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.
 | FREE VIDEO |
 |
'Just was so sad' Oct. 17: Yankees star Derek Jeter and manager Joe Torre are saddened by the death of teammate Cory Lidle. |
Lidle had been a licensed pilot for less than a year. The 26-year-old Stanger was a veteran pilot and teacher who ran a tiny flight school in the San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles. Investigators have not determined the cause of the crash or who was at the controls.
At the reception at Faith Community Church in West Covina, family and friends lined up outside a semitrailer for burgers from In-N-Out, the iconic, family owned Southern California chain.
“He was always bugging me to get him an endorsement,” said Jordan Feagan, Lidle’s agent and friend of 14 years.
During the service, family and friends mostly recalled Lidle’s life away from baseball.
“Cory would have been so amazed at all the people here who admired him,” said Peters, Melanie’s sister. “He was a loving husband and an awesome father.”
Two of Lidle’s longtime friends, Paul Felberg and Warren Reed, took turns speaking, calling him by his nickname “Snacks,” a reference to the pitcher’s habit of devouring candy between innings.
“We were more like the ‘Goonies’ than the entourage of studs you would expect him to be with,” Felberg said.
Both men promised Melanie Lidle they would always look after her and the couple’s son.
Small, the former Yankees pitcher, had been friends with Lidle and his twin brother, Kevin, since age 9. His father, Art, presided over the funeral.
“If there was a baseball game being played, me and Cory and Kevin were in it,” the younger Small said, his voice breaking. “Cory was more than a friend. He was like a little brother to me.”
Lidle pitched for seven teams during his nearly 10 years in the major leagues, posting an 82-72 record with a 4.57 ERA. He came to the Yankees in July, traded from Philadelphia, where he had signed a $6.3 million, two-year deal in November 2004.
Stanger’s survivors include his pregnant wife, Stephanie, and an infant daughter. A service for Stanger is set for Saturday.
Lidle’s family requested that donations be made to Stanger’s family.
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.
| FREE VIDEO |
 | Memorial for Lidle Oct. 17: Melanid Lidle, widow of late Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle, and Yankees manager Joe Torre speak at Lidle's memorial service. |
 | Slide show |
 | Remembering Lidle's career A look back at the baseball career of Cory Lidle, who was killed in a small plane crash in New York City. |
HardballTalk headlines |
 | Interactive |
 |
 | Slideshow |
 | Unbreakable records in baseball A look at the most unbreakable records in baseball including Nolan Ryan's seven no-hitters. |
| Slideshow |
 | The top tools of baseball You hear a lot about the tools of baseball, but who are the best hitters, fielders and pitchers? We break it down. more photos |
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.
After leading by 18 points in the first half, the Los Angeles Lakers were staring at a four-point deficit with less than two minutes to play.