Play It Foward: June 20-26 on your sports calendar

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

THIS WEEK'S BEST BET

MLB: Dodgers vs. Angels, Dodger Stadium, Friday (7:10 p.m., Prime, Channel 13), Saturday (1:10 p.m., Channel 11) and Sunday (1:10 p.m., Prime, Channel 13):

Since 2005, when owner Arte Moreno decided his Orange County-based team would be officially called the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in hopes of broadening their geographic appeal, the "LAA" and the "LAD" have had to make the necessary distinctions in their abbreviations. And we've just lived with it. Just when we thought that running joke had run its course, Nike came out this past winter with new $19.95 T-shirts for sale that had not just the "L.A." logo on the back, but the words "The Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles" on the front. Too little too late? The product description:

"Adoring sports fans across the nation always find a certain way to personalize their love for whichever team they follow. The Local tee from Nike is the perfect way to show off your dedication to the Dodgers with a tailored statement of team spirit made just for L.A. enthusiasts like you. It features a full team name in large, bold print across the front to mock their home city rivals, and an equally striking team logo across the back for an unquestionable testament to your team pride. It's the ultimate piece of equipment for any diehard fan that's ready to steal home for their favorite team!" When shown on several Angel blogs what the shirts looked like, one fan countered: "Why don't we have shirts that read: The Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles -- It Wasn't Our Idea." Great idea. And wear that with the retro "L.A." caps that the Angels have been sporting at times this season to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Rubby De La Rosa, who gave up five runs in a loss to Houston last time out, is scheduled to start the series opener against Dan Haren

MONDAY

Tennis: Wimbledon, first round matches, 4 a.m., ESPN2:

MLB: Dodgers vs. Detroit, Dodger Stadium, 7 p.m., Channel 9:

Tigers ace Justin Verlander will miss his turn throwing against the Dodgers in this series, but Brad Penny won't. The former Dodgers ace, with a modest 5-5 record and 4.93 ERA, pitches for his fourth team since leaving L.A. after the 2008 season. The Tigers pitcher that L.A. fans might want to keep an eye on: Reliever Al Albuquerque. Sounds like a guy who the Dodgers just brought up from Triple-A to help fill a roster spot after the latest injury. The series moves on with games Tuesday (7 p.m., Channel 9m a beach towel giveaway on the first official day of summer) and Wednesday afternoon (12:10 p.m., Prime, half-priced food and drink).

MLB: Angels at Florida, 4:10 p.m., FSW:

The resignation of Edwin Rodriguez as the Marlins' manager as the team has gone 1-for-June so far comes as the Angels have won four of six and upped their interleague record to a baseball-best 53-25 since 2007. The Angels get two more in Miami, on Tuesday and Wednesday (4:10 p.m., FSW).

Baseball: College World Series: North Carolina vs. Texas, 11 a.m.; Vanderbilt vs. Florida, 4 p.m., ESPN:

Either Texas or North Carolina is two and done at the end of the day. By the end of the week, two teams will be left -- Cal, Virginia, Texas A&M and defending champ South Carolina are in the mix as well - for the finals.

TUESDAY

WNBA: Sparks vs. New York, Staples Center, 7 p.m., ESPN2:

Fifteen years to the day of the league's first game between the Sparks and Liberty -- L.A. vs. N.Y. -- they've arranged to have them play each other again. During the telecast the WNBA will present the 30 nominees for the top 15 players in WNBA history.

WEDNESDAY

MLB: Philadelphia at St. Louis, 4 p.m., ESPN:

The latest rumors of having one NL team move to the AL to create two 15-team divisions would eliminate the need to have one NL game played, like this one, in the middle of interleague play.

Soccer: CONCACAF Golf Cup semifinals: U.S. vs. Panama, 4 p.m.; Honduras vs. Mexico, 7 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel:

As the semis move to Houston, Bob Bradley may have to rethink things. Maybe the future of the American team works best with Landon Donovan coming off the bench.

THURSDAY

NBA draft, 4:30 p.m., ESPN:

From all mocked drafts we've read, the Cavs (not the Clippers) will capture 19-year-old point guard Kyrie Irving from Duke with the No. 1 overall pick. Then the Timberwolves nab 20-year-old forward Derrick Williams from Arizona. The Jazz pass on Jimmer Fredette (don't worry, they'll get him later) and choose 19-year-old Brandon Knight from Kentucky. Enes Kanter, the former Stoneridge Prep of Simi Valley kid? UCLA's Tyler Honeycutt and Malcolm Lee? USC's Nikola Vucevic, Washington's Justin Holiday (Jrue's little brother from Campbell Hall) or Washington State's Klay Thompson? They'll have to wait their turn. The Lakers have no first-round pick (they gave it to New Jersey), but four in the second (numbers 41, 46, 56 and 58). The Clippers, who gave away what ended up as the No. 1 overall pick to Cleveland, have picks 47 and 57.

Golf: LPGA Championship, first round, 9:30 a.m., Golf Channel:

Christie Kerr defeated Song-Hee Kim by 12 strokes to run away at last year's event -- and she hasn't won a tournament since. This event is back at the Locust Hill Country Club outside of Rochester, N.Y.

FRIDAY

NHL draft, 8:30 a.m., NHL Network:

The hockey experts who'll gather in St. Paul, Minn., for this one agree that with the No. 1 pick, the Edmonton Oilers will select 6-foot-4 Canadian center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The Kings don't have a first-round pick -- they gave it away to Edmonton, at No. 19, in the deal late last season to get Dustin Penner. Oh, well. The first Kings' pick is at No. 49, followed by Nos. 80, 110, 140, 170 and 200. The Ducks are on the clock with the 22nd choice.

SATURDAY

MLS: Galaxy at San Jose, 3:30 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel; Chivas at Philadelphia, 4:30 p.m., Prime:

The Galaxy (9-2-7) is the only team in the league with five road wins. With or without their full roster.

Soccer: CONCACAF Gold Cup final, Rose Bowl, 6 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel and Univision:

Pasadena's landmark facility hosts the Gold Cup on its 20th anniversary, having also had it there in 2002, won by the U.S.

SUNDAY

Soccer: FIFA Women's World Cup: Germany vs. Canada, 8:30 a.m., ESPN:

Let the girls begin. Germany is the two-time defending champ, and Berlin is home to the quadrennial kickball tournament. The first appearance by the Americans, who have finished third the last two events, comes up next Tuesday against North Korea. The finale: July 17.