Oh, hey, sports fans! Didn’t see ya there. But now that I have you, let me just offer up a few suggestions for what to do if you want to get the most out of #sports this weekend.
WHAT TO WATCH
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
1. THE MASTERS!
Friday, 3-7 p.m. on ESPN
Saturday, 3-7 p.m. EST, Sunday, 2-7 p.m. EST on CBS
This is arguably the weekend’s biggest deal — or at least what most people will be talking about around the water cooler (are those still a thing?) on Monday — so get your pimento cheese sandwiches ready. Augusta is already rockin’, and you can watch the tournament on CBS all weekend.
The final two rounds are on Saturday and Sunday — but we’re also providing you with live updates on our delightful sports website. (Here’s ALL of our Masters coverage).
2. There’s NBA happening: Russell Westbrook goes for the triple-double record, Clippers vs. Spurs, Saturday at 8:30 p.m. EST on ABC
None of the games this week is absolutely can’t miss, though it is the last week of the regular season. Saturday’s national game is the Clippers vs. Spurs, if you’re interested. But the real thing to keep an eye on when it comes to basketball is the playoff standings, which we have assembled RIGHT HERE for your very own convenience.
Oh, also: You might want to watch the Thunder play the Suns on Friday night at 10 p.m. EST, because Russell Westbrook is going for the triple-double record. If he doesn’t do it on Friday, he has another chance when OKC plays the Nuggets on Sunday at 5 p.m. EST. (He also only needs six more assists to officially average a triple-double on the season.)
3. USA vs. Canada in the Women’s World Championship, Friday, 7:35 p.m. EST, on NHL network or NHL.com
“Canada and the USA have met in every single gold medal game in the history of the Women’s World Championship, dating back to 1990, with Canada winning 10 gold and the United States winning seven overall,” says SB Nation hockey dude Travis Hughes. “There’s a bit more on the line for the Americans this year after their much-publicized threat to boycott this tournament before finally winning their demands in negotiations with USA Hockey. Canada, meanwhile, has dropped the last three WWC gold medal games to the U.S. — including two on Canadian soil — so they will definitely be looking to spoil the party in Michigan.”
Here’s everything you need to know about the game.
4. Frozen Four National Championship Game, Minnesota Duluth vs. Denver: Saturday at 8 p.m. EST, ESPN
The top two seeds in the NCAA tournament have made it to the Finals: Denver beat Notre Dame, and Minnesota Duluth beat Harvard to advance to what I like to call the BIG DANCE of college hockey. THIS IS APRIL!!!
5. EVEN MORE HOCKEY, NHL-style
Here are the GAMES TO WATCH: The Penguins play in Toronto on Saturday (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network), Buffalo plays at Tampa Bay on Sunday (5 p.m. ET, MSG/Fox Sports), and Columbus plays at Toronto on Sunday (6 p.m. ET, Sportsnet/Fox Sports Ohio). Tampa’s three points back of the Leafs in the wild card after beating them on Thursday. They’ll battle for the final wild card spot all weekend.
6. Dodgers vs. Rockies, Saturday, 5:10 p.m. EST on SportsNet L.A., MLB TV
Watching Clayton Kershaw pitch is never, ever, ever a waste of time.
7. Well, we’ve got Patriots vs. Steele — hah, PSYCH! It’s spring; there’s no NFL.
Related to NFL, however: Rex Ryan will be calling the Florida State game when he makes his ESPN debut after getting fired by the Bills last season. RIP Rex Ryan’s Bills-themed pickup truck.
8. College football spring games!
Speaking of spring games, if you just can’t live without college football, here are some more:
Florida, 7:30 p.m. ET Friday, SEC Network
Auburn, 2 p.m. ET Saturday, SEC Network
Oklahoma, 2 p.m. ET Saturday, Fox Sports Net
Texas A&M, 2 p.m. ET Saturday, ESPNU
Clemson, 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, ACC Extra
Florida State, 3 p.m. ET Saturday, ESPN
9. Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund, 12:30 p.m. EST, Saturday on FS1
“Bayern Munich already has the German championship in the bag,” says our soccer editor Kevin McCauley. “But Dortmund is really good, so this game will be fun. American Christian Pulisic also might play for Dortmund.”
Listen, I don’t know much about soccer, but I do know that Pulisic is a sensation — if this happens, you should watch.
10. Cycling? Yes, cycling!
Paris-Roubaix 2017, live at 4:35 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Gold, finishing around 8 a.m. (This will re-air on NBCSN at 7 p.m. ET on Monday)
“Cycling isn’t a popular sport outside of the Tour de France, which is a shame because it’s one of the most dangerous, silly, and thrilling sports on Earth,” says SB Nation’s very own Louis Bien. “Paris-Roubaix, which will take place on Sunday, is as dangerous, silly, and thrilling as it gets. The one-day classic takes place north of Paris across bad terrain and cobblestones, and it’s nicknamed “the Hell of the North.” Like golf, nothing happens for most of the event. Unlike golf, when something does happen it’s chaos.”
WHAT TO READ:
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
ON SB NATION:
Brendan Porath talked to Masters legend Gary Player about Augusta without Arnie (heart breaks all over again).
Jessica Luther and Avital Norman Nathman on Quinnipiac’s women’s rugby team’s fight for equality.
Here’s a wacked-out live blog of WrestleMania I wrote.
Tom Ziller on how Russell Westbrook is an inspiration.
Zito Madu on LeBron being turbo-mode LeBron.
Tyler Tynes on NFL players fighting for criminal justice reform.
Ricky O’Donnell on the stories behind UNC’s redemption tour.
Louis Bien on Tony Romo’s career now that he’s leaving football to replace Phil Simms as an announcer on CBS.
Adam Stites on how Marshawn Lynch would be the perfect person to send the Raiders out of Oakland.
Kevin McCauley on what the U.S. Women’s National Team got in its collective bargaining deal.
Richard Johnson on the Kick Six.
Matt Ufford on the problem the NBA has with resting players:
OFF SB NATION
Anya Alvarez on how golf is ready for a women’s Masters for The Guardian.
Chris Ballard on Monty Williams for Sports Illustrated.
Gabriella Levine on UConn’s dynasty for The Hartford Courant.
Bill Barnwell on the four versions of Tony Romo for ESPN.
Rodger Sherman on Oscar Robertson’s triple-doubles for The Ringer.
Kate Cimini for Sports Illustrated on North Dakota’s women’s hockey program getting cut.
