Ellington

Thursday, Aug. 23
Pro football, New Orleans at Kansas City (7:30 p.m., Comcast 14): This is the game where the Saints play their starters for most of the first half. The future insurance salesmen play after that.

Friday, Aug. 24
Pro baseball, Atlanta at St. Louis (7 p.m., SportSouth/620 AM): Here are two teams fighting for their post-season lives.

Saturday, Aug. 25
Pro baseball, Birmingham at Mississippi (7:05 p.m., Trustmark Park, Pearl, 930 AM): The M-Braves begin their final home-stand of the regular season on Duffel Bag Night.

Sunday, Aug. 26
Pro baseball, Birmingham at Mississippi (1:05 p.m., Trustmark Park, Pearl, 930 AM): The club will give away baseball cards. You can use them to fan yourself.

Monday, Aug. 27
Pro football, Cincinnati at Atlanta (7 p.m., ESPN): Now you have something in common with Falcons quarterback Michael Vick: He can only watch, too. … Pro tennis, U.S. Open (6 p.m., USA): The first round begins in jet-swept Flush, N.Y.

Tuesday, Aug. 28
Pro basketball, United States vs. Venezuela in FIBA Americas Championship (7 p.m., FSN South): The U.S. has to finish in the top two in this qualifying tournament to go to the Olympics. Oh, the shame …

Wednesday, Aug. 29
Pro baseball, Birmingham at Mississippi (7:05 p.m., Trustmark Park, Pearl, 930 AM): The M-Braves and Barons conclude their series. Just five more games until the playoffs.

The Slate is compiled by Doctor S, who thinks that cat-juggling should be outlawed.