The sporting week on TV

THE MAIN EVENT

APRIL Fools' Day and that's how Reubens Barrichello of Ferrari will be feeling today if he once more fails to finish in the Brazil Grand Prix.

It's bad enough having to play second fiddle all the time to Ferrari teammate and world champion Michael Schumacher but, as a Brazilian, should he fail to finish today's race at Interlagos it will be for the seventh consecutive time. Interlagos simply isn't his cup of high octane, whereas Schumacher will be chasing a seventh consecutive Grand Prix win stretching back to last season and a repeat of last year's 2000 Brazil GP triumph.

What's more if Schumacher does win, most bookies with a sense of history would consider all bets off on the 2001 championship itself. Since 1993 the winner of the Brazilian GP has, without, fail gone on to win the overall title.

CRICKET

WHAT's the cricket world coming to? The Aussies, having to digest some humble pie against India, and the English suffering the indignity of a 3-0 whitewash in their ODI series against Sri Lanka - by 10 wickets at that! This was the first time England had suffered such indignity in 325 one-day matches - just 40 days short of a year's worth of ODIs.

Meanwhile, Shaun Pollock's South Africans - one-up in the Test series against the West Indies - are in the penultimate day of the third Test against Carl Hooper's team in Bridgetown, Barbados. Watch them today.

GOLF

THE US Masters at Augusta National tees off on Thursday, and there aren't many bookmakers who would give you better than even-money against Tiger Woods chalking up another major to tell his grandchildren about. Most of the world's best are warming up, meanwhile, in the BellSouth Classic in Georgia.

SWIMMING

IAN Thorpe, Australia's human torpedo, has been setting the water alight at the Aussie championships in Hobart. A triple gold medal winner at last year's Sydney Olympics, Thorpe (pictured) smashed first the 800m world mark, then the 200m freestyle world record. Thorpe's a water freak in the mould of fellow-countryman Jon Konrads of the '50s and '60s, who set 12 world records. Thorpe - still a teenager as was waterbaby Konrads - has gone one better: his latest world mark is his 13th.

At Ellis Park the SA championships wind up today and tomorrow.

RUGBY

AS the Sharks open their overseas leg of of their Super 12 campaign against Blues in Auckland on Saturday, and are followed by the Cats against Chiefs at Rugby Park, Hamilton, it's as good a time as any to reflect on a warning from Cats coach Laurie Mains. He says the high-tackle is becoming increasingly prevalent in the Super 12. He's right. Schoolmasters are also complaining that junior players are following their elders' example. It must be rooted out. When it's clearly deliberate, a red card should be compulsory.

SOCCER

ALTHOUGH the big one in the Premiership between Man United and Liverpool was yesterday, there are still teams hoping to do the business for places in Europe next year - and four of them are on the box today and tomorrow. First up are Charlton and Leicester, then tomorrow it's the turn of Southampton and Ipswich. Southampton were doing very nicely under former England coach Glenn Hoddle. But Hoddle has done a bunk to his old club Tottenham and that's left Southampton a little up the creek - without a paddle.

Locally, viewers have a choice between PSL clash African Wanderers v Celtic (SABC) and the African Champions Cup first leg tie between Sundowns and Mozam-bique's Costa do Sol (M-Net).

WEEK'S ACTION REPLAY

THEY get younger by the day, He's 18 and his name is Andy Roddick. Did I hear you say. "Andy who?" Not surprising. Pete Sampras was still getting to know the youngster when Roddick swept him out of the Ericcson Open in Miami. The TV image that sticks in the mind is of Roddick screaming in triumph at having dumped Sampras. In truth, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Said Gentleman Pete: "He's the beginning of a new American breed." - Michael Shafto

TODAY

Boxing: SA lightweight title, Mzonke Fana v Wiseman Jim, SABC2, 5.05pm.

Cricket: Third Test, West Indies v South Africa, day 4, SS on CSN and SS1 on DStv, 3.30pm.

Global Provincial Championship, Mumbai v KZN Dolphins, SS2 on DStv, 8.30am.

