Shaq Plays in Nickelodeon’s ‘Theater’

Orlando Magic superstar Shaquille O’Neal is the host of the Nickelodeon special “Nickelodeon’s Sports Theater With Shaquille O’Neal,” airing tonight at 9 and Sunday at 6 p.m. O’Neal narrates the story of a 4-foot-11 teen who, despite his height, dreams of earning a spot on his high school basketball team.

Discovery Channel also examines the world of sports with its new documentary, “Ultimate Athlete: Pushing the Limit,” Sunday at 9 p.m. The two-hour special, narrated by Louis Gossett Jr., looks at what it takes to rise to the top of the elite group of athletes who are younger, stronger and faster than they have ever been before.

Premiering on the Sci-Fi Channel today at 5 p.m. is “Within the Rock,” a thriller starring Xander Berkley and Bradford Tatum about a runaway moon on a direct collision course with Earth.

The highlight of the weekend’s movie repeats is the five-hour 1992 miniseries “Sinatra,” airing Sunday at 8 p.m. and concluding Tuesday at 9 p.m. on CBS-TV Channel 2. Philip Casnoff stars as Ol’ Blue Eyes in this musical drama produced by youngest daughter Tina Sinatra. Olympia Dukakis is featured as his mother, Dolly; Gina Gershon (“Showgirls”) is first wife Nancy; and Marcia Gay Harden is his second wife, Ava Gardner.

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Public Affairs: TODAY: “Today” looks at car gadgets; attorney Linda Fairstein; Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed; and author Nancy Friday, 5 a.m. (4)(36). . . .

Ross Perot and his Reform Party are the topics on “Evans & Novak,” 2:30 p.m., repeats Sunday at 7 a.m. CNN. . . .

Actor Danny Glover guests on “John McLaughlin’s One on One,” 2:30 p.m. (28). . . .

Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) talks about the balanced budget amendment on “Capital Gang Saturday,” 4 and 10:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

“The McLaughlin Group” discusses the battle over taxes and Medicare and questions whether Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) might be Bob Dole’s vice presidential choice, 4:30 p.m. (4). . .

Comedian Alan King guests on “Larry King Weekend,” 6 and 11 p.m. CNN.

SUNDAY: “Meet the Press” arrives at 5 a.m. (4)(36). . . .

“CBS News Sunday Morning” looks at the Russian elections, Wolf Trap and Blue Hill Troop, 7:30 a.m. (2). . . .

The “Fox News Sunday” guests are Rep. Gary Franks (R-Conn.) and Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), who discuss politics, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and church burnings, 8 a.m. (11). . .

“Face the Nation” looks at abortion, politics and tax cuts with Ralph Reed of the Christian Coalition; Ann Stone, Republicans for Choice; and Laura Tyson, President Clinton’s economic advisor, 9 a.m. (2). . . .

Los Angeles planning director Con Howe and urban architect John Kaliski discuss the city of the future on “Bob Navarro’s Journal,” 9:30 a.m. (2). . . .

“Tony Brown’s Journal” talks about athletics, 9:30 a.m. (28). . . .

“This Week With David Brinkley” looks at playing politics with taxes and Medicare, with Secretary of Treasury Robert Rubin, Rep. Dick Armey (R-Texas) and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes, 10 a.m. (7); 11 a.m. (3)(42). . . .

“Life & Times” focuses on automobile insurance in California. William Ahern of the Consumers Union is the guest, 10:30 a.m. (28). . . .

College rules and minority athletes are the topics on “Both Sides With Jesse Jackson,” 2:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

“Reliable Sources” reports on media coverage of Whitewater and questions whether a conflict of interest exists between CNBC and IBM, 3:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

“Capital Gang Sunday” is due at 4 p.m. CNN. . . .

“Crossfire Sunday” looks at the O.J. Simpson case with attorney Alan Dershowitz, 4:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

“60 Minutes” investigates how much money is being spent on special education and visits comedian Bill Maher’s “Politically Incorrect” show, 7 p.m. (2).

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Specials and Movies: “Salute to the ‘50s: The Reunion of the Decade,” tonight at 6 on TNN, is a musical tribute to the ‘50s featuring Eddy Arnold, Bo Diddley and the Chordettes. . . . Kate Jackson stars as a woman who kidnaps a baby in the 1993 movie “Empty Cradle,” Sunday at 9 p.m. (7)(3)(42). . . . Lifetime’s “Intimate Portraits” examines “Royal Weddings,” Sunday at 9 p.m. . . . The reality series “Save Our Streets” features a profile of the Los Angeles Mission’s City Light Rehabilitation Program, Monday at 12:15 a.m. (4).

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Sports: Tennis: French Open, women’s final, Steffi Graf vs. Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, today, 9 a.m. (4)(36); men’s final, Sunday, 6 a.m. (4)(36). . . . Baseball: Angels at Indians, Sunday, 10 a.m. (9). . . . Basketball: Bulls at Sonics, Sunday, 4:30 p.m. (4)(36). Soccer: Galaxy vs. New York, Sunday, noon (34).

For a complete list of sports events on TV, see Section C.