The sporting week on TV

THE MAIN EVENT

WHILE not wanting to detract from the outstanding coverage of the Test series against the West Indies on SuperSport 1, one fault urgently needs to be pointed out. No, it doesn't have to do with Geoffrey Boycott. From what we can gauge most viewers are highly satisfied with "ower Geoff" and his "muther", who can bat, bowl and field better than just about anybody. That's not the problem; rather it is this: M-Net should realise that while the medium of television is largely a vehicle for entertainment, it is also an organ for straight, hard news.

Few, except the fanatics or perhaps the idle rich without jobs to get up for, were likely to have watched a day's play through until the close at midnight. Nothing was more exasperating therefore, on waking and switching on at 6am for the previous day's highlights, than to be led through the fall of each wicket, with no reference to the close of play score until the very last moment.

Would it not be a far better idea to introduce the highlights with the close of play score and then a 30-second look at the complete scorecard?

CRICKET

LET's stay with Shaun Pollock's tourists in the West Indies where a hiccup in the last Test saw South Africa come away with a 2-1 victory in the series. The first of the seven-match ODI series was played yesterday in Jamaica and two more are scheduled for this week. The second takes place in Antigua on Wednesday and the third is scheduled for Grenada on Saturday.

The presence of Jonty Rhodes could provide an important key for a successful outcome of the series for the South Africans. It's been a very long summer for Pollock's men, but the ebullience of Rhodes, his enthusiasm and will to win should provide the tourists with a major boost.

Coach Graham Ford acknowledges: "He is a brilliant motivator and his presence to us is absolutely crucial." So, Jonty, get to it lad. Danielle's pram will be parked in front of the TV and she'll be waving her rattle.

SOCCER

ONE BobSave Super Bowl semi-final down and one to go as last year's winners Kaizer Chiefs take on Sundowns with former Chiefs and Bafana captain Neil Tovey at the helm of the latter. The match is at FNB Stadium today (kickoff 3pm).

Both teams are looking sharp and Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral has remarked that this is the true final. It is, in fact, a repeat of last year's final which Sundowns took 1-0.

In their last PSL outing Sundowns beat Ajax, Cape Town, 3-2, while Amakhosi have come off an awesome 5-0 drubbing of Bloem Celtic in the Free State capital.

Don't forget Bafana Bafana's make or break World Cup qualifier with Zimbabwe at the same venue on Saturday. If Bafana can wrap up this one, they are home and dry for the 2002 world tournament in Japan and Korea.

- For European Champions League details see below.

WEEK'S INSTANT REPLAY

IT'S a week that has much to offer besides the coming attractions already mentioned. Today, for starters, there is the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, with "baby" Schumacher, Ralf - having finally cut his teeth on the San Marino GP a fortnight ago - hungry for more.

Then there's big golf in Europe and the US, both tournaments starting on Thursday. Also soccer World Cup qualifiers in various parts on Friday, and the league section of rugby's Super 12 continues to wind down with a four-match weekend package - Wellington Hurricanes v Chiefs (Friday); Auckland Blues v Brumbies, Waratahs v Crusaders and Bulls v Stormers (Saturday).

But looking back to the past week's most significant moment, it has to be Courtney Walsh's momentous farewell to Test cricket. We probably will never see his like again. With 132 Tests to his credit in which he took a phenomenal 519 wickets, Walsh (pictured) has been aptly dubbed "the workhorse who became a thoroughbred. It is very possible that no other bowler will surpass his record. His combination of endurance, strength and tenacity made him a unique performer. The South Africans should indeed be honoured that the last moments of this illustrious career were played out against them.

TODAY

Athletics: Old Mutual World of Endurance, 1pm-1.30pm, SABC3.

Boxing: Rothmann v Hobson, 6pm, CSN.

Cricket: First ODI, highlights from West Indies v SA, 6am-7am, SABC3 and M-Net.

West Indies v SA, 4pm, M-Net.

Zimbabwe v Bangladesh, second Test 3rd day highlights, 8.15pm, CSN.

General: Guts and Glory - talk show, M-Net, 1pm.

Golf: Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic, third round, live, 9pm, CSN.

Portuguese Open, final round, delayed, 12.05am, CSN.

Motorcycling: Japanese Superbikes, 1.30pm, M-Net.

Motorsport: Spanish F1 Grand Prix live, 1.30pm-4pm, SABC3.

Spanish F1 Grand Prix, repeat 11pm-2am, SABC3.

Rugby: Super 12: Stormers v Chiefs, 7.50am, Crusaders v Sharks 9.40am, both on DStv.

Soccer: BobSave semi-finals: Kaizer Chiefs v Sundowns, 2.30pm-5.05pm, SABC2.

Cosafa Cup: Mozambique v SA, live, 2.50pm, SuperSport International on DStv.

English Division I: Blackburn Rovers v Portsmouth, live, 5pm, SuperSport International on DStv.

English Premier League game played earlier, 9pm, DStv.

Surfing: Billabong Polar Ice junior series highlights from Victoria Bay, 8.45pm, CSN.

Tennis: Davis Cup: SA v Yugoslavia, live from Nelspruit, 12.30pm-5.30pm, SABC1.

ATP Tour highlights, 3.30pm, M-Net.

TOMORROW

Golf: Pitch & Putter, 5am, M-Net.

Rugby: World of Rugby, 7.10am, M-Net.

Soccer: World of Soccer, 8.30am-9.30am, SABC1.

English Premier League, Charlton v Ipswich, live, 8.50pm, CSN.

Italian Serie A highlights, 11pm, SuperSport International on DStv.

Tenpin: USA v Europe challenge, 2pm, CSN and DStv.

TUESDAY

Soccer: On the Ball, 5am, M-Net.

Topsport special, Jomo Cosmos v Orlando Pirates, live, 3.30pm-5.30pm, SABC2.

Best of English, 10pm-11pm, SABC1.

Gold English Premier League: Arsenal v Leeds (1998), Liverpool v Newcastle, (1999), 9am, SuperSport1 on DStv and CSN.

Cosafa Cup: Mozambique v SA, 4.10pm on SuperSport International on DStv.

English Premier League: Chelsea v Leeds, Coventry v Liverpool, 6pm on SuperSport International on DStv.

Tennis: ATP tour highlights, 6.30am, M-Net.

WEDNESDAY

Athletics: The Human Race, 8.20am, SuperSport 1 on DStv.

Cricket: Second ODI, West Indies v SA, live from Antigua, 3pm, SuperSport 1 on DStv.

Darts: World MatchPlay champs, 11.30pm, SuperSport 1 on DStv.

Rugby: Boots & All, 5am, M-Net.

Soccer: Topsport special, Golden Arrows v Sundowns, delayed, 10.15pm-12.15am, SABC2.

THURSDAY

Cricket: Second ODI, highlights from West Indies v SA, 6am-7am, SABC3.

Golf: Perrier Open, first round, live from France, 3pm, SuperSport 2 on DStv.

FRIDAY

General: Sportsnite, 10.15pm-11.45pm, SABC1

Rugby: Super 12: Hurricanes v Chiefs, live, 9.20am, SuperSport 1 on DStv.

SATURDAY

General: Mabaleng: Comrades build-up, boxing, tribute series, Sasol soccer scene, athletics, 12pm-6pm, SABC1

- All times supplied by TV channels and subject to change