The Lineup: Tuesday, October 8

Author:
Mike Bebernes
Publish date:
Oct 8, 2013

Dan Farrell/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

W! T! F! Jets! Jets! Jets!. Send any suggestions to SI.TheLineup@gmail.com. (Bold indicates a national broadcast. All times Eastern.)

Pregame Reads

The Broncos twitter account took a low blow at the Jaguars and the Jags aren't happy about it.
Jim Cavan of the Classical translates (or tries to) Grantland Rice's most famous piece of writing for a new generation.
The average payroll of MLB playoff teams has dropped dramatically in recent years. Jay Jaffe of SI's Strike Zone crunches the numbers and explains what it all means.

Starter

Documentary Frontline: League of Denial- The NFL's Concussion Crisis (PBS)

This film certainly seems to be worth watching on its own merits, but there's an extra layer of intrigue added by ESPN's back-and-forth behavior during the production process. Originally, ESPN backed out out of a partnership with the film, which some speculated they did under pressure from the NFL. Recently, however, the worldwide leader has been promoting the film hard online and on TV. Curious.

Reserves

WNBA Finals

Game 2: Atlanta Dream vs. Minnesota Lynx, 8:00p.m. (ESPN2)

Atlanta's Angel McCoughtry said she wants her team to "play like monsters" after they were dominated by the Lynx in the opening game of the series. It was Minnesota's Janel McCarville who pulled off a Hulk Smash on the Dream star in Game 1.

MLB

Oakland Athletics vs. Detroit Tigers, 5:00p.m. (TBS)

Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays, 8:30p.m. (TBS)

Actual sting rays are not bothered by your silly human athletic competitions. Even your most dramatic of walk-offs disturbs them not.

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NFL

Colorado Avalanche vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:00p.m.

Phoenix Coyotes vs. New York Islanders, 7:00p.m.

Florida Panthers vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 7:00p.m.

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7:00p.m.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Buffalo Sabres, 7:30p.m. (NBC Sports & Live Extra)

Minnesota Wild vs. Nashville Predators, 8:00p.m.

New Jersey Devils vs. Vancouver Canucks, 10:00p.m. (NHL Network)

New York Rangers vs. San Jose Sharks, 10:30p.m.

Poker

World Series of Poker Main Event: Day 6, 9:00p.m. (ESPN)

NCAA Men's Soccer

La Salle vs. St. John's, 7:00p.m. (ESPN3)

Wake Forest vs. North Carolina State, 7:00p.m. (ESPN3)

Virginia Tech vs. Pittsburgh, 7:00p.m. (ESPN3)

Clemson vs. North Carolina, 7:00p.m. (ESPN3)

NBA Preseason

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 3:00p.m. (NBA TV)

Brooklyn Nets vs. Washington Wizards, 7:00p.m. (NBA TV)

Denver Nuggets vs. L.A. Lakers, 10:00p.m. (NBA TV)

E:60, 7:00p.m. (ESPN)

30 for 30: Free Spirits, 8:00p.m. (ESPN)

"If you want to take a single franchise that captured everything that was crazy about the ABA, look no further than the Sprits of St. Louis." That's ol' Papa Costas speaking about the fun-and-cocaine-fueled franchise. This film is directed by Daniel H. Forer, who is credited with writing four episodes of Touched by an Angel, so it'll be inspirational and stuff.

Big Break NFL, 9:00p.m. (Golf)

Being Mike Tyson, 10:30p.m. (Fox Sports 1)

Deep Bench

A Football Life: Matt Millen, 9:00p.m. (NFL Network)

Perhaps the only person worse at his job than Matt Millen was at managing a football team is whoever green-lit this film. The main reason to watch is to figure out why in the world Mr. Millen is wearing these overalls.