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.
Getty ImagesQ: Should the All-Star game be played after the NBA Finals? Is an 82-game season too long for the NBA and does it lose some of its competitiveness due to that fact? And should the playoffs only have the division winners plus one wild card team? What do you think?
— Andre, Cornelius, N.C.
A: No. No. No. You expect more? Obviously, you couldn't get anyone to play an All-Star game after the season. There's none worse than the NFL's game. A midseason break is good for the rest of the league. The best part of the NBA season is the playoffs. Extending the first round to seven games made it fairer for the better teams who produced in the regular season. If anything, I'd want to see more teams in the playoffs in baseball and football, though not almost everyone like in college. As for the length of the season, I could go with 60 games or so. But it is so inconceivable from an economic standpoint regarding player salaries and the use of arenas that it never would even be considered. Seasons go to more games; never fewer.
Q: With Kansas City's new Sprint Center opening in the fall of '07, what, if any, NBA teams could be on the move?
— Scott Mayo, Lenexa, Kansas
A: Yes, I've heard peripheral talk of Kansas City, though not much serious since the Kings left there two decades ago. I've never been quite sure why as I don't know the area, but it seems like St. Louis and the lack of NBA interest there. Smaller cities have a difficult time with the NBA, even new ones like Memphis. But the league has teams that will be looking to move, though everyone is eying Las Vegas first if they can get an arena. Arena issues could cause moves in Seattle and Sacramento. It seems unlikely the Hornets can survive or stay in New Orleans and the Bucks will have a tough time staying in Milwaukee without a new arena. And who knows what the future holds for Charlotte with inconsistent ownership.
Q: Who would you name as the Top 5 under-achievers over the last five years? How about: Steve Francis, Stephon Marbury, Baron Davis, Ricky Davis and Michael Olowokandi?
— Barry, Atlanta
A: That's a tough one as there have been unique issues and perhaps some of them, like Olowokandi, have been overrated and Davis was just a low first rounder. At least Ricky had a career. Qyntel Woods, for instance, was also taken 21st and had no career. The jury is still out on Marvin Williams. Maybe someone like Samaki Walker, a top 10 pick, Keith Van Horn, now out of the game, Tim Thomas usually based on expectations, Sebastian Telfair, though maybe the hype was unfair. Some say Lamar Odom because of all his skills, maybe Mike Dunleavy, who was thought of so highly by some, or Darius Miles, who has been hurt. Kenyon Martin has had issues and injuries and Shaun Livingston can't seem to break through. Samuel Dalembert based on salary. Tough one.
Q: Why aren't the Utah Jazz getting the respect they deserve? Call me a homer, but they are pretty good and should be mentioned with the top players in the West more often. How far do you think they will go in the playoffs?
— Jeff Hansen, South Weber, Utah
A: Seems to me they get plenty of respect for a team with the fourth best record in its conference. You earn respect by winning in the playoffs, which this Jazz team hasn't done yet. They’ve done well for a team that missed the playoffs last season, though they've benefited by being in the West's weakest division. The Spurs have been playing better, which could mean the Jazz get the fourth playoff seed. That's the toughest because you play a team about even with you, which could be Houston once Yao returns or the Spurs. If that's the case, I'm not sure if the Jazz can get out of the first round. It would be a great series, though, and the West playoffs promise to be one of the best in years.
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
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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.
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.
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