Week Ahead

SATURDAY 4/15

UFC 59: Reality Check
Ultimate fighting, the sport Senator John McCain once called a "human cockfight," has cleaned up its act--a bit. There's no biting or eye gouging, but there's still plenty of action. This highly anticipated card in Anaheim features a rematch of the 2005 heavyweight title match between Andrei (the Pit Bull) Arlovski (above) and Tim (the Maine-iac) Sylvia. In their first meeting Arlovski forced Sylvia to tap out (UFC lingo for giving up) in 47 seconds.
PPV 10 p.m.

NCAA softball, No. 1 Texas at No. 21 Oklahoma
Ozzie Guillen would love to manage the Longhorns, who have small-balled their opponents to death this year. Texas has swiped 77 bases in 95 attempts; freshman Shannon Thomas (below) has 16. The Sooners prefer to bash: They have the Big 12's top two hitters, Kristin Vesley (who's batting .480) and Norrelle Dickson (.463).
ESPN 1 p.m.

Red Bulls at Real Salt Lake
New York's MLS team has a new name that George Wendt would love. Da Bulls (n� Da MetroStars) also have a couple of new young players whom coach Mo Johnston loves: Marvell Wynne Jr. (below, left), the top pick in the MLS draft, and 24-year-old striker Edson Buddle, who was acquired from Columbus, where he scored nine goals last year.
Check listings 9 p.m.

SUNDAY 4/16

Giants at Dodgers
Barry's chase of the Babe continues at Chavez Ravine, where Bonds has 27 homers in 120 games. The only parks he's gone deep in more as a visitor: Cincinnati's Cinergy Field (31 in 80 games) and Montreal's old Olympic Stadium (30 in 96).
ESPN 8 p.m.

Bulls at Heat
Call a foul, ref! That's the plea coming from Miami's Shaquille O'Neal (right), who last week accused referees of having a "double standard." (He's $15,000 poorer as a result.) Chicago wouldn't mind a little help from the zebras: The Bulls are tied with Philadelphia for the final playoff spot in the East.
ABC 1 p.m.

SI PICK OF THE WEEK
MONDAY 4/17

Hub Hike
It's tough to find someone in a crowd of 20,000, but the half-million spectators lining the streets of greater Boston shouldn't have to look too hard for Meb Keflezighi (center). The 2004 Olympic silver medalist will probably be at the head of the pack in the 110th Boston Marathon. Keflezighi, 30, who could become the first U.S. man to win in Boston since 1983, joins a field that includes three former champs. On the women's side New York City and Osaka marathon winner Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia aims for the trifecta--and the $100,000 prize that goes to each winner.
OLN 11:30 a.m.

TUESDAY 4/18