Ellington

Thursday, Aug. 14
Olympic men's basketball, U.S. vs. Greece (7 a.m., USA): The Redeem Team faces one of the teams that beat them in Athens.

Friday, Aug. 15
NFL preseason football, Oakland at Tennessee (7 p.m. Ch. 40): Why is it that exhibition football is more compelling than much of NBC's 24 hours of Olympics?

Saturday, Aug. 16
Olympic men's basketball, U.S. vs. Spain (9 a.m., Ch. 3): The Americans face Lakers star Pao Gasol and company. … NFL preseason football, Houston at New Orleans (7 p.m., Ch. 71, 620 AM): The Saints and Texans will play a practice game in front of people playing regular-season prices for tickets.

Sunday, Aug. 17
Olympics, multiple events (7 p.m., Ch. 3): Gymnastics, and track and field are always interesting even if they are on tape.

Monday, Aug. 18
Southern League baseball, Mississippi at Carolina (6:15 p.m., Zebulon, N.C.): The M-Braves and the Mudcats begin a series in the wilds of North Carolina. … NFL preseason football, Cleveland at New York Giants (7 p.m., ESPN): Eli Manning and the defending Super Bowl champs face the up-and-coming Browns in a meaningless exhibition.

Tuesday, Aug. 19
Olympic baseball, U.S. vs. Chinese Taipei (6 a.m., MSNBC): America's top minor leaguers take on Taiwan's finest.

Wednesday, Aug. 20
Olympics, multiple events (8 p.m., Ch. 3): Track and field, including the men's 200 meters, highlights tonight's taped events.

The Slate is compiled by Doctor S when he's not watching tape of high school football seven-on-seven drills.