Play it forward: Feb. 8-14 on your sports calendar

Highlights of the week ahead in sports, both here and afar:

TODAY

NBA: Lakers vs. San Antonio, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., TNT:
Eva Longoria-Parker can't be desperate enough to want to come to this game and get some national TV exposure, right? Is Tony even playing or is that ankle giving him trouble again? This is the Spurs' annual "Rodeo Trip" where they take the road for eight games because of some hoe-down in San Antonio. L.A. has the Grammy Break. San Antonio has the Achy Breaky Break.

NHL: Kings at Ducks, Honda Center, 7 p.m., Prime Ticket:
A win over the Ducks would make it an even 10 straight for the Kings. A Ducks win would make it 10 wins in a row at home. That's something else. Meanwhile, it's four down and two to go in the series after this latest slugfest. There's one more home-and-home on April 3 and 6, a week before the playoffs start -- and perhaps, the Ducks will still be scrambling for the No. 8 spot.

TUESDAY

NBA: Clippers vs. Utah, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket:
Kim Hughes. That's not a player on the Sparks, but the new Clippers coach? Hmmm. So far, no wins. C'mon, Kimmy.

WEDNESDAY

NBA: Lakers at Utah, 6 p.m., Channel 9; Clippers at Golden State, 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket:

After these two games, whatta say we knock of until next week and let those who didn't make the upcoming NBA All-Star Game head over to Hawaii, soak up some rays, hang out with the NFL Pro Bowl guys .... what do you mean?

THURSDAY

Golf: PGA Tour: AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, first round, Golf Channel, noon to 3 p.m. (final round, Channel 2, noon to 3:30 p.m.):
Celebrities who are supposed to play: Billy Murray ... why do you need to know any more? George Lopez, Tom Brady, Ray Romano, Tony Romo, Vin Gill and Kelly Slater will tag along for the whale watching. And to watch Chris Berman.

NHL: Kings vs. Edmonton, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., FSW:
Last meeting: A Kings' 3-2 road win back in the middle of December, when Sean O'Donnell somehow ended a drought of 157 games without a goal to tally the game-winner with 4:33 remaining.

FRIDAY

Winter Olympics: Opening ceremony, 7:30 p.m., Channel 4:
In 2011, Vancouver's BC Place will unveil an innovative, energy-saving retractable roof. But not in time for the Opening Ceremonies of the 23rd Winter Games, making it the first time this event will take place in doors. This warms our heart. By the way, BC Place can be rented out for movie shoots -- don't they shoot all films in Vancouver now? It's already been used in "The Lizzy McGuire Movie" and "Best in Show." Hang around long enough and they'll start on "Tooth Fairy 2."

SATURDAY

Winter Olympics: 2 to 6 p.m. and 8 to 11:30 p.m., Channel 4:
Apolo Ohno has a chance to win gold in the men's 1,500 meter short track in the prime-time edition of Day 2. Before that, the first gold medal will be given out in ski jumping, men's 5,000-meter speed skating and the women's biathlon during the daytime coverage.

NHL: Kings vs. Colorado, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., FSW:
After this contest, the league takes a hiatus until March so some players can compete in the Winter Olympics hockey competition for their countries. The others can sit around, eat donuts and play foosball.

SUNDAY

College basketball: UCLA at USC, Galen Center, 7 p.m., FSW:
BIG SCORE: Way back when -- it had to be less than a month ago -- the Trojans recorded a 67-46 thumping over the Bruins -- the 21-point margin was the greatest ever for a Trojan team at Pauley Pavilion and the most against at UCLA team in 65 years. "I'm embarrassed for our team," UCLA coach Ben Howland said. "I feel embarrassed for the program, for the former players and coaches. That's all you can say, it was embarrassing." Not as embarrassing as it would be if the Trojans beat the Bruins this time at Galen Center by more than 34 points -- that's the all-time margin (60-26) set back in 1940.

NBA: All-Star Game, TNT, 5 p.m.
KISS ME: Can't really see Kobe Bryant and LeBron James puckering up before this extravagant exhibition game the way Magic and Isiah used to. The best of the West and East will likely take a back seat to the game being played in the Dallas Cowboys' home stadium with the mega-tron video screen hanging over them. "From a shooter's standpoint, I would like to play in a smaller venue," said TNT analyst Reggie Miller, "but ... you're playing in a place where there will potentially be 100,000 people watching you ... sight lines really don't matter. Personally for me, I can't wait to watch it on 'Jerry-Vision.' That's awesome."

Auto racing: Daytona 500, Channel 11, 9 a.m.
REV MY ENGINE: Despite a rain-shortened race in 2009, the event still drew 16 million TV viewers, more than the NCAA Final Four (13.5 million), 2008 Summer Olympics, (15.2 million), 2009 NBA Finals (14.3 million), Kentucky Derby (11.8 million), final round of The Masters (14.3 million), and the final round of the U.S. Open (7.1 million).

Drag racing: Winternationals at Pomona, ESPN2, 5 to 8 p.m. (delayed)
DRAG QUEEN: The National Hot Rod Association starts its 24-event season at the 50th Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, and the plan is to pay tribute to its past with as many of the legendary cars, drivers, and magical moments they can get into the facility. It was February, 1961 when NHRA founder Wally Parks hosted the first running of the now-historic and iconic Winternationals. Qualifying starts Saturday from 8 to 11 p.m.

Winter Olympics, 1 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 11 p.m., Channel 4:
I HEART CURLING: Speedskating, luge, biathlon, the Nordic combined ... it's all out there on Day 3, plus the first look at the U.S. women's hockey team (noon, USA Network, vs. China) and Lindsay Vonn propelling herself down the ski slopes in prime time. But those really in the know can't wait for cartoon curling. Fox has counterprogrammed an episode of "The Simpsons" (Channel 11, 8 p.m.) where Marge (a world-class sweeper) and Homer (with that bowling technique down) represent the U.S. curling team. Says Simpson's writer Rob LaZebnik: "We liked the idea of a sport that you could do with your spouse, and all the issues that presents. Plus, we're hoping we get free Olympic stuff." To get Marge and Homer on the same team, the writers had to declare "mixed curling" a demonstration sport. Just like there could be mixed hockey.