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'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.
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods both greeted Sunday with unbridled optimism. But the day would end happily only for Mickelson.
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.
Reuters file
NEW YORK - Agent Scott Boras says he hasn’t had talks with any of the possible bidders for the Chicago Cubs about Alex Rodriguez, denying a report on New York Magazine’s Web site.
Rodriguez can opt out of the final three years of his contract with the New York Yankees, which calls for him to receive $27 million in each of the next three seasons.
“A source with knowledge of the situation says Boras knows which group is most likely to be awarded the team,” New York Magazine reported on its Web site this weekend. “The source says Boras has already been in touch with that group about the possibility of a contract that could reach $30 million a year over the next 10 years while deferring a certain portion of money toward an eventual stake in the franchise.”
John Canning, chairman of private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners LLC, is thought to be a favorite to buy the team from Tribune Co., which is in the process of being purchased by an entity controlled by real estate investor Sam Zell. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban submitted an application to examine the Cubs’ finances.
Speaking before Sunday’s 7-5 win over Toronto, Rodriguez said the report was “nonsense,” as far as he knew.
“Great players with great demand create great rumors,” Boras said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “While I would enjoy having lunch with Mark Cuban and Canning, at this point of the year that conversation would not include Alex Rodriguez. I have not talked to anyone.”
Boras also pointed out that it would violate major league rules for a player to have equity or potential equity in a franchise.
“It sounds like a silly story. We really don’t believe it,” Yankees president Randy Levine said. “However, if it were true, that would be grounds to disqualify someone from becoming an owner before even filing the application. It would demonstrate a violation of major league rules prior to even owning a club. I talked to the commissioner, and he agrees.”
Rodriguez signed his $252 million, 10-year contract with Texas before the 2001 season, then was traded to the Yankees in 2004. As part of the trade, the Rangers owe the Yankees $8,116,000 next year, $7,101,500 in 2009 and $6,087,000 in 2010 — a total of $21,304,500.
Of the $27 million A-Rod is owed each year, $3 million is deferred annually at 2 percent interest and paid from 2016-25. At the time of the trade, the Rangers agreed to be responsible for those payments.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
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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.
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