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 Images“Last time we were here, I knew he had tied it before we came in,” the umpire said. “I didn’t know he hadn’t had any ejections since then.”
The reason for the heave-ho: “Just routine arguing balls and strikes,” Barrett said. “Nothing out of the ordinary from other ejections.”
The Giants weren’t much happier with Barrett than the Braves.
“He had a tough time behind the plate tonight,” first baseman Ryan Klesko said. “And it was both sides. Guys were questioning his strike zone all night. They can’t have great days all the time.”
After Cox was tossed, the Braves rallied.
Mark Teixeira sparked a four-run sixth with a homer to center. He has gone deep five times in 12 games with the Braves, who acquired him from Texas just before the deadline for non-waiver trades. He has 18 homers overall this season.
Brian McCann followed with a single to right against Jack Taschner, who was replaced by Scott Atchison. Jeff Francoeur took a called third strike, but Andruw Jones walked and Yunel Escobar followed with a two-run double to the gap in right center.
Escobar, who has played brilliantly for the Braves since being promoted from the minors, clapped his hands emphatically as he stood at second base. He sped home with the go-ahead run on the very next pitch, scoring on Matt Diaz’s pinch-single to center.
Wickman (3-2) cost John Smoltz his 11th win. Pinch-hitter Daniel Ortmeier tripled with one out and wound up scoring on Dave Roberts’ groundout with the bases loaded. The Giants reloaded the bases, but Wickman struck out Klesko.
He had been 9-for-9 in save chances at home, going 19 2-3 innings without allowing an earned run.
“I’m glad we got the win,” Wickman said. “But it’s not my job to get wins. My job is to get saves.”
The Giants jumped ahead in the second on a run-scoring single by Pedro Feliz. Klesko stretched the lead with a two-out, two-run double in the third.
Notes: Bonds played in left field under the 755 Club, a restaurant named in honor of Aaron’s career homer total. ... Smoltz has gone four starts without a win. His last victory came July 23 at San Francisco. ... Wickman has blown six saves in 25 chances.
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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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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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.