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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.
AP
READING, Pa. - Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto want to hip-hop all over the ice.
The four-time U.S. ice dance champions believe it’s time that hip-hop music was allowed in their specialty. They’ve already begun campaigning for it.
Belbin-Agosto unveiled their routine to a selection of Justin Timberlake music Friday night at the Marshalls Showcase, the final event of the figure skating season. The crowd loved it, and the 2006 Olympic silver medalists believe audiences everywhere would enjoy hip-hop in competitions.
“We’re trying to push hip hop and it’s never been accepted in the current international community,” Belbin said. “Hopefully someday we’ll be able to spice up the competitions.
“We meet after the world championships every year and talk about the regulations for next season. We need more North American teams trying it before we can get it accepted.”
It’s an interesting concept considering that changes in ice dance for so long came glacially. But in the last decade, and especially in this century, there has been substantial movement.
The top American couple ever wants to see more.
“It’s difficult, because we’re young and a new generation and this is what we listen to and dance to,” Belbin said. “It’s tough to be deprived of it.”
Agosto was intrigued when it was mentioned that the original dance for next season will be folk music, with few parameters offered on what defines folk. While the International Skating Union has encouraged skaters to try something from their culture, the governing body has provided no guidelines.
So why can’t hip-hop be considered American folk music?
“Hmm,” he said. “I like that idea.”
“We’re trying to expand the audience of our sport and hip-hop is a huge part of our culture. We’d love to tap into it.”
But first, they’ve earned a rest. Like most of the top echelon of U.S. skating, Belbin and Agosto will tour with Champions on Ice, beginning Monday in Richmond, Va. Then they will have a lengthy break, giving them a chance to work on new routines. Including, perhaps, more hip-hop.
Regardless of what they come up with, the dancers promise next season will be more representative of what they can achieve. After the silver in Turin, they won bronze at the 2006 world championships, then got bronze again at last month’s worlds.
But it was not a spectacular season for them.
“We’re tired, but now we’re a little rejuvenated, too, with looking forward to a new free dance and a new season,” Agosto said. “I think when we come back in the fall, we’ll be way ahead of where we were at the end of this season. We’ll have a lot of opportunity this summer to work on our skating and up the levels.”
Sasha Cohen will need to do exactly that if she returns to the competitive scene next season. Cohen took a break to concentrate on acting and touring, but she still has her eyes on the 2010 Olympics.
To get there would require a serious comeback now that she’s missed a full season of pressurized skating. Cohen isn’t afraid of the challenge.
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.
NEW YORK (AP) - As the glow fades from the Giants' Super Bowl triumph, some New York sports fans are tuning in to basketball and hockey, with the Rangers in first place and the Knicks' overnight sensation, Jeremy Lin, sparking "Lin-sanity.''
Robins: This year, six new breeds will be making their debut on the green carpet for the Westminster Dog Show, which begins Monday.
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