TV highlights of the Beijing Olympic Games

For those with a family, a job and a life, here is a list of 10 things you definitely don't want to miss.

Friday, opening ceremony

Always a highlight, this spectacle draws viewers across the spectrum, from die-hard sports fans to those who wouldn't know Michael Phelps if they passed him on the street.

There is the moving parade of nations, the entertaining peek at the culture of the host nation and, of course, the mystery surrounding the selection of the final torch bearer and the method of lighting the Olympic flame, always a highlight.

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For the record

An earlier version of the story misspelled Carly Patterson's first name as Carley and misspelled Misty May-Treanor as Misty-May Treanor.

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Saturday, cycling

Not usually a high priority for the casual viewer, but the course for the men's road race, a 152.48-mile route, doubles as a travelogue, the competitors passing some of China's cultural landmarks. With the background, this is an event made for high definition.

Sunday, men's basketball

This year's U.S. Dream Team opens in what figures to be a passionate game against the host nation, China, and it's 7-foot-5 star, Yao Ming. For the Chinese, nothing in the Games will be bigger or more emotional than this.

Aug. 16, swimming

If Phelps dominates in the pool as anticipated, this could be the day he surpasses fellow American Mark Spitz by winning a record eight gold medals in a single Olympics. The eighth would come in the 4x100-meter medley relay.

Among the women, 41-year-old American Dara Torres goes for gold in the 50-meter race.

Aug. 16, track and field

In myriad track events, the 100-meter final always stands out, with the winner earning the unofficial title of world's fastest man. The current world champion is American Tyson Gay.

Aug. 19, women's gymnastics

This is the final night of the women's all-around competition, where Mary Lou Retton made her mark a quarter-century ago and Carly Patterson did the same in the last Olympics. America's best hopes this time rest on Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin. Whether it's conquest or controversy, this usually is a broadcast highlight.

Aug. 20, women's beach volleyball

The defending champions, Americans Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, hope to be in the gold-medal match. Especially for Southern California viewers, this event is a big attraction.

Aug. 20, BMX racing

The X Games come to Beijing. BMX racing, an eight-man, full-contact run through a twisting obstacle course of bumps and grinds, makes its Olympic debut, promising entertaining television.

Aug. 21 and 23, soccer

The world's most popular sport must share the fleeting attention span of the U.S. audience with many other events at the Games. But the spotlight will be on soccer for the gold medal games (Aug. 21 for the women, Aug. 23 for the men).

Aug. 24, men's basketball

Assuming that the U.S. continues to win as it has in five exhibition games, this will be the day Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and company take the court with the opportunity to return Olympic gold to the country that once owned this sport.

steve.springer@latimes.com