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: Syracuse is among a solid group of No. 1 seeds in our latest tournament projections, but the middle of the pack is much more murky.
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 greeted their Sunday pairing at Pebble Beach with optimism. But the day would end happily only for one.
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.
Yankees cancel fraudulent signing
After signing someone they believed to be 16-year-old Damian Arredono – a shortstop prospect from the Dominican Republic – two weeks ago, the Yankees reportedly had to cancel the deal. Apparently, Arredono isn’t who he says he is and is older than 16. That nullifies his contract and prevents him from making any deals with major league teams for another calendar year. Oops. (Sports Illustrated)
B.J. Ryan awaits AAA stint for Cubs
After signing former Blue Jays closer B.J. Ryan, the Cubs have reportedly assigned him to pitch in Triple-A Iowa. The left-hander will head to the Cubs’ spring training facility in Mesa, Ariz., and will move up to Iowa when he’s ready. The extra boost in the bullpen could propel the ailing Cubs to the playoff run its fans so eagerly desire ... or not. (Chicago Tribune)
Morning rumors
Teams saying no to Nats’ Johnson
The Nationals would apparently love to deal first baseman Nick Johnson in the next few weeks but it is apparently asking for too much in return for a guy who is injured fairly frequently and becomes a free agent at season’s end. Rumor has it the Nationals are asking for “top young players” in exchange for Johnson and teams are saying no. The player that many teams actually seem ready to deal for is utility guy Willie Harris. (MLB.com)
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
HBT: Prince Fielder is gone and Ryan Braun will likely miss a third of the season because of a failed PED test. Can Milwaukee stay in contention until he gets back?
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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.
The Red Wings have finally started to embrace a record they've been chasing.
On their last trip to Atlanta, the Miami Heat were missing two-thirds of their Big Three.