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 three goals as the New York Rangers beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Saturday for their seventh straight win over the Flyers.
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
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.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
Move over, Hollywood and NFL types, golf's two real A-listers take center stage Sunday at Pebble Beach, both in need of a win.
The United States swept favored Switzerland out of the Davis Cup on Saturday when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan beat Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Luis Suarez's refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra overshadowed Manchester United's 2-1 win over rival Liverpool that lifted the defending champions to first place in the Premier League on Saturday.
Marlies Schild of Austria won her sixth World Cup slalom of the season Saturday after overall leader Lindsey Vonn and defending champion Maria Hoefl-Riesch crashed out in the opening run on the windy Pyrenees course.
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
BALTIMORE - Daisuke Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday by the Boston Red Sox, who opted to take a cautious approach after an MRI exam revealed a mild strain of his right rotator cuff.
Matsuzaka was examined in Boston by Dr. Thomas Gill. It is the first trip to the disabled list by Matsuzaka, who joined the Red Sox last season after pitching in Japan.
“The real good news is there were no structural changes,” Boston manager Terry Francona said. “The best way we can see to attack this, we’ll DL him, take the time down and get him ready to pitch the rest of the season. That’s kind of where we are.”
The move was retroactive to Wednesday. Matsuzaka is 8-0 with a 2.53 ERA in 11 starts this season. Opponents are batting .195 against him.
Francona said Dice K put up a mild protest, hoping to pitch through the injury.
“I think that’s first of all good news because it means he feels good about himself,” the manager said. “That’s what good pitchers and good players do. That’s part of the reason they’re good.”
Matsuzaka joins Boston starter Clay Buchholz (finger) on the disabled list. Buchholz was scheduled to pitch Friday night in a rehabilitative assignment for Triple-Pawtucket.
Asked what the loss of Matsuzaka does to the rotation, Francona replied, “Nothing for right now, just keep everybody on track. On Tuesday, we’ll need a starter (against Tampa Bay).”
To replace Matsuzaka on the roster, the Red Sox recalled first baseman/outfielder Jeff Bailey from Triple-A Pawtucket. He was batting .318 with 16 homers and 44 RBIs.
“He knows this could be short term,” Francona said. “When we send guys down we always tell them if you do good there’s a chance you’ll get called up. He got called up. He’s a great kid. He’s always made a good impression on the staff in spring training. He does his work. Doesn’t complain.”
Francona was not immediately sure how he would use Bailey, who played in three games with the Red Sox last season.
“He’s done a little bit more work in right field now which helps a little bit here, maybe the next couple of days,” Francona said. “It gives us a little flexibility, gives us that right-handed bat.”
Right fielder J.D. Drew has been battling vertigo and was not in the starting lineup Friday night against Baltimore.
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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Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
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.
Doron Lamb hit a 3-pointer with 3:18 left to put No. 1 Kentucky ahead to stay, and the Wildcats took a big step toward a Southeastern Conference regular-season title by beating Vanderbilt 69-63 Saturday night for their 17th straight win.