Play it forward: Sept. 13-19 on your sports calendar

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

MONDAY

NFL: Baltimore at N.Y. Jets, 4 p.m., ESPN; San Diego at Kansas City, 7:15 p.m., ESPN:

The Jets' latest reality series continues. Or, rather, debuts for real. The last four teams who've yet to play a game get on the field, but the Jets have the most off-season buzz thanks to an HBO show that allowed coach Rex Ryan to be himself. Although the Giants played at the New Meadowlands in a game that counted Sunday, the Jets get their chance tonight. Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski are present for the ESPN broadcast. As soon as it ends, we go to K.C. for Brad Nessler and Trent Dilfer (thankfully, no Mike Ditka involvement) for the Chargers' opener in the newly renovated Arrowhead Stadium. It's the first MNF game in K.C. since November, 2004.

Tennis: U.S. Open men's final: Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic, Channel 2, 1 p.m.:

Whether or not you agree, the weather says to push this back a day to here, where it'll knock out "As The World Turns," "Rachael Ray" and "Judge Judy."

TUESDAY

Soccer: Chivas Classico: Chivas de Guadalajara vs. Chivas USA, San Diego's Petco Park, 8 p.m.:

While the NL West-leading Padres are immersed in a 10-game, 11-day road trip, Petco Park will be torn up for an exhibition soccer game because the city wants to bring soccer to the downtown area. Why not have it at Qualcomm Park, the Chargers' home field? Although the Petco grass cutters will have more than a week to fix it up, some of the Padres players weren't happy to hear about this contest. San Diego relief pitcher Heath Bell told the San Diego Union-Tribune that the plan was "asinine. ... Let's see, they held a concert during Comic-Con and killed the grass in left (field). OK, so let's go to a soccer match. We're in a pennant race. Much of the nation will probably be seeing us for the first time. Shouldn't we be trying to put our best foot forward?" We are, with global football. Now, open the border and let the Mexico fans in.

MLB: Dodgers at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m., Channel 9:

Probably just as well the Dodgers continue their 10-game roadie away from the McCourt mess going on in the L.A. courts this week. Players wearing Dodger uniforms you may see competing in this series: Mitchell, Oeltjen, Ellis, Lindsey and Link. Have at 'em, Zito. The last 18 games of the year for the Dodgers are against NL West foes And all of them will be called by Vin Scully (no more Eric Collins).

MLB: Angels at Cleveland, 4 p.m., FSW:

We're so done with the Indians. But the Angels aren't. Play 16-inning affairs in each of the next three if you really want to get anyone's attention.

WEDNESDAY

MLB: Dodgers at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m., Prime:

ESPN has already locked this game into their schedule for this night, right after the Yankees-Rays telecast. This is the network, after all, whose reporter Buster Ulney revealed last week that the Giants' Aubrey Huff is "the guy wearing the lucky red thong ... and we know that's very crucial for their divisional hopes." Huff put it on to break out of a 3-for-32 slump last week. And it's working. Don't get huffy about the rally thong.

MLB: Angels at Cleveland, 4 p.m., FSW:

We suggest watching the movie "Major League" for the 158th time for two hours better spent memorizing lines.

Series debut: "Survivor," Channel 2, 8 p.m.:

Jimmy Johnson, the 67-year-old former Super Bowl and college football national champion coach, currently a Fox NFL studio analyst, allows his hair to get mussed up during this year's series that takes place in Nicaragua. We can't tell you if he won, but we're guessing at some point, Terry Bradshaw will let it slip. Talking to reporters later week, Johnson said he knew the reality series was popular, but he's surprised that more people he runs into wants to talk to him about the show instead of football. Or his use of ExtenZe. Johnson' came back not only thinner, but with shorter hair. No hair jell allowed on the island. "I did have my hair shorter than it has been since I've been in high school," he said. "A big part of the show, I was standing there in my underwear, so I wasn't really concerned what I looked like."

THURSDAY

MLB: Dodgers at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m., Channel 9:

The Dodgers' season-long 10-game road trip finally ends. You guess as to how many games below .500 they'll be at this juncture.

MLB: Angels at Cleveland, 4 p.m., FSW:

And, when this is done, we're leaving Cleveland and heading to Florida. LeBron-ja-vue.

MLB: Minnesota at Chicago White Sox, 5 p.m., MLB Network:

The last regularly scheduled matchup between the top two teams in the AL Central. Manny, the stage is set.

FRIDAY

MLB: Dodgers vs. Colorado, Dodger Stadium, 7:10 p.m., Prime:

The Rockies come into this week with a 10-game winning streak before playing three against the Padres, and in theory could come into thie game against the Dodgers leading the NL West -- just as many predicted could happen before the season started. Jim Tracy's boys have found their late-season juice again. And if you want to see a real-life Triple Crown candidate? Rockies center fielder Carlos Gonzalez (.337 leads the league, 32 HRs is fourth and 100 RBIs is third) is right there with Joey Votto and Albert Pujols. And the 24-year-old Gonzalez is making just $406,000 this year.

MLB: Angels at Tampa Bay, 4 p.m., FSW:

The Angels' tour of the non-AL West continues in the great domed facility -- one of two remaining with fake grass. In their last series, back at Anaheim, the Rays won two of three but the Angels won the finale when Mike Napol drove in six runs off Jeff Niemann.

