Ranking the top 10 sports events May 22-28 you won’t want to miss:
NO. 1: IRL: 101st INDIANAPOLIS 500
Details/TV: At Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sunday, 9:15 a.m., Ch. 7
Unless it keeps raining, or there aren’t enough vehicles to fill out the field of 33 after qualifying, the next century of the Brickyard begins. Seven former winners are in line to be there, including last year’s champion Alexander Rossi, who won it as a rookie. Three-time champ Helio Castroneves (2001, ’02, ’09) and two-time winner Pablo Montoya (2000, ’15) are also in with Buddy Lazier (1996), Scott Dixon (2008), Tony Kanaan (2013) and Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014). Castroneves again tries to become the fourth four-time winner along with A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears. France’s Simon Pagenaud holds a 10-point lead so far over Scott Dixon in the IRL drivers standings after five races. Grand Prix of Long Beach winner and a “Dancing With the Stars” runner-up James Hinchcliffe sits sixth in the standings, 54 points behind Pagenaud. More information: www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com
NO. 2: NHL WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
DUCKS vs. PREDATORS
Details/TV: Game 6 at Nashville, Monday, 5 p.m., NBCSN
The Ducks need to go 2 for 2 against this new force field that the Predators seem to have put up against all odds. It’ll mean one more 2,000-mile flight back to Anaheim from South Kentucky at this juncture. Because that’s how we roll in the Western Conference.
Also this week if necessary: Game 7 at Honda Center, Wednesday at 6 p.m., NBCSN
Also this week in the Eastern Conference finals: Pittsburgh at Ottawa, Game 6 Tuesday at 5 p.m., NBCSN; Game 7 Thursday at 5 p.m., NBCSN
NO. 3: MLB: DODGERS vs. CUBS
Details/TV: At Dodger Stadium, Friday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA; Saturday, 4:15 p.m., Ch. 11; Sunday, 1:10 p.m. SportsNet LA
In a way, this all has the feel of another round of playoffs. First, the St. Louis Cardinals come for three (Tuesday-Thursday, 7:10 p.m., SNLA), followed by a trio against the defending World Champions, who eliminated the Dodgers in last October’s NLCS. Clayton Kershaw lines up to pitch two times this week — in the Cards opener and the Cubs’ series ender. This also ends a 10-game homestand.
NO. 4: NBA CONFERENCE FINALS
WESTERN CONFERENCE: WARRIORS VS. SPURS
Details/TV: Game 4 at San Antonio, Monday, 6 p.m., ESPN
EASTERN CONFERENCE: CAVALIERS VS. CELTICS
Details/TV: Game 4 at Cleveland, Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., TNT
According to the NBA calendar, the date slated for the Finals to begin is June 1, with a potential Game 7 set for June 18. The groundwork laid for Warriors-Cavs III seems to be begging for the process to be sped up a bit. Both the conference semifinals and conference finals were moved up a couple of days to accommodate all the series ending shorter than the TV execs might like. Golden State, which holds home-court advantage throughout, can end this whole charade first.
Also this week in the Western Conference finals if necessary: Game 5 at Golden State, Wednesday at 6 p.m., ESPN; Game 6 at San Antonio, Friday at 6 p.m., ESPN; Game 7 at Golden State, Sunday at 6 p.m., ESPN
Also this week in the Eastern Conference finals if necessary: Cleveland vs. Boston: Game 4 at Cleveland, Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., TNT; Game 5 at Boston, Thursday at 5:30 p.m., TNT; Game 6 at Cleveland, Saturday at Cleveland, TNT.
NO. 5: NASCAR: COCA-COLA 600
Details/TV: At Charlotte Motor Speedway, North Carolina, Saturday, 3 p.m., Ch. 11
Back in the day, someone would try to race at Indianapolis, then helicopter down during a tight three-hour window to catch up with the starting lineup going off at the NASCAR Cup event. Yet, if they were supposed to be so fast behind the wheel, why couldn’t they just drive the 580-some miles between Indy and Charlotte and make it in time for the next race? Selection of vehicle at their bequest.
NO. 6: WNBA: SPARKS at INDIANA
Details/TV: At Indianapolis, Wednesday at 4 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet
The first road trip for the 2-0 Sparks sends them against the Fever and then a flight south to meet up with Michael Cooper’s Dream situation (Saturday, 3 p.m., SSN).
NO. 7: MLB: ANGELS at RAYS
Details/TV: Monday-Wednesday, 4:10 p.m.; Thursday, 10:10 a.m., Fox Sports West
As long as they’re touring Florida, the schedule-makers also give them an interleague mishap with the Marlins in Miami (Friday, 4:10 p.m.; Saturday, 1:10 p.m.; Sunday, 10:10 a.m., FSW) to finish the week. It’s not as if the Angels need a side trip to Disney World.
NO. 8: TENNIS: 116th FRENCH OPEN
Details/TV: At Roland Garros Stadium in France, opening rounds, Sunday at 3 a.m., Tennis Channel
Two weeks ago, we found out there’ll be no “calendar slam” winner for 2017, since Australian Open women’s champ Serena Williams is out on maternity leave and men’s winner Roger Federer has bowed out because of the grind it takes to play on clay at this stage in his career. The 35-year-old Federer, 19-1 this season with a win at Indian Wells, has won at Roland Garros just once (2009) among his 18 grand slam titles. Novak Djokovic is the defending men’s champ; Garbine Muguruza is the reigning women’s winner. The event ends June 11. More information: www.rolandgarros.com
NO. 9: GOLF: SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Details/TV: At the Trump National Golf Club in Washington, D.C., final round, Sunday at noon, Channel 4
Will the Commander in Chief demand a sponsor’s/owner’s exemption? Third round on Saturday on NBC at 10 a.m.; first and second rounds Thursday and Friday on Golf Channel at 10 a.m.
NO. 10: DANCING WITH THE STARS SEASON 24 FINAL
Details/TV: Monday at 8-to-9 p.m., winner announced Tuesday at 8:30-to-11 p.m., Channel 7
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles is out; former Chicago Cubs (and one-time Dodgers) catcher David Ross somehow is one of the two finalists. We’re not even sure how we got to this point.