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.
And in the NL:
First Base — Houston switch-hitter Lance Berkman is having a huge season. He could make a run at the Triple Crown if Jones’ average drops. St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols can start at DH. San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez and Chicago’s Derrek Lee also make it at a power-packed position that leaves no room for Mark Teixeira, Prince Fielder or Conor Jackson. Ryan Howard has a ton of homers and RBIs, but a ton of strikeouts as well.
Second Base — By a slim margin, Utley (Philadelphia) tops Uggla (Florida) to earn the start. Both are MVP contenders, too.
Shortstop — One of the game’s most talented performers, Hanley Ramirez of the Marlins is the clear choice here for his first All-Star appearance. New York Mets speedster Jose Reyes claims a backup role.
Third Base — Jones (Atlanta) flirted with a .400 batting average for much of the first half. His backups are New York’s David Wright and Chicago’s Aramis Ramirez.
Catcher — Brian McCann of the Braves gets the No. 1 spot with two players behind him: Cubs rookie Geovany Soto and Russell Martin of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Outfield — Another surprising group. Pat Burrell of the Phillies starts in left, with Pittsburgh’s Nate McLouth in center and St. Louis’ Ryan Ludwick in right. On the bench are Colorado’s Matt Holliday, Pittsburgh’s Jason Bay and Houston’s Carlos Lee.
Starting Pitchers — Cincinnati’s Edinson Volquez (10-3, 2.24 ERA) won at Yankee Stadium last month and barely beats out Lincecum (San Francisco) for starting honors. The rest of the staff features Arizona teammates Brandon Webb and Dan Haren, Milwaukee ace Ben Sheets, Rockies workhorse Aaron Cook, Philadelphia lefty Cole Hamels and Chicago right-hander Carlos Zambrano — as long as he’s healthy. If not, his spot goes to Cubs teammate Ryan Dempster. Kyle Lohse of the Cardinals was difficult to omit.
Relievers — Phillies closer Brad Lidge is joined in the bullpen by Chicago’s Kerry Wood, Washington’s Jon Rauch and Mets lefty Billy Wagner.
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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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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