The Week Ahead

FRIDAY
24

Happy Birthday! Rafael Palmeiro turns 40. Only nine men have hit more homers than the Orioles' slugger, who has 548. "Age is just a number," he says. "It's how you feel physically that matters, and I feel as good as I've ever felt." He'll celebrate by playing the Tigers.

SATURDAY
25

Fan Celebration Tour The gold medal U.S. women's soccer team kicks off an eight-city tour with a game against Iceland in striker Abby Wambach's hometown of Rochester, N.Y. The tour is a swan song for Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Joy Fawcett, who are retiring.

SUNDAY
26

Clubhouse CBS 8 p.m. In this new drama, Christopher Lloyd plays a big league manager who, along with third baseman Dean Cain, dispenses fatherly advice to the team's 16-year-old batboy (Jeremy Sumpter). Look for SI's Steve Rushin in the second episode, on Oct. 5.

MONDAY
27

Cowboys at Redskins ABC 9 p.m. The rivalry is renewed with the return of Washington coach Joe Gibbs. Late Show with David Letterman CBS 11:35 p.m. Yankee Gary Sheffield presents the Top Ten List. If it's "Top Ten AL MVP Candidates," he may be No. 1.

TUESDAY
28

Champions League, Real Madrid vs. A.C. Milan ESPN2 2:30 p.m. The world's flashiest side faces what might be the world's best. Real, which added Michael Owen to a stacked roster that includes David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane, takes on the Serie A champs.