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.
Getty ImagesLAS VEGAS - The NBA's weekend-long All-Star party comes to a close Sunday night with ... the game itself.
Yes, after all the celebrity parties, the dunk contests and Charles Barkley’s charity footrace, the NBA will stage its All-Star game Sunday as the East meets the West in an offense-only exhibition designed to highlight the talents of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and the rest of the game’s elite players.
After a week of media hype, it all comes down to the game. The Eastern Conference leads the all-time series over the West 34-21, but no one really cares who wins the game.
“It’s obviously a fun city,” Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki said. “Obviously it’s always an honor to be an All Star. Bringing it to Las Vegas for the first time and being a part of it is going to be great.
“Hopefully we can put on a great show for the fans here.”
The game is an annual affair where defense is virtually nonexistent among the swirling dunks and twisting drives to the hoop.
High-scoring guard Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards said he was thrilled to be starting for the East alongside James, and Miami stars Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade.
“I never imagined this growing up. You always wanted to be an All Star, but three consecutive? It’s amazing that I’m here again,” said Arenas, averaging 29 points a game.
Bryant, who averages 28.6 points for the Los Angeles Lakers, said the city’s response to the game had been incredible.
“It’s fun,” he said. “It’s the first time it’s ever been in a neutral city. So when you bring the All-Star game to a neutral site, the energy picks up. For us it’s special to be a part of it.”
Not everyone gets the opportunity, an issue that bothers Stern. The league has 30 teams and only 24 All-Stars. Fourteen teams will not have a representative at the showcase event.
But for those playing, Las Vegas has thrown a party like no other.
James, the Cleveland Cavaliers guard and the MVP of last year’s affair, said the All-Star game was always special.
“I think with Vegas, though, being the brightest city in America, and having the brightest stars coming to this venue, I think that it has a little bit more funk to it,” he said.
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
NBA All-Star Game |
 | Slideshow |
 |
The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
ProBasketballTalk tweets |
|
Source: Twitter. For more, follow @basketballtalk. |
 | Video: NBA from NBC Sports |
 Knicks, Lin still streaking Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni and point guard Jeremy Lin discuss the team and Lin's recent success. |
 | Slideshow |
 |
more photos |
Ask the NBA expert: Ira Winderman |
Do you have a burning NBA question? Submit it now, and then check back for our reader mailbag. |  |
 | Special feature |
 |
Who will be MVP? Interactive: Rank each player on a scale of 0 to 10 (10 = best player, 0 = barely worthy of consideration). NBCSports.com |
| Slideshow |
 |
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.