The Week Ahead

FRIDAY 14

SPURS AT 76ERS
ESPN 8 PM
The champs visit Iverson.

GONZAGA VS. ST. JOSEPH'S
ESPN2 9 PM
The best backcourt in the nation? It just might be St. Joe's, with preseason All-America Jameer Nelson (right) at the point and 6'4" junior shooting guard Delonte West. The game, at Madison Square Garden, is a benefit for the American Cancer Society.

SATURDAY 15

PURDUE (8-2) AT OHIO STATE (9-1)
ABC 3:30 PM
A win brings the Boilermakers closer to their first outright Big 10 title since 1929.

ELEPHANT ROUNDUP
In Surin, Thailand. Yep, it's that time of year again. Why hasn't a network snagged the rights to this event, which has elephant soccer and tug-of-war between an elephant and 100 men?

SUNDAY 16

ATP TENNIS MASTERS CUP
ESPN 4 PM
The No. 1 ranking is on the line in Houston: U.S. Open winner Andy Roddick and Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero close in.

COWBOYS (7-2) AT PATRIOTS (7-2)
ESPN 8:30 PM
"It's showtime," says Dallas coach Bill Parcells of his team's November schedule. This may be the best show of all: Parcells returns to face his former underling, Bill Belichick.

MONDAY 17