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.
APTriple time
Little League officials said they moved the fences back 20 feet to 225 feet this year in part to encourage more doubles and triples.
They partly got their wish.
Columbus, Ga., infielder Josh Lester’s triple with the bases loaded during Thursday night’s win over Portsmouth, N.H., was the sixth triple of the tournament, breaking the record of five set last year.
But doubles and home runs are way down.
Entering Saturday’s games, there were 51 doubles this year, well below the pace of 67 set two years ago. The 25 home runs this year also trail far behind the record of 57 set last year.
The change wasn’t made to cut down on home runs, but to encourage more extra-base hits and put more of a premium on outfield defense, Little League officials have said.
Calling card
The Little Leaguers from Columbus, Ga., have been chatting quite a lot on the phone.
They received calls this week from Atlanta Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and University of Georgia football coach Mark Richt.
Then on Saturday, before Columbus scored a 7-3 victory over Beaverton, Ore., to advance to the Little League title game, the team got a call from former President Carter, a Georgia native, and received a good-luck video from the Braves.
Columbus players were divided Friday on which was the best call.
Utilityman Mason Meyers liked Francoeur. Outfielder Matthew Kuhlenberg favored the governor. Second baseman Matthew Hollis sided with Richt, agreeing with his manager.
“It was cool,” the 13-year-old said. “He said to finish what we started, and play hard.”
Oh Oregon
The Beaverton boys had hoped to follow the lead of Oregon State, which won the College World Series this year.
Beaver coaches and players called Beaverton manager Jeff Keller’s squad this week with kind words.
Beaverton was hoping to become the first team from Oregon to win the Little League World Series. Only one other team from the state had ever even made it to South Williamsport, the Rose City league from Portland in 1958.
“What we’ve been able to accomplish says a lot about Oregon baseball,” Beaverton manager Jeff Keller said. “It puts us on the map. It bodes well for the future.”
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.
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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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