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.
Huh?
When that mare and Spun Sugar both run out of the money, it’s a tell-tale sign of confusing chaos. But wait, there are more problems for Breeders’ Cup handicappers -- the Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies divisions.
Over the years, Keeneland dirt track form has been influential in these races as well. For the boys, the Breeders Futurity has produced four Breeders’ Cup winners -- Tasso (1985), Boston Harbor (1986), Favorite Trick (1997) and Answer Lively (1998). For the girls, the Alcibiades Stakes has graduated BC winners Eliza (1992), Countess Diana (1997), Silverbulletday (1998) and Folklore (2005).
Morning line Juvenile favorite Circular Quay (4-1) could not win on Polytrack in the Futurity despite his overwhelming odds of 2-5 at the windows, A cinch that day? Hardly. He’ll be joined by race winner Great Hunter and Street Sense in the Juvenile on Nov. 4.
In the Juvenile Fillies, this year’s Alcibiades on Polytrack was actually won by a MAIDEN of all things, Bel Air Beauty at 47-1 from the barn of trainer Frank Brothers. She’ll return for the Breeders Cup at Churchill as well as also rans Appealing Zophie (12-1 morning line), Cotton Blossom (15-1), She’s included (30-1) and Untouched Talent (6-1) in the Polytrack to Churchill transition of synthetic surface to the dirt main track.
Because of all the talent coming from various parts of the country and Europe, it’s always been a daunting challenge to pick winners at the Breeders’ Cup. The confounding Polytrack at Keeneland has further muddied the overall picture.
Rather than spend countless hours in breaking down the form this year, perhaps a flip of the coin or a pointed dart could be as efficient a handicapping tool in any analysis of Polytrack prep races.
Mind you, I would rather spend a day at Keeneland than any other facility in the land. It is a spectacular venue for racing -- chock full of tradition in a lovely landscape. The new surface has decreased the number of injuries to the thoroughbreds -- certainly, a positive step in the improvement of the sport.
But on the flip side, the early results of Polytrack have been hazardous to the bankroll of traditional handicappers. So Breeders’ Cup players -- beware of Keeneland form in the Distaff and the two-year-old divisions. Until we learn the lessons of Polytrack, I’ll be focusing my attention on the turf races on Breeders’ Cup afternoon.
The first of three pools of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager begins its three-day run on Friday and the bet's opening scenario is very similar to each of its opening pools since the wager was created in 1999.
It's first time that Classic will be broadcast in primetime on Nov. 3.
 | INTERACTIVE |
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 | Slideshow |
 | Derby celebs Plenty of stars from the entertainment and sports world attend the 136th Kentucky Derby. more photos |
| INTERACTIVE |
 | Triple Crown winners The horses that have won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont in the same year. |
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.