Play It Forward: Mayweather-McGregor a can't-miss watch? It pays to consider options

Ranking the top 10 sports events Aug. 21-27 you won’t want to miss:

NO. 1: BOXING: FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. vs. CONOR McGREGOR

Details/TV: At T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Saturday, 6 p.m., pay-per-view (suggested price: $99.95)

It’s the latest piece of non-circumstantial evidence that sports has eclipsed sanity, with or without a special pair of $100 glasses to watch it sear our retinas.

All the time, space, ink, verbiage, video, expectations and deviations dedicated to this Battlestar Galactica presentation can’t possibly match what the crash-and-burn outcome will surely be, according to the experts to size up such backyard wrestling-related exhibitions. The idea of a retired prizefighter putting up his dukes against a mixed-up martial arts blockhead should not have gone past a TV talking heads argument. But there is too much money and hate-words invested thus far to call it off. And if you’ve even read this far, we apologize.

Promoters of this Showtime TV event point out the cost for those paying at home to watch will be the same as when Mayweather fought Manny Pacquaio in 2015. But that one sort of mattered. “This match-up is unprecedented. There has been overwhelming demand from fight fans, and it’s great to be able to deliver,” Stephen Espinoza, executive VP and general manager of Showtime Sports, said in a statement when the fight was officially announced. Even more bizarre is it will available in several movie theaters at $40 for a seat.

Close your eyes and save this image from searing into your brain.

NO. 2: NFL EXHIBITIONS: CHARGERS AT RAMS

Details/TV: At the Coliseum, Saturday, 5 p.m., Ch. 2

Flags will fly for two L.A. NFL teams in the same venue since ... well, this is a practice game after all. There is the unspoken promise of some scuffles breaking out, as happened when they tried to scrimmage recently at StubHub Center. If we know how things could also break out, there could be some fabricated friction in the stands as well, even without anyone in Raiders gear to instigate it.

NO. 3: BASEBALL: 71st LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES FINAL

Details/TV: At South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Sunday, noon, Ch. 7

Before the Santa Margarita team can even think about this climatic conclusion, it will have to pull itself out of the elimination bracket, starting with a noon ESPN contest against the U.S. Mid-Atlantic squad from Jackson, New Jersey on Monday. Win that, and it’s another elimination game on Tuesday (4:30 p.m., ESPN). Win that, and they go to Thursday (4:30 p.m., ESPN). Win that, and they’re in the U.S. title game (Saturday, 12:30 p.m., Ch. 7). See, pretty simple. More info: www.llbws.org

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NO. 4: MLB: BREWERS AT DODGERS

Details/TV: At Dodger Stadium, Friday at 7:10 p.m., Saturday at 6:10 p.m., Sunday at 1:10 p.m., SportsNet LA

This is the series where MLB decided will be the first “players weekend” with limited edition jerseys and T-shirts selling with “player-inspired nicknames” will be worn, plus you probably won’t recognized the Dodgers jersey either. It looks something like a softball uniform. Names on the will include “Cody Love,” “RedTurn2,” “Silver Fox,” “El Titan,” “Wild Horse,” and, believe it or not, “Seager.”

Also this week for the Dodgers: At Pittsburgh, Monday-Wednesday at 4:05 p.m., Thursday at 1:05 p.m., SportsNet LA

NO. 5: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL:

MATER DEI at BISHOP AMAT

Details: Friday, 7 p.m.

ST. JOHN BOSCO at ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Details: At Fort Lauderdale, Florida., Friday, 4 p.m.

OAKS CHRISTIAN at CHAMINADE

Details/TV: Friday at 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket

Mater Dei starts the season ranked No. 1 in the nation by the MaxPreps Xcellent 25, while St. John Bosco, ranked No. 4, makes a big-time road trip. Chaminade of West Hills begins ranked No. 9 in the state by MaxPreps. Also in a Friday opener: Serra (No. 5 in California) at Narbonne (No. 11 in California) at 7 p.m.

NO. 6: WNBA: MINNESOTA AT SPARKS

Details/TV: At Staples Center, Sunday at 4 p.m., ESPN2

The Sparks have won both previous matchups of the two top teams in the Western Conference and last year’s final rivals, including a 70-64 triumph in St. Paul on Aug. 11 as Chelsea Gray scored 23, Candace Parker had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Nneka Ogwumike had only one basket – with 28 seconds left, from the baseline, to secure the outcome. The Sparks are 12-1 at home this season.

Also this week for the Sparks: vs. San Antonio, Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet; at Phoenix, Thursday at 6 p.m., ESPN2

NO. 7: MLS: SAN JOSE AT GALAXY

Details/TV: At StubHub Center, Sunday at 4 p.m., FS1

The Galaxy (6-12-5), without a win since June 28, topped the list of Forbes’ latest team valuations at $315 million, up 19 percent from last year after generating about $63 million in revenue last year. What’s that worth in the standings with the threat of missing the playoffs looks quite possible.

Also this week for the Galaxy: At Columbus, Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet

NO. 8: MLB: ASTROS AT ANGELS

Details/TV: At Angel Stadium, Friday at 7:07 p.m., Saturday at 6:07 p.m., Sunday at 12:37 p.m., Fox Sports West

The Friday night Nolan Ryan bobblehead giveaway in a matchup against the AL-leading Astros seems appropriate.

Also this week for the Angels: vs. Texas, Monday-Thursday, 7:07 p.m., FSW

NO. 9: BOXING: MIGUEL COTTO vs. YOSHIRO KAMEGAI

Details/TV: At StubHub Center in Carson, Saturday at approx. 6:30 p.m., HBO (delayed at 9:45 p.m.)

As they go after the vacant WBO light middleweight title, Cotto (40-5) hasn’t fought since losing to Canelo Alvarez in November 2015, and his last fight in L.A. was on a Roy Jones undercard in 2001. Cotto will also make his 23rd appearance on HBO, seeking his sixth world title in four weight classes. Then there’s Japan’s Kamegai (27-3-2), for some reason also known as “El Maestrito.”

NO. 10: COLLEGE FOOTBALL: STANFORD vs. RICE

Details/TV: At Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia, Saturday at 7 p.m., ESPN

The first Saturday in 2017 college football season is actually a Sunday afternoon in Australia, as the Cardinal play in what must feel like a bowl game in a rugby stadium that seats 45,000. Pay attention: Stanford comes back in its second game to face USC at the Coliseum on Sept. 9.

Also on this first Saturday: Oregon State at Colorado State (11:30 a.m., CBSSN), Portland State at BYU (noon, ESPN), South Florida at San Jose State (4:30 p.m., CBSSN).