Silva: 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 NFC teams.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
Ryan Callahan scored for the fifth time in four days and defenseman Ryan McDonagh snapped a second-period tie to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto
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.
Eleven shots separated Phil and Tiger Sunday at Pebble Beach as Lefty secured his 40th Tour win. Jason Sobel had hole-by-hole reports.
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.
APThe Mavericks also got themselves off the list of teams that have never made the finals. Only the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets have been in the league longer without making it.
Amid the celebration, Cuban thanked Nelson for being the patriarch of the team’s turnaround.
“Nellie” lifted the franchise from the dregs starting in the late 1990s, turning over the entire roster save for Michael Finley, later surrounding him with Steve Nash and Nowitzki. He also brought in Johnson as a player, first making him part of the staff when he was left off the 2003 playoff roster.
“When we first got here it was rough,” Nowitzki said. “We were in that old arena. It stunk. It was bad. So we fought through a lot of stuff. ... It’s been fun the whole ride so far.”
Nowitzki also brought up Nash — who now plays for the Suns — and Finley.
“We kind of built that triangle for a while, which was great,” Nowitzki said. “They’re great friends and it hurt losing them. I wish, obviously both would still be here to enjoy this moment with me.”
Nash has been voted MVP both seasons since he left Dallas. But he hasn’t made the finals.
“To see Dirk be able to play for the championship, it’s exciting,” Nash said. “I mean, it hurts a lot that I won’t be able to do it, but I really admire what he’s been able to do. I’m proud of his accomplishments and what he’s meant to that team.”
Johnson was only a few months removed from his playing career when he replaced Nelson. He forced players to take defense seriously, demanded that they be tougher mentally and physically and constantly talked about winning it all, something he learned as the starting point guard on San Antonio’s 1999 title team.
Dallas came into this season widely viewed as a middle-of-the-pack playoff team, but Johnson molded the supporting cast around a still-blossoming Nowitzki and the result is something the previous 25 Mavericks teams couldn’t accomplish.
“There were times when you went to games in the 1990s and people wore bags over their heads,” said Harper, now a team broadcaster. “They have to lift those bags and be proud of what this franchise has been able to accomplish.”
Said Grant, who has gone from equipment manager to assistant GM: “It’s been quite a ride.”
Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto
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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.
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