Rotoworld: Oregon RB LaMichael James and Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon among top 10 players who are being overhyped for the 2012 draft.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
The Detroit Red Wings equaled an NHL record with their 20th straight win at home, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 Sunday night on the strength of Johan Franzen's tiebreaking goal early in the third period.
PBT: Boston's Rajon Rondo continues to be named in trade talks, which is madness. The Celtics guard creates offense and makes everyone around him better, which was evident in Sunday's win over the Bulls.
Arc: Syracuse is among a solid group of No. 1 seeds in our latest tournament projections, but the middle of the pack is much more murky.
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.
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods greeted their Sunday pairing at Pebble Beach with optimism. But the day would end happily only for one.
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 ImagesThe Angels have excess pitching and a load of prospects to offer the Yankees. Starter Ervin Santana is the name being mentioned most often on the airwaves, and it makes sense. The Angels could part with him and still have John Lackey, Jered Weaver, Kelvim Escobar and — if his shoulder recovers — Bartolo Colon.
To paraphrase an old saying, there’s always a way, if there’s a will.
While the Yankees revel in constant bedlam, the Angels are notable for the lack of excitement around them. They are about as colorful as a neighborhood of tract homes. Guerrero is their star, and a talented one at that. But he’s a quiet guy with all the personality of a rosin bag. Charisma doesn’t necessarily translate into victories, but it can liven up a clubhouse and bring hope and leadership. A-Rod may be much maligned in New York, but he’d be the biggest thing to hit Orange County since Walt Disney.
With the Angels, A-Rod could presumably have his old job back at shortstop. That would mean an end to Cabrera’s stay. His contract is up after the 2008 season, and the Angels like prospect Brandon Wood at either third base or shortstop, but probably third if Rodriguez arrives.
While A-Rod wouldn’t get a free ride from the Southern California media, he also wouldn’t be savaged like he is in the Big Apple. The Angels are starved for a star and owner Arte Moreno has been promising one for quite some time.
A-Rod told WFAN recently: “It’s a do-or-die situation. Either New York is going to kick me out of New York this year, say, ‘I’ve had enough of this guy, get him the hell out of here,’ or New York is going to say, ‘Hey, we won a world championship, you had a big year, you were part of it and we want you back.’”
Forget for a moment that he’s right: If he stays this year and the Yankees go on to win the 2007 World Series, he’ll be a hero, assuming he gets a hit or two along the way. Forget also that he appears to be a master manipulator and shrewd businessman in paving the way for his own lucrative, face-saving departure.
The best place for A-Rod is not New York. True, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. But why bang your head against the wall trying to find out? The relative tranquility of Anaheim awaits.
If the two sides can’t see that by now, then the talk shows should just keep talking until this gets done.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
HBT: Prince Fielder is gone and Ryan Braun will likely miss a third of the season because of a failed PED test. Can Milwaukee stay in contention until he gets back?
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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.
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.
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.