Rotoworld: Oregon RB LaMichael James and Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon among top 10 players who are being overhyped for the 2012 draft.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
The Detroit Red Wings equaled an NHL record with their 20th straight win at home, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 Sunday night on the strength of Johan Franzen's tiebreaking goal early in the third period.
PBT: Boston's Rajon Rondo continues to be named in trade talks, which is madness. The Celtics guard creates offense and makes everyone around him better, which was evident in Sunday's win over the Bulls.
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods greeted their Sunday pairing at Pebble Beach with optimism. But the day would end happily only for one.
The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Tessa Worley of France fought off gusting winds to win a second consecutive World Cup giant slalom Sunday in the Andorran Pyrenees. Overall leader Lindsey Vonn was more than a second behind and finished eighth.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
AP
CALGARY, Alberta - Add Kimmie Meissner to the list of teenage American champions that includes Michelle Kwan, Tara Lipinski and Sarah Hughes.
Add another huge disappointment to Sasha Cohen’s resume.
The 16-year-old Meissner pulled off one of the biggest upsets in World Figure Skating Championships history with the performance of her life Saturday. She joined Kwan and Lipinski among U.S. teens who won a world crown, and Hughes, of course, was the 2002 Olympic champion at age 16.
“I am so happy with myself; it’s an awesome feeling,” said Meissner, who was sixth last month in Turin. “I really wanted to do my best at the last competition of the season — smooth sailing right through my program.”
While she soared, Cohen hit rough ice from the beginning, adding to a distressing trend for the U.S. champion. Another free skate with an international gold medal in reach, and another flop for Cohen.
“It’s frustrating and disappointing,” said Cohen, who landed only two clean jumps and fell on her final one, a salchow. She also was credited for a jump combination she never completed. “But I know I gave it my best effort.
“A few years ago, I used to cry, but I used up all my tears. I am disappointed.”
Japan’s Fumie Suguri was second, adding to her nation’s medals haul in international events this season. Shizuka Arakawa won the Olympics when Cohen blew her lead after the short program, and Mao Asada won the Grand Prix championship.
Meissner was as sensational as Cohen was weak. She landed seven triple jumps, including two triple-triple combinations — the only ones of the day — just a few minutes after Cohen self-destructed.
|
Even before Meissner was done with her final spin, she was smiling widely, knowing she couldn’t have done any better. She lingered on the ice, her arms raised to the rafters, where she was certain her mother was sitting “because she can’t stand to be too close to the ice.”
“This blows the rest of the programs out of the water,” she said, still breathless over a routine that earned a personal-best 129.70 points, easily the most in the free skate. That gave Meissner nearly a 10-point margin over Cohen, who’d led her countrywoman by 5.58 after the short program.
Meissner carried an American flag around the ice after receiving her medal. She stood at attention on the top of the podium and sang the “Star Spangled Banner,” the smile never fading.
“Standing on the podium and watching the flag, it was such a proud moment for me.”
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
NEW YORK (AP) - As the glow fades from the Giants' Super Bowl triumph, some New York sports fans are tuning in to basketball and hockey, with the Rangers in first place and the Knicks' overnight sensation, Jeremy Lin, sparking "Lin-sanity.''
Robins: This year, six new breeds will be making their debut on the green carpet for the Westminster Dog Show, which begins Monday.
 | Slide show |
 | The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
| Slideshow |
 | Who's hot on Twitter? Check out which of your favorite athletes have the best pages and most followers! NBCSports.com |
 | Special feature |
 | NBCSports.com |
| Slideshow |
 | Presidential candidates and sports How do President Obama and his Republican rivals stack up when it comes to their sports backgrounds? |
Inside NBCSports.com |
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
The Red Wings have finally started to embrace a record they've been chasing.
