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.
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.
Getty ImagesQ: With Greg Oden out for the season, who are the rookies that will likely challenge Kevin Durant for the ROY award?
— Ariel, Manila, Philippines
A: Tough one as I don't see any true challenger. As many believed, Durant could eventually be a better player than Oden. I agree Portland had to go for Oden as you can't afford to not take a shot at perhaps the next great — or really good — big man. But Durant is really, really good. What stands out already is his proclivity to be aggressive, rare for a rookie. He's so confident in his shot and game he can take 20 shots and most are good ones. He's got the size to just rise over defenders and get a good shot. Even tough defenders who have played him already, like Raja Bell, have had trouble. He's the real deal, a soon-to-be All Star. There is no second. I'd say the next most effective rookie is fifth, someone like Al Horford or Yi Jianlian.
Q: What do you think of the New Jersey Nets for this season?
— Sam, New Milford, N.J.
A: I like the Nets to be among the top four in the East. I was impressed with Jason Kidd this summer and believe he's got a few good years left. As always, the problem there is Vince Carter, who is a great talent who plays a casual and, perhaps, dumb game. Carter is so good he can make some of those crazy shots he takes, but they take the team out of the offense too much and the coach seems intimidated by him and goes to him too often in crucial situations, apparently for fear of losing him. If they let Kidd effectively run things and with a recovery for Krstic, they'll be an Eastern contender.
Q: Are the Lakers for real?
— Kent Richland, Los Angeles
A: What is real? Surreal perhaps? This Kobe Bryant thing promises to hang over them all season. If I were them, I'd announce they are not trading Bryant no matter what and that leaves it to Bryant to play. Otherwise, after every three-game losing streak, Bryant and his media emissaries could go off coming up with trade scenarios. If they don't stabilize the situation, they are probably a solid .500 team. If they do, they have a chance to be better and perhaps make a minor deal to make things look a little better.
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
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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.
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.
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