SATURDAY

College football: USC at Minnesota, 12:30 p.m., ESPN:

A breakdown in the latest ESPN Magazine of all 120 FBS mascots reveal there are 16 of them named after warriors (such as the Trojans) and just two named after rodents (in this case, Gophers). Looking for the other rodent? Go for it. These Minnesotans should not be confused with those from Minnesota State -- which, of course, doesn't exist, except in reruns of "Coach." Then again, Minnesota State would have never lost to South Dakota. The Gophers did that last week, 41-38.

College football: UCLA vs. Houston, Rose Bowl, 7:30 p.m., Prime:

We thought this "monopoly" ad would come in handy. Again. After a 35-0 loss to Stanford, dropping the Bruins to 0-2 with a game against No. 6 Texas coming up in two weeks, winning this one against the Cougars seems to be must or else 0-4 is looking mightly probable. Houston running back Bryce Beal is 15th in the nation in rushing yards (243), but the numbers that jump out the most after two games -- five TDs (tied for second) and a 10.1 yards-per-carry average (third overall). Teammate Michael Hayes also has four rushing TDs. Houston is also officially averaging 61 points a game so far.

MLB: Dodgers vs. Colorado, Dodger Stadium, 1:10 p.m., Prime:

Just be aware of this kid, Chris Nelson, when he's standing all by himself at third base with no one paying attention. He'll swipe home on you.

MLB: Angels at Tampa Bay, 4 p.m., Channel 13:

The talk continues that Hideki Matsui, who struggled in the first half of the season but has hit over .400 in August and Septebmer, may not have done enough to ensure the Angels will bring him back next year. The 36-year-old will go free after a one-year, $6 million deal with the Angels. He said when he joined the New York Yankees in 2003, his goal was to play 10 big-league seasons. "Right now, the way I see it, I really don't have a longterm goal," Matsui said. "I look at it year-by-year. I have to wait until the season finishes and then think about what will happen next. As of right now, I have no thoughts about going back to Japan." Why not? It's what most MLB players think about doing at the end of their careers.

Soccer: Galaxy vs. D.C. United, Home Depot Center, 7:30 p.m., FSW:

Becks is back, Buddle is scoring again and the Galaxy look united with a three-point lead over the Salt Lakers. Maybe it's best that Beckham stick to coming in as a reserve for a while. ESPN's Jeff Carlisle described his return last week against Columbus: "Even before he entered the game ... he looked set to take a Monty Python sketch to an even more absurd conclusion, threatening to lead the Ministry of Silly Walks, Lunges, Leans and Skips in an effort to keep his surgically repaired Achilles loose on the sideline."

Boxing: Sugar Shane Mosley vs. Sergio Mora, Staples Center, 6 p.m.:

The Mexican bicentennial rings in L.A. with 39-year-old Mosley, his best years behind him, taking on Mora (21-1-1 with six KOs). Not to split cabellos here, but both of them are U.S. Americans. "This should be a great fight," Mosley has said. "Sergio Mora is definitely a competitor and he's coming to fight. He's the right opponent right now because he's tough, he's bigger than me, it's in LA and fighting at the Staples Center in front of 20,000 people is exciting. It's very important for me to fight there and give the hometown fans a chance to see me up close, and I'm predicting a knockout." Mexican welterweight Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and top junior welterweight contender Victor Ortiz will fight co-featured bouts. The card starts at 2 p.m.

SUNDAY

NASCAR: Sprint Cup at New Hampshire, ESPN, 10 a.m.:

Again, we're not sure how NASCAR does its post-season. While the top 12 drivers are battling during the last 10 races, there's still a full field to race against. Any one of the "non playoff" racers can knock someone else out with a sharp left turn. Since "The Chase" was brought into the fold in 2004, only Jimmie Johnson has qualifed every year, and with a season-high-tying five wins coming into this, he's still in the thick of it, 10 points behind leader Denny Hamlin. Remember, the chase will run through Fontana again on Oct. 10.

MLB: Dodgers vs. Colorado, Dodger Stadium, 1:10 p.m., Prime:

Maybe this is the time Joe Torre allows Kenley Jansen to pitch and catch in the same game.

MLB: Angels at Tampa Bay, 10:30 a.m., FSW:

Good luck to the Rays when the playoffs start. Sorry the Angels couldn't have made it more competitive.

NFL: New York Giants at Indianapolis, 5:20 p.m., Channel 4:

The sequel to Manning Bowl I will be tough to match the first one -- on Sept. 10, 2006, Peyton Manning's Colts pulled off a 26-21 win over Eli Manning's Giants in East Rutherford, N.J. Peyton finished 25-of-41 for 276 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The two-time MVP also led the Colts to scores on five of their first seven possessions. Eli was 20-of-34 for 247 yards and two TDs. He also had two costly second-half mistakes -- a fumble and an interception, both of which came with New York down two points. Both led to Indianapolis scores. (By the way, there actually was a Manning Bowl, a football and soccer stadium in Lynn, Mass., that served as home to the Boston Yanks of the NFL from 1944 to '48 (linked here).

NFL: Jacksonville at San Diego, 1:15 p.m., Channel 2:

Early indications are this one won't even sell out, meaning L.A. could get to see CBS' coverage of Patriots-Jets instead. Chargers CEO Dean Spanos has told the media that slow ticket sales are "an unfortunate fallout of the economy. We haven't raised prices in over three years. We have payment schedules to ease the burden. ... " You could always close up and move back to L.A.