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
TAMPA, Fla. - Joba Chamberlain was far from automatic against the Minnesota Twins.
Chamberlain allowed a two-run homer to Garrett Jones in the New York Yankees’ 7-5 loss Wednesday, the first Grapefruit League loss in four games for new manager Joe Girardi.
“I was just trying to get the thing over the plate,” Chamberlain said. “It was just one of those days. You live and learn. It’s bound to happen.”
The 22-year-old right-hander threw just 20 of 36 pitches for strikes during a two-inning stint. He gave up two hits, struck out one, walked one and hit a batter, pitching the fourth and fifth innings.
“You learn from your successes, but you learn more from your failures,” Chamberlain said.
Chamberlain allowed just two runs — one earned — and one home run over 24 innings in 19 games with the Yankees last year, when he served as Mariano Rivera’s setup man during the final two months.
“Joba was missing with his breaking ball early in the count, and getting in some bad counts,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “It’s a learning experience.”
Chamberlain will likely start the season in the bullpen, although the Yankees project him as an eventual starter.
Delmon Young, acquired in a multiplayer deal from Tampa Bay during the offseason, had a solo homer for the Twins. He hit .288 with 13 homers and 93 RBIs in his first full major league season last year
“He’s already pretty good, and he has a chance to keep working and be a really good baseball player,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “He’s very excited to be here. He’s done everything we’ve asked. Said he’ll do whatever we need him to do, and that’s been the way he’s gone about everything.”
Alejandro Machado had a two-run double in a three-run eighth that put Minnesota up 7-4.
The Yankees got a solo homer from Shelley Duncan, who is competing for playing time at first. He is hitting .636 with two homers and nine RBIs in four games.
“Very impressive,” Girardi said. “He’s done everything a man could do. He’s a ball of energy.”
Twins starter Kevin Slowey allowed three runs and five hits in two innings. New York’s Ian Kennedy gave up one run and two hits over two innings.
Gardenhire said left-hander Francisco Liriano, who missed all of last season recovering from elbow surgery, will make his first start Friday against Boston. It isn’t clear how many innings he will pitch.
“We’ll see how he goes through the first one. If he doesn’t have a high pitch count, he’ll probably go in the second,” Gardenhire said. “He’s under control. He’s not overthrowing the ball. He’s doing just fine.”
Notes: Yankees LF-DH Hideki Matsui (neck stiffness) took 33 swings in his first batting practice session since Saturday. Matsui, who had right knee surgery last November, could see his first game early next week. ...Gardenhire said Twins closer Joe Nathan, who caught his ankle awkwardly while pitching last weekend, will likely pitch Friday. ...Chris Sheppard, the son of Yankee Stadium PA announcer Bob Sheppard, handled the public address duties. Bob Sheppard, who is in his 90s, missed the playoff series against Cleveland last year because of a bronchial infection. The Yankees have not made an announcement yet, but Bob Sheppard likely will miss opening day. He is expected to return later in the season.
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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