The Lineup: Tuesday, August 6

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

But there is great joy in Mudville - mighty A-Rod was kicked out. (All times Eastern)

Starter

TV Hard Knocks, 10:00p.m. (HBO)

A second go-round in Cincinnati was probably not the top choice for the eighth season of the NFL reality show, but this installment could be a good one. The most compelling element of the series is always the struggles of little-known players fighting for a spot or battling back form injury. There will be a lot more time for that without Chad Ochocinco chewing up airtime.

Reserves

Soccer International Champions Cup consolation matches: Juventus vs. Inter, 6:30p.m. & Everton vs. Valencia C.F., 9:00p.m. (Fox Soccer & ESPN3 [spanish broadcast])

This tournament fits somewhere in the limbo between an honest competition and international friendly. Teams are trying hard, but not quite selling out. That said, nobody wants to get swept out of any competition. Expect the most entertainment out of the earlier game as the teams battle to stay out of last place.

Tennis Rogers Cup: Men's First Round, 12:00p.m. (ESPN3)

The fantastic four of men's tennis have let the little guys have their fun since Wimbledon; now Juan Martin Del Potro and company get to look forward to having free weekends again.

TV Nine for IX: The Diplomat, 8:00p.m. (ESPN)

Soviet figure skater Katarina Witt introduced Westerners to the kind of elegance, beauty, and grace the commies had been hiding beyond the wall. She was called "the most beautiful face of socialism," though I suspect Joseph Stalin's mug would have been a hit among the bear bar crowd.

Poker 2013 World Series of Poker: Main Event, 9:00p.m. (ESPN)

Context is not important when watching WSOP, which is typically consumed in random intervals of a few hands when the TV happens to land on off-hours ESPN. Tonight offers the first in a string of Tuesdays with brand new, somewhat-recent play. The final table will be shown in November semi-live, which is also a great way to describe many of its participants.

WNBA Seattle Storm vs. Phoenix Mercury, 10:00p.m. (ESPN2)

Mercury star Brittney Griner is finding a way to fill her days whilst kept off the court with a bum left knee. Expect the 6'8 center to look even more intimidating than usual once she gets returns.

Injured Reserve

TLC Sex, Lies and Zumba, 10:00p.m. (TLC)

Notable mostly for its title, this documentary gives a Zumba-prostitution ring in Kennebunk, Maine the sober, measured treatment that TLC is known for. This is one of the great fitness/sex scandals ever, along with the classic Tae Bo key parties and infamous P90-sex ring.