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.
AP“Either I strike him out or he hits a home run,” Zambrano said. “You can’t make a mistake against a hitter like that, they make you pay.”
Zambrano (10-7) limited the Pirates to four hits over seven innings — they had two harmless singles in the fourth — but still lost for the first time in four decisions. He also missed out on what would have been an NL-leading 11th victory, losing to Pittsburgh for the second time this season.
“I had a rough time in the first two innings with my windup,” said Zambrano, who didn’t feel comfortable on the mound until making an adjustment following Bay’s homer. “I changed my delivery right after that.”
Youman is 2-0 since being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis for his only two career victories, furthering the Cubs’ problems against left-handed starters, who are 14-8 against them. He allowed plenty of base runners — eight in six innings — but worked his way out of major problems with minimal damage several times.
“That’s what they’ve preached to me since the low minors, damage control,” Youman said. “Making guys swing the bats without too much happening.”
Aramis Ramirez, Mark DeRosa and Mike Fontenot singled to load the bases with none out in the second, but Youman got the next two hitters following Angel Pagan hit a sacrifice fly. DeRosa doubled as the Cubs put three of their first four batters on base in the sixth, but Ramirez grounded into a double play and Fontenot grounded out.
Shawn Chacon replaced Youman and retired all six batters he faced before Matt Capps pitched the ninth in a non-save situation.
Notes: The Pirates have won six of eight series. ... The Cubs had won four consecutive series. They remain 4½ games back in the NL Central as division leader Milwaukee lost 7-2 in Washington. ... Cubs SS Ryan Theriot and 2B Fontenot were College World Series-winning teammates of Youman’s at LSU in 2000. ... Zambrano had won his last six road decisions. ... Chicago came into the series winning 21 of 31.
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.
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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.
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.
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