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.
PBT: Jeremy Lin wasn't his hot self on Saturday, but he still led the Knicks to victory.
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.
Nafzger likes to compare his riding experiences to his training regimen.
“We’re all adrenaline jockeys, that’s why we’re here,” said Nafzger, who won his first Derby with Unbridled in 1990. “Before something really big happens, we all think this is something you never want to do again. But as soon as it’s over, you can’t wait for the next one.”
How about next Saturday’s Classic, which also features 3-year-old stars Curlin, Hard Spun and Any Given Saturday, as well as 4-year-old Lawyer Ron?
“I wake up at night thinking about it,” he said. “Not every bull and not every horse will give you that rush. But this horse does. It’s going to be a great race.”
About a month ago, Nafzger found out he had been voted into the Ring of Honor, which includes rodeo greats Jim Shoulders, Larry Mahan and Ty Murray.
“He was pretty choked up when he got the call,” Nestlen said. “Very emotional.”
Bull riding today is far from what it used to be in the carefree days of the 1960s, when rodeo competitors traveled from town to town in what Leffew likes to call “endless fiestas.”
Professional Bull Riders, Inc., was created in 1992 when 20 riders chipped in $1,000 each to try and make bull riding — rodeo’s most popular event — a stand-alone sport. It worked: PBR competitions went from eight in 1994 to 225 in the U.S. this year, plus another 150 in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. Events are televised on cable channel VERSUS, Fox and NBC.
In April, the New York-based equity firm Spire Capital Partners became the majority investor and, according to Nestlen, paid $90 million for a 60 percent interest. The PBR has more than 1,200 competing riders, with the Ring of Honor consisting of 25 former stars.
Nafzger will be inducted along with Phil Lyne, the all-around champion in 1971-72 and world calf roping champion in the same years. Each will receive an engraved diamond ring.
“What more can you ask for?” Nafzger said. “I hope we can take the Classic with us.”
The first of three pools of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager begins its three-day run on Friday and the bet's opening scenario is very similar to each of its opening pools since the wager was created in 1999.
It's first time that Classic will be broadcast in primetime on Nov. 3.
 | INTERACTIVE |
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 | Slideshow |
 | Derby celebs Plenty of stars from the entertainment and sports world attend the 136th Kentucky Derby. more photos |
| INTERACTIVE |
 | Triple Crown winners The horses that have won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont in the same year. |
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.