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.
Golf's dream pairing - Woods and Mickelson - is on the course in the final round at Pebble Beach. Jason Sobel has 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.
AP file
NEW YORK - Pedro Martinez will get treatment for his sore hip and throw a light side session before a decision is made on whether he’ll get another start for the New York Mets before the All-Star break.
Martinez, who was selected for the NL All-Star team on Sunday, missed his scheduled start on Monday night. The team originally planned to give a spot start to long reliever Darren Oliver in his place, but switched gears before the game and recalled right-hander John Maine from Triple-A Norfolk to pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Martinez’s next turn in the rotation would be Saturday’s doubleheader against the Florida Marlins. Mets manager Willie Randolph said he could start as early as Wednesday if he comes to him and says he’s ready or he may not get another start before the break.
“He’s probably going to just miss a start like he is and he might be able to pitch before the week is out so I’m not concerned at all,” Randolph said.
Randolph said Martinez slipped in the bathroom and fell on his hip while he was changing his shirt during a series in Florida in May.
The Mets entered play Monday with an 11-game lead in the NL East and can afford to be cautious with their ace right-hander, who is 7-4 with a 3.45 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 101 2-3 innings this season.
“I don’t think it’s long term,” catcher Paul Lo Duca said. “I think it’s give him a day off, give him a spot off in the rotation, get him to come back healthy. I think it’s good for him, pitch one time and then have the extra time during the break too.”
Randolph said if Martinez can’t go before Saturday the team will place him on the disabled list retroactive to his last start.
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New York optioned right-hander Alay Soler to Norfolk to make room for Maine, who allowed four runs and six hits against the Washington Nationals on May 2 in his first appearance with the Mets. He went on the disabled list four days later with inflammation in his right middle finger.
Soler gave up seven hits and eight runs in 2 2-3 innings against the Yankees on Sunday night. He said Monday that he has experienced some tightness in his right calf for the last couple of weeks. Soler will be examined by a team doctor and will go to Norfolk if he’s OK.
“We just need arms,” Randolph said. “The bottom line is that with Pedro being out that really clouds things.”
Oliver warmed up during the Yankees’ 16-7 win over the Mets on Sunday but never entered the game. Randolph said Oliver could have started Monday but he made the decision to keep the team’s bullpen and rotation intact to try to set up a big push heading into next week’s All-Star game.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
DeMarco: Plug in a well-heeled ownership group and negotiate one of those mega-bucks TV deals that are going around, and the Dodgers could become the west coast version of the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox.
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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.
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.
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