Golf: US PGA Tour, BellSouth Classic, final round, SS Int on DStv, 9pm.

US Senior Tour, Legends of Golf, SS Xtra1 on DStv, 8pm.

Motor Sport: Brazilian F1 Grand Prix, delayed, qualifying SABC3, 8.30am; race, delayed, SABC3, 8.30pm.

World Superbike racing from Kyalami, SS on M-Net, 11am and 3pm.

Rugby: Vodacom Cup, Pumas v WP, SS2 on DStv, 3pm.

Soccer: Castle Premiership, African Wanderers v Bfn Celtic, SABC2, 3pm.

Caf Cup: Sundowns v Costa do Sol, SS Int on DStv, 3pm.

English Premiership, Charlton v Leicester, SS Int on Dstv, 5pm.

English First Division, Blackburn v Burnley, SS1 on DStv, 12.50am.

Tennis: The Masters Series - Ericsson Open final, SS2 on DStv, 6.25pm.

MONDAY

Cricket: Third Test, West Indies v South Africa, day 5, SS1 on DStv, 3.30pm.

Global Provincial Championship, Western Australia v Central Districts (NZL), SS2 on DStv, 8.30am

Soccer: English Premiership, Southampton v Ipswich, SS Int on DStv, 9pm.

Wrestling: WWF Wrestlemania, SS2 on DStv, 3am.

TUESDAY

Cricket: Fourth ODI, India v Australia, SS Int on DStv, 5.30am.

Global Provincial Championship, Mumbai v Central Districts (NZL), SS2 on DStv, 8.25am.

Soccer: Uefa Champions League, Man Utd v Bayern Munich, delayed,

e-tv, 10.15pm.

WEDNESDAY

Cricket: Global Provincial Championship, final, SS2 on DStv, 8am.

Motor Sport: BobSave Superbowl, Spartak v Pirates, delayed, SABC2, 10pm.

Soccer: Uefa Champions League, Arsenal v Valencia, e-v, 8.30pm.

THURSDAY

Golf: The Masters, first round, SS Int on DStv, 10pm; and SS on M-Net, 10.45pm.

FRIDAY

Cricket: Fourth Test, West Indies v South Africa, day 1, SS1 on DStv, 3.30pm.

Fifth ODI, India v Australia, SS Int on DStv, 11am.

Golf: The Masters, second round, SS on M-Net and SS Int on DStv, 10pm.

Rugby: Super 12, Hurricanes v Brumbies, SS1 on DStv, 9.20am.

Vodacom Cup, Boland v Lions, SS2 on DStv, 4pm.

Vodacom Cup, EP v Falcons, SS2 on DStv, 7pm.

Soccer: English First Division, Burnley v Preston, SS Xtra1 on DStv, 8.45pm.

SATURDAY

Athletics: SA Youth Championships, H/L, SABC2, 2.30pm.

Boxing: Mbulelo Botile v Frank Taleda from Las Vegas, SS on CSN and SS Int on DStv, 3am

Cricket: Fourth Test, West Indies v South Africa, day 2, SS on CSN and SS1 on DStv, 3.30pm.

First ODI, Zimbabwe v Bangladesh, SS Xtra2 on DStv, 9.25am.

Golf: The Masters, third round, SS Int on DStv, 9.30pm; and SS on M-Net, 9.45pm.

Rugby: Super 12, Blues v Sharks, SS on M-Net and SS1 on DStv, 7.20am.

Super 12, Highlanders v Waratahs, SS on CSN, 9.30am and SS1 on DStv; SS on M-Net, 11am.

Super 12, Stormers v Reds, SS on M-Net and SS2 on DStv, 2.45pm.

Vodacom Cup, WP v Border, SABC3, 3pm.

Six Nations, England v France, SS Xtra1 on DStv, 4.30pm.

Soccer: Castle Premiership, Bfn Celtic v Free State sTars, SABC1, 3pm.

English Premiership, tba, SS Int on DStv, 4pm.

n All times supplied by TV channels

and subject to change