SURFING THE TUBE.

Byline: Tom Hoffarth

TODAY

With all due respect to Denver and Kansas City, the football game to watch, tape and rewatch tonight at some point involves USC and UCLA. Here's a hint: The final score - 45-42, with USC's Johnnie Morton clinging to the final reception as UCLA's Michael Williams rides him to the end-zone turf. It's the last time the Trojans beat the Bruins this decade. Anyone who saw it live will want to see it again. Anyone going to Saturday's Bruins-Trojans game must see it, period. (Say, didn't the Broncos draft Tommy Maddox not long after this? So does that mean he's subbing for John Elway tonight?) USC-UCLA from Nov. 17, 1990, ESPN Classic Sports, 4, 6, 9 and 11 p.m.; Kansas City at Denver, Channel 7, 5:20 p.m.

TUESDAY

Today is the 30th anniversary of NBC's ``Heidi Game,'' voted the most memorable game in NFL history recently by a group of writers. But 40 years ago, the only NFL championship game to be decided in overtime was the classic 1958 battle between the New York Giants and Baltimore Colts at Yankee Stadium. Frank Deford retells the story that changed football in HBO's latest edition of ``Real Sports.'' The grabber of this incredible show, however, is an interview host Bryant Gumbel has with golfer John Daly, who has been battling the shakes as he tries to stay away from alcohol. Daly admits that last year when his third wife filed for divorce and Wilson Sporting Goods dropped his multimillion-dollar endorsement deal on his birthday, ``I went up on Highway 74 in Palm Springs and came so close to just driving off the mountain.'' We've been to that stretch of pavement, and baby, that's no time to be playing with your life. ``Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,'' HBO, 10:15 p.m. (replays Thursday at 8 p.m.)

WEDNESDAY

The regularly scheduled Lakers game against the visiting Detroit Pistons will not be seen so that Fox Sports West can bring you this special installment of ``NBA Classic Games,'' mindful of the fact they're going up against Luke Perry's comeback to ``Beverly Hills 90210.'' Magic Johnson's comeback game, Lakers vs. Golden State from Jan. 30, 1996, ``NBA Classic Games,'' Fox Sports West, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY

Staying with that classic theme, Wayne Gretzky pays a visit to the Forum for the only time this season to see if they've put his white-and-black 99 up on the wall yet. Kings vs. New York Rangers, Fox Sports West, 7:30 p.m. (Also: Rangers vs. Ducks, Fox Sports West 2, Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.)

FRIDAY

One more time, for anyone who forgot to ask their friend who has Classic Sports to tape it for them Monday, Marinovich throws long to Morton . . . USC-UCLA from 1990, ESPN Classic Sports, 4 p.m. and midnight.

SATURDAY

Finally, the real thing. USC at UCLA, Channel 7, 12:30 p.m.

SUNDAY

Let's settle this NFC Central once and for all while we're at it with another classic (we worked the theme for the entire week) battle that, unfortunately, will be played indoors instead of on some frozen pond. Keep an eye out for Jesse ``The Guv'' Ventura stalking the sidelines.Green Bay at Minnesota, Channel 11, 10 a.m. (Also: CBS' doubleheader choices are Jacksonville-Pittsburgh or Seattle-Dallas at 10 a.m. and Oakland-Denver at 1 p.m.; ESPN has New Orleans at San Francisco, 5 p.m.)

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Photo

PHOTO The rivalry continues as USC takes on UCLA.

Daily News File