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.
Euro Roundup: First-place Manchester City won 1-0 at Aston Villa on Sunday on Joleon Lescott's goal in the 63rd minute, maintaining its two-point lead over Manchester United in the Premier League.
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.
AP5. Debut of the revamped Lightning
Okay, we'll admit it. We have no idea if all those signings in Tampa will equal success on the ice. Or if Barry Melrose still has the touch behind the bench. But we'll be watching their season opener against the New York Rangers on Oct. 4 in Prague. If nothing else, there should be a lot of scoring. Melrose said he thinks the Tampa Bay defense is better than people give it credit for. We'll find out.
4. and 3. Stanley Cup finals rematches
This was a no-brainer: a home-and-home between the Penguins and Red Wings. The Stanley Cup winners host Pittsburgh in Detroit on Nov. 11, and the rematch is in Pittsburgh on Feb. 8. Think there might be any boos in Pittsburgh when former Penguin Marian Hossa takes the ice? And will Mike Babcock be able to resist putting Ty Conklin between the pipes? Hossa also faces the Thrashers, another former team of his, twice, which could make for some rough nights for the forward.
2. Sidney in Sweden
If the NHL were really smart, the powers that be would find a way to expand into Europe, where there's a huge appetite for hockey. Logistically it might be a nightmare, but at some point a professional league in some sport will do it. The NHL should lead the way. Until then, we're treated with regular-season games in Europe, and this is a good one: Pittsburgh vs. Ottawa open the season in Stockholm, Sweden, on Oct. 4, with a rematch the next day. It's sure to be a special event, even if Sidney Crosby and the boys suffer jet lag for the first week of the season as a result.
1. Winter Classic II
On New Year's Day, Chicago and Detroit will play outdoors at Wrigley Field in the second Winter Classic. After the first one — last year's game in Buffalo between the Sabres and Penguins — drew rave reviews (and ratings), the NHL did the right thing and brought back the event this season. Critics say a yearly Winter Classic cheapens the event, but we're already looking forward to two historic teams playing in front of frozen ivy.
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.
Check out highlights from the Rangers 3-2 win over the Capitals.
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The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
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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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.