the right to have their lives peak at 13. Which is better than losing and experiencing the worst moment of your life at 13.

Reserves

MLB (First time is Saturday, Second is Sunday)

Red Sox vs. Dodgers, 4:05p.m. (Fox), 8:05p.m. (ESPN)

Hack sportswriters must be erecting an idol for Yasiel Puig as we speak. Puig fits into that perfect Tebow-shaped window of a player with an unique background who has incredible, yet unorthodox talent that may or may not be an affront to the traditions of the sport. It's sports-shouting gold.

Tigers vs. Mets, 4:05p.m. (Fox), 1:10p.m.

Athletics vs. Orioles, 7:05p.m. (FOX), 4:05p.m.

Diamondbacks vs. Phillies, 7:05p.m., 1:35p.m.

Twins vs. Indians, 7:05p.m., 1:05p.m.

Rockies vs. Marlins, 7:10p.m., 1:10p.m.

Brewers vs. Reds, 7:10p.m., 1:10p.m.

Yankees vs. Rays, 7:10p.m., 1:40p.m.

Rangers vs. White Sox, 7:10p.m., 2:10p.m.

Blue Jays vs. Astros, 7:10p.m., 2:10p.m.

Nationals vs. Royals, 7:10p.m., 2:10p.m.

Braves vs. Cardinals, 7:15p.m., 2:10p.m. (TBS)

Cubs vs. Padres, 8:40p.m., 4:10p.m.

Pirates vs. Giants, 9:05p.m., 4:05p.m.

Angels vs. Mariners, 9:10p.m., 4:10p.m.

NFL

Saturday

Buffalo Bills vs. Washington Redskins, 4:30p.m. (NFL Network)

You have to feel a little bit bad for Redskins beat writers right about now. There's an insatiable demand for RGIII news, but the guy's status has been static for a while. The result is posts like this one, which could basically have the headline "Stuff RGIII did."

New York Jets vs. New York Giants, 7:00p.m.

Cleveland Browns vs. Indianapolis Colts, 7:00p.m.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Miami Dolphins, 7:30p.m.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 7:30p.m.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 7:30p.m.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans, 8:00p.m.

St. Louis Rams vs. Denver Broncos, 8:00p.m. (CBS)

Cincinnati Bengels vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:00p.m.

San Diego Chargers vs. Arizona Cardinals, 10:00p.m. (NFL Network)

Sunday

New Orleans Saints vs. Houston Texans, 4:00p.m. (Fox)

Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers, 8:00p.m. (NBC)

MLS

Saturday

Montreal Impact vs. Houston Dynamo, 7:00p.m.

D.C. United vs. Toronto FC, 7:00p.m.

Vancouver Whitecaps vs. L.A. Galaxy, 9:00p.m.

FC Dallas vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 9:00p.m.

Real Salt Lake vs.Columbis Crew, 9:30p.m.

Sunday

Chivas USA vs. New York Red Bulls, 5:00p.m.

New England Revolution vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30p.m.

Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers, 10:00p.m. (ESPN2)

It's only mildly hyperbolic to say that this is the biggest regular season game the MLS has ever seen. Clint Dempsey, the most successful American star to ever play in the league, is making his home debut in an arena with an incredible atmosphere against a rival team with the best fan base in the league. The anticipation is so high, it's even sparked some expert trolling from Timbers fans.

National Women's Soccer League

Semifinals: FC Kansas City vs. Portland Thorns, 2:00p.m, (Fox Sports 2)

Semifinal: Western New York Flash vs. Sky Blue FC, 8:00p.m. (Fox Sports 2)

The shutdown of the WPS led some to declare professional women's soccer in the U.S. dead entirely. The NWSL approaches the end of its first year of proving people wrong. And in a strong position as well: With the sport's biggest darling, Alex Morgan, leading her Portland team on a title run.

English Premier League

Saturday

Aston Villa vs. Liverpool, 12:30p.m. Saturday (NBC)

Fulham vs. Arsenal, 7:30a.m. (NBS Sports)

Southampton vs. Sunderland, 9:55a.m. (NBC Sports)

Sunday

Tottenham vs. Swansea, 10:55a.m. (NBC Sports)

WNBA

Saturday

Indiana Fever vs. Minnesota Lynx, 7:00p.m. (ESPN3)

Chicago Sky vs. Atlanta Dream, 7:00p.m. (ESPN2)

Sunday

Seattle Storm vs. San Antonio Silver Stars, 4:30p.m.

New York Liberty vs. Conneticutt Sun, 5:00p.m.

Tulsa Shock vs. L.A. Sparks, 8:30p.m. (NBA TV)

High School Sports

Saturday

Basketball: Team Bed-Stuy vs. Team Coney Island, 7:00p.m. (ESPNU)

Football: University Christian (FL) vs. Highlands (KY), 3:00p.m. (ESPNU)

"From a high school coaching standpoint, we're almost prostituting ourselves putting high school games on TV," said one high level high school football coach. Considering the Little League World Series is taking place this weekend, it seems a bit silly to be debating whether high school sports are fair game for broadcast.

Football: Lincoln (FL) vs. South Gwinnett (GA), 3:30p.m. (ESPN)

Football: Booker T. Washington (FL) vs. Norcross (GA), 7:00p.m. (ESPN)

Football: Bonneville (ID) vs. Bingham (UT), 9:00p.m. (ESPNU)

Football: Central (CA) vs. Valor Christian (CO), 10:00p.m. (ESPN2)

Sunday

Football: University School (FL) vs. Homestead (FL), 11:00a.m. (ESPNU)

Football: Beech (TN) vs. Station Camp (TN), 12:00p.m. (ESPN2)

Football: American Heritage (FL) vs. Cypress Bay (FL), 3:00p.m (ESPN)

Boxing

Abner Mares vs. Jhonny Gonzalez,10:30p.m. Saturday (Showtime)

ALL ACCESS: Mayweather vs. Canelo, 10:00p.m (Showtime)

The boxing match of the year, which is scheduled for Sept. 14, gets a multi-part documentary to add even more hype. I can stop typing. I'm sure I had you at "Floyd Mayweather on camera."

Tennis

US Open Series - Winston-Salem Open: Semifinals, 1:00p.m. Saturday, Final: 3:00p.m. Sunday (ESPN2)

Golf

The Barclays, 1:00p.m. Saturday. 12:00p.m. Sunday (Golf)

Cox Classic, 3:00p.m. Saturday. 2:00p.m. Sunday (Golf)

LPGA Canadian Open, 4:00p.m. Sunday (Golf)

Racing

NASCAR Nationwide Series in Bristol, Tenn, 7:30p.m. Saturday (ABC)

U.S.A. Pro Cycling Challenge, 2:30p.m. Saturday. 4:00p.m. Sunday (NBC)

Canadian Football League

Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 1:00p.m. Saturday (ESPN3)

Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. Edmonton Eskimos, 4:00p.m. Saturday (ESPN3)

Major League Lacrosse

SemiFinal: Charlotte Hounds vs. Denver Outlaws, 1:00p.m.

Semifinal: Hamilton Nationals vs. Chesapeake Bayhawks, 4:00p.m. (CBS Sports Network)

Championship Game: Teams TBD, 3:00p.m. (ESPN2)

Deep bench

International Martial Arts Festival, Showcase of Champions, 7:30p.m. (ESPN3)

They're the best , a-round. Karate Kid gets all of the attention, but the 1992 Chuck Norris movie Sidekicks is another important film in the canon of hilariously antiquated martial arts films (if only for this few seconds of footage).