Do we see smoke? NFL owners gather at the Renaissance Hotel in Chicago to open three days of meetings in which the foremost item of business will be naming the successor to commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Of course, considering the NFL's history in this area, some popes have been elected faster.

Did you know: The wife of Mayo A. Shattuck III, 51, one of five names recommended by a special search committee, is a cheerleader for the Baltimore Ravens.

---

Lone-star series: The new-look Pirates open a three-game series in Houston against the Astros (52-57), who are still looking for the momentum boost re-signing Roger Clemens was supposed to bring. Entering play Aug. 5, they were four games out in the NL wild card and looking up at six teams.

Did you know: Freddy Sanchez is the first Pirate to have the batting lead in August or later since Orlando Merced (Aug. 5-9, 1993).

To watch: 8:05 p.m., FSN Pittsburgh.

---

Happy anniversary: No-hitters have become rare around the majors. They are even more rare in Pittsburgh, which hasn't seen one of the conventional no-nos (read: one pitcher) since Pirates left-hander John Candelaria threw one on this date 30 years ago against the Dodgers at Three Rivers Stadium.

Did you know: The gem took a mere 1 hour, 45 minutes to complete.

---

Baseball on film: In what seems to be a a summer-long theme remembering baseball's Negro Leagues, "The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings" has a rare big-screen showing as part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's summer film series.

Did you know: The Leon Carter character (played by James Earl Jones) was modeled after legendary slugger Josh Gibson. The movie also stars Billy Dee Williams and Richard Pryor.

To watch: 7:30 p.m., Byham Theater. Tickets: $5.

---

Those birds again: Longtime nemesis St. Louis arrives in town to open a three-game series against the Pirates, a team against which the Cardinals own a 7-2 season-series edge. The Cardinals went into the weekend leading the NL Central by 3 1/2 games.

Did you know: A mobile museum dedicated to the Negro Leagues will also be available for fans to tour before the game (4:30-7 p.m.) and again Saturday (6-7:30 p.m.) outside PNC Park.

To watch: 7:05 p.m., PNC Park, FSN Pittsburgh.

---

Steelers, Steelers, Steelers: The Steelers not only open the preseason, but they help the Arizona Cardinals christen their new stadium in the desert -- Cardinals Stadium in Glendale.

Did you know: The stadium has a retractable field rather than a retractable roof. The grass field is contained in a 12-million pound tray 234 feet wide by 400 feet long. It remains outside the stadium until game day, when it is moved inside via a system of tracks and steel wheels and set in place.

To watch: 4 p.m., KDKA & FSN Pittsburgh.

---

Scouting the division: The team outside of Western Pennsylvania most Steelers fans have their eye on -- the Cinci-naughty Bengals -- opens its preseason schedule at home when the Washington Redskins come calling.

Did you know: Bengals QB Carson Palmer, he of the crushing knee injury that KO'd him in January, played extensively in the team's first scrimmage Aug. 4.

To watch: 8 p.m., WPXI.