It’s a relatively slow time for the sports world outside the NBA and NHL, where the Capitals appear to have started breaking my heart. But you won’t be without viewing options this weekend. Read on for all of those (all times ET) and a look at the midweek news:
MLS
Comedy of errors last night in Toronto. Philadelphia keeper Chris Seitz let a Dwayne De Rosario free kick slip through his hands into the goal, and he committed the foul that let De Ro win it from the spot. Danny Califf, the “veteran leadership” for Philadelphia, made a poor backpass and decided to make up for it by slamming his forearm into Julian de Guzman’s face, an obvious red card by any criterion you use. Toronto was lucky to finish the game with 11 men after some gruesome tackles, particularly from Raivis Hscanovics. And Philly blundered by taking off Roger Torres, whose sublime pass set up the game’s best goal, to go for a more defensive shape.
Strong offense = best defense. When will coaches realize this?
Califf took responsibility. Toronto coach Preki snapped back at the media by asking if they would prefer a team of ballerinas. (Toronto Sun)
Grass looks nice, though. And click to #11 in this gallery for the best soccer fan photo so far this year.
This weekend (home teams first; all games Saturday except the last):
- Seattle (1-1-1) – Kansas City (2-0-0), 3 p.m., DK/MLSS: Pick of the week
- Houston (1-1-1) – Chivas USA (1-2-0), 4 p.m., TeleFutura: Still a nasty rivalry?
- D.C. United (0-3-0) – Chicago (0-2-1), 7:30 p.m., DK/MLSS: Which team disappoints you more?
- New York (2-1-0) – Dallas (0-0-2), 7:30 p.m., DK/MLSS: No, Thierry Henry isn’t playing
- San Jose (1-1-0) – New England (2-1-0), 10 p.m., DK/MLSS: Any Kraft Soccer demons remaining for Earthquakes fans?
- Los Angeles (3-0-0) – Salt Lake (1-1-1), 10:30 p.m., FSC: MLS Cup rematch
- Colorado (1-1-1) – Toronto (1-2-0), 5 p.m. Sun, DK/MLSS: TFC plays twice this week; Columbus idle
WPS
Week 2 games Saturday and Sunday. Am I the only person not playing WPS fantasy soccer?
- Chicago – St. Louis, 8 p.m. Sat
- FC Gold Pride – Sky Blue, 10 p.m. Sat (or, if you prefer, Bay Area – New Jersey)
- Boston – Philadelphia, 6 p.m. Sun, FSC
- Washington – Atlanta, 7 p.m. Sun — 2003 WUSA final rematch at last!
EUROPEAN SOCCER
Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett are selling Liverpool, and it’s safe to say they won’t be missed by the fan base. Commentator Jim White accuses them of having as much interest in the club as a real estate investor would in a house he’s flipping. (Eurosport)
England
- Manchester City – Manchester United, 7:45 a.m. Sat, ESPN2: Both teams have plenty at stake in the derby.
- Blackburn – Everton, 10 a.m. Sat, FSC: Tim Howard and company are on the road, trying to keep faint European hopes alive.
- Tottenham – Chelsea, 12:30 a.m. Sat, FSC: Tottenham is one point behind Man City for the fourth Champions League berth. Chelsea has a four-point lead for first. Another great derby.
Spain (Barcelona lead Real Madrid by 3)
- Espanyol – Barcelona, 2 p.m. Sat, GolTV
- Valencia – Real Madrid, 3 p.m. Sun, ESPN Deportes
Germany (Bayern Munich lead Schalke by 2; both teams face Americans on Saturday)
- Borussia Moenchengladbach – Schalke, 9:25 a.m. Sat, ESPN Deportes
- Bayern Munich – Hannover, 4 p.m. Sat (delay), GolTV
Italy (Roma lead Inter by 1, Milan by 4)
- Inter Milan – Juventus, 2:30 p.m. Fri, FSC
- Sampdoria – AC Milan, 9 a.m. Sun, FSC
- Lazio – Roma, 2:30 p.m. Sun, FSC
More global listings at Soccer America.
MMA
Bellator’s second show of the season had a bit of controversy last night with a premature stoppage giving wrestling phenom Ben Askren a welterweight quarterfinal win. But as my colleague Sergio Non points out, you have to answer when the ref asks if you’re OK. I’d have more of an opinion myself if any local networks would pick up the FSN broadcasts. (MMA Fighting Stances)
The big show this weekend, no credit card needed, is Strikeforce on CBS (9 p.m.), which will have three title fights and a “Mayhem” Miller entrance:
- Middleweights: Former two-division Pride champion Dan Henderson, who postured his way out of the UFC by getting a big head after his unsportsmanlike win over Michael Bisping, takes on current champion Jake Shields, who might be heading the other direction.
- Light heavyweights: Former wrestler “King Mo” Lawal takes a big jump up in opposition in his budding MMA career, challenging champion Gegard Mousasi.
- Lightweights: The hard-core fans are drooling over the matchup of Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez and Dream (Japan) champ Shinya Aoki.
BOXING
Why do people freak out when the UFC might go up against a big boxing card, and yet no one seems concerned about this Strikeforce-boxing scheduling conflict? We’re not just talking alphabet-soup champions here — Kelly Pavlik has the actual, legit middleweight title. (OK, so his challenger isn’t in The Ring’s top 10.)
On HBO, 10 p.m. Saturday:
- The Ring/WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik vs. Sergio Martinez
- IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute (#1, The Ring) vs. Edison Miranda
OLYMPIC SPORTS
The big one’s coming up Monday: Boston Marathon, 9:30 a.m.
- Diving World Series, 5 p.m. Fri/4 p.m. Sat., Universal Sports online
- Beach volleyball, AVP Fort Lauderdale women’s final, 5:30 p.m. Sun. (delay), ESPN2
TENNIS
Men’s field seems a lot stronger than the women’s field this week.
ATP Monte Carlo: Rafael Nadal vs. David Ferrer in one semi; top seed Novak Djokovic vs. winner of Fernando Verdasco-Albert Montanes in the other.
- Semifinals, 7:30/10 a.m. Sat, Tennis Channel
- Final, 8:15 a.m. Sun, Tennis Channel
WTA Family Circle Cup, Charleston, S.C.: top seeds in quarterfinals are #1 Caroline Wozniacki (vs. #6 Nadia Petrova) and #2 Jelena Jankovic (vs. #8 Daniela Hantuchova)
- Quarterfinal, 1 p.m. Fri, ESPN2
- Semifinal, 1 p.m. Sat, ESPN2
- Final, 1 p.m. Sun, ESPN2
More TV listings (baseball, NHL, NBA, motor sports, golf, rodeo, college baseball, high school basketball) at USA TODAY.
If I missed anything, please let me know.
Duresport.com 