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.
Euro Roundup: First-place Manchester City won 1-0 at Aston Villa on Sunday on Joleon Lescott's goal in the 63rd minute, maintaining its two-point lead over Manchester United in the Premier League.
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 fileHall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer said: “I suppose it’s always possible that it could be unanimous. I know this much: If he doesn’t get at least 77 percent of the vote, they will have to administer a drug test to all the writers.”
Palmer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner with the Orioles, gained entry to the Hall in 1990 with 92.6 percent (411 of 444 ballots). Robinson got 91.98 percent (344-374).
“We are very pleased with the job the BBWAA has done over the years,” said Jeff Idelson, Hall of Fame vice president for communications and education. “Why has there never been a unanimous selection? Because it is inherently a democratic process in which each participant has to make an arbitrary decision.”
Joe DiMaggio didn’t even get in on the first ballot. So how can Ripken possibly garner 100 percent?
“The voting has evolved, which explains why Tom Seaver is the highest vote-getter by percentage,” Schmuck said. “I don’t think that anyone would say that Tom Seaver is the No. 1 greatest pitcher that ever lived. It’s a function of how the voting has changed. So if anybody has a chance to be unanimous or close to it — or for that matter just to exceed Tom Seaver’s vote total — I think it’s Cal Ripken.”
Seaver won 311 games, three Cy Young Awards and finished with a 2.86 ERA. Decent numbers, but not nearly as impressive as Ripken’s — beginning with 2,632.
Ripken often has said he doesn’t care how many votes he receives. What matters is being a part of the Hall.
“The beauty of the game, in my opinion, is its players and its former players. That tells the story and that celebrates the game,” Ripken said in August. “And if you can add to that, if you can join that group, that’s a very special honor.”
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.
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 |
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.
NBC Sports TV and livestream listings
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.