Super League: Grand Final
Sky Sports 1/HD1/3D
Saturday 8 October, 17.00
After eight months of crunching tackles, blistering tries and dramatic endings, the Super League XVI campaign boils down to 80 minutes at Old Trafford over the scheduled weekend. This season has witnessed some stunning stories, but Sky Sports pundit Mike Stephenson hails Warrington as the headline act, applauding their success in displacing Super League's ‘Big Four' - Wigan, St Helens, Leeds and Bradford. The Wolves picked up the League Leaders' Shield last weekend after topping the regular season standings, and Stephenson is backing them to win this year's title, adding "We need fresh blood in the Grand Final... they have the resolve and play with an enthusiastic defence and open attacking plays, and are a very adventurous side who I find fascinating to watch". Last year, over 71,000 fans crammed into Old Trafford to witness Wigan's triumph, the second highest in the game's history.
Grand Prix Speedway: The Final
Sky Sports 2/3/HD2/HD3
Saturday 8 & Monday 10 October
The final chequered flag of the 2011 Grand Prix Speedway season will fall in Gorzow, Poland, this weekend. Greg Hancock holds a commanding lead at the time of writing, but if Jaroslaw Hampel manages to win in Croatia, Gorzow could be staging an exhilarating finale. American Hancock has been impressive in the nine meetings to date, winning three and competing in the final four on two more occasions. But his form has not been consistent, failing to finish inside the top three four times. This could open the door for Hampel who sits just 31 points behind Hancock. The new Elite League champions will also be crowned on Monday evening, when the engines rev for the second leg of the Grand Final. Poole have been setting the pace during the regular season, leading the standings by six points at the time of writing. But with the campaign boiling down to one evening of racing, could we be in for an upset?
25 Years United: Sir Alex Ferguson
ESPN Classic
Starts Monday 31 October, 22.00
It's a debate that's raged between football fans up and down the country for years, but the statistics make it pretty hard to argue that Sir Alex Ferguson is perhaps the greatest manager of all time. In the build up to the 25 year anniversary of Sir Alex Ferguson's appointment as manager of Manchester United, ESPN Classic have produced 25 years United: Sir Alex Ferguson, a brand new 5-part series that features never-before seen footage and chronicles the great mans reign at Old Trafford. Since taking over, Ferguson has seen the club go through an era of success and dominance both in England and in Europe, giving him a reputation as one of the most admired and respected managers in the history of the game. Each episode will be talking to those who worked for him, with him and against him. From fellow Scots Dalglish and Graham, to current managers Wenger and Mancini, in his 25 years in charge Fergie has gone head to head with them all.
ATP Masters
Sky Sports 2/HD2
Monday 10 October, 07.00
Andy Murray heads to China hoping to start a silver-laden run-in to the end of the ATP Tour when he defends his Shanghai Masters title. And with the World Tour Finals just over six weeks away, all the top names will be looking to win here. Last year, Murray took the world's largest city by storm, cruising to his second Masters title of 2010 without dropping a set. The British number one, who saw off Roger Federer in the final, will be looking to repeat that unblemished run and add to the Masters title he took in Cincinnati in August. And fans will be encouraged by Murray's recent efforts, which included an impressive showing at the US Open. Flushing Meadows saw the three-time Grand Slam finalist showing the composure and determination that have sometimes eluded him at key moments. He fought back from two sets and a break down against Robin Haase and put in a spirited display against the always difficult Rafael Nadal. The O2 arena in London is coming into view for Murray, but can he first add to his 2011 trophy haul in Asia this week?
