REAL GAMES » On Thursday night, while the NFL treats its fans to one more round of full-cost meaningless games, North Carolina State plays South Carolina and Oregon State plays Stanford. Ol’ Ballcoach had better do a little more with the Gamecocks this season.
PLAYOFF PUSH » The first place New York Mets play at second-place Philadelphia starting Tuesday. The Mets, winners of eight of their last 10, are 9-4 vs. the Phillies this season. Meanwhile, St. Louis hosts Milwaukee (also starting Tuesday), whom it trails by 3 games for the wild card.
GIANT DEBATE » With Osi Umenyiora out for the season with torn knee ligaments, how much will the Giants pursue retired defensive end Michael Strahan? He’s still in good shape, but would he want to return? Did you think Brett Favre would? OK, bad example.
U.S. OPEN » Can Roger Federer snap out of his slump? Or will Rafael Nadal win a third straight Grand Slam title? Nadal has never made it to the semifinals of the U.S. Open, which starts today.
