Weekend Watchdog: At the world’s fastest half-mile
NASCAR spends an exciting weekend in Bristol, with thousands of fans converging on the high-banked half-mile track.
It’s the 50th anniversary of the small track just across the border from Virginia, which draws thousands to the area and packs all hotels within miles.
The Sprint Cup teams pack the infield for their race Saturday night on ABC. The Nationwide racers get their chance to bang around the track Friday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Across the country, the Indy Cars are in Sonoma Sunday at 4 p.m. on Versus.
Little League baseball crowns its champion this weekend. The International final will be set after Thursday’s 4 p.m. game on ESPN, then the local Pennsylvania team battles California at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
ABC has the International final Saturday at noon, followed by the United States final at 3 p.m. The consolation game will be Sunday at 11 a.m. on ESPN, with the title game on ABC at 3 p.m.
FOX offers the choice of four games Saturday afternoon, as the Tigers face the Twins along with three National League contests – Pirates at Cardinals, Braves-Mets and Rockies taking on the Dodgers. ESPN has the Angels meeting the Rangers Sunday night.
Pending Irene’s path, the Orioles will meet the Yankees on TBS Sunday afternoon and MASN. Prior to that, they have a Thursday afternoon game at Minnesota on MASN and games Friday and Saturday on MASN. The Nationals take on Arizona Thursday on MASN, then head to Cincinnati for the weekend on MASN2.
The third week of the NFL preseason opens with the Redskins taking on the Ravens Thursday at 8 p.m. on ESPN. CBS offers a pair of contests – Packers at Colts Friday and Patriots visiting Detroit Saturday – before NBC closes the weekend with the Saints taking on Oakland.
The PGA tour starts its playoff run this weekend at the Barclays. CBS has coverage Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday starting at 2 p.m.
It’s almost time for the U.S. Open, and top players prepare at the New Haven Open and Winston-Salem Open. ESPN2 heads to New Haven Thursday at 3 p.m. and Friday at 2 p.m., with the final showing Saturday at 5 p.m. CBS has the final from Winston-Salem Saturday at 12:30 p.m., after ESPN2 goes with Friday’s play at 12:30 p.m.
D.C. United takes on Portland Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on Comcast. The women’s soccer league holds its championship game Saturday at 4 p.m. on Comcast.
In the WNBA, the Mystics host Phoenix Sunday at 4 p.m. on Comcast.
Weekend Watchdog: Are you ready for some football?
No more legal pads. Time for shoulder pads.
The NFL preseason kicks off Thursday when the Baltimore Ravens visit Philadelphia at 7:30 p.m. on Comcast. The Redskins take their turn Friday at 7:30 p.m., hosting the Steelers on Comcast.
ESPN begins its coverage Thursday at 8 p.m. when the Seahawks visit San Diego. Friday, FOX has Tampa Bay heading to Kansas City at 8 p.m. and the Jets take on the Texans Monday at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
No more lawyers and lockouts. Now it’s time for linebackers and blockers to take center stage.
The PGA tour has its final major of the season this weekend, with the PGA championship from outside Atlanta. TNT has coverage of the first two rounds, starting at 1 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Early birds can catch the start of the final two rounds at 11 a.m., while CBS takes over at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The Pirates are on national TV this weekend, facing the Brewers on FOX. Other Saturday afternoon games are Rays at Yankees and the Rangers taking on Oakland. TBS shows the Rays-Yankees Sunday afternoon, while ESPN offers Colorado at St. Louis on Sunday night.
The Orioles close out a series with the White Sox Thursday on MASN, then host Detroit for the weekend on MASN2. The Nationals take on the Cubs Thursday at 2 p.m before heading home to meet the Phillies for a weekend series on MASN.
Like your baseball with younger players? The road to the Little League World Series begins this weekend, with a Midwest semifinal Thursday at 2 p.m. on ESPN. ESPN2 has the second Midwest final at 6 p.m., along with the Southwest final at 8 p.m. and Northwest finals at 4 and 10 p.m.
The Mid-Atlantic semifinals are on Friday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., then the Southeast final goes Friday at 8 p.m. on ESPN. ESPN2 heads West for semifinals at 5 and 11.
Four regions have their finals on ESPN Saturday, starting with the Great Lakes at 11 a.m. At 5 p.m., the Northwest crowns its champion followed by the Midwest and West. New England’s representative to the Little League World Series comes out of the 1 p.m. game on ESPN2. The Mid-Atlantic title game is Sunday at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
NASCAR heads to upstate New York for the Sour Cream Dips race at Watkins Glen. NASCAR coverage starts Sunday at 1 p.m, while the Nationwide racers hit the track Saturday at 2 p.m.
The IndyCar racers are in New Hampshire Sunday at 3:30 p.m., with ABC at the Move that block.com 225.
D.C. United hosts Vancouver Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on Comcast.
The road to the U.S. Open continues with the Rogers Cup on ESPN2. Play begins Thursday and Friday at noon, then 3 p.m. on Saturday. The finals go Sunday at 1 p.m.
NBC has skateboarding from Portland as the Dew Tour offers the Skateboard Street finals Saturday and BMX Dirt finals Sunday.
