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.
Reuters
BALTIMORE - Back in a New York uniform, Carl Pavano spoke enthusiastically in the Yankees clubhouse Friday about getting a chance to start over.
“I’m really excited. I’m champing at the bit,” said Pavano, who will make his first start of the year on Saturday. “That’s what I have worked for, to get where I am now. I am not where I want to be, but I am where I need to be to move forward. This is the next big test.”
After starting only twice in the big leagues over the last 3½ years, Pavano will resume his big league career when he walks to the mound to face the Baltimore Orioles.
Pavano has started only 19 games for the Yankees since signing a four-year, $39.95 million contract before the 2005 season. Just two of those starts have come since June 2005, after his latest injury resulted in elbow ligament replacement surgery last June and a 14-month rehabilitation period.
Pavano, who went 18-8 with Florida in 2004, will be reunited with Yankees catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who was his teammate on the Marlins’ 2003 world championship team.
“It’s good to see his face,” Pavano said. “A lot of the faces here are new, but we have had a lot of success together.”
Asked how he felt when Yankees general manager Brian Cashman called to say he was being brought back, Pavano said, “Me and Cash have been in a lot of conversations over the years. This was definitely one of the better ones.”
With top pitchers Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain on the disabled list, the Yankees’ rotation is in need of a lift. And after starting the day six games behind Boston and Minnesota in the wild-card race, New York is feeling a sense of urgency.
“No question, if he pitches well and we win, it’s a great story for everyone,” Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. “That’s the situation we’re in right now. We need to find ways to win. It’s good for him to be back, to be healthy. And hopefully he pitches well for us.”
Jeter, however, is well aware of Pavano’s history of injuries. Since joining New York, the right-hander has had problems with his shoulder, back, buttocks and elbow — which he’s had three surgeries on alone.
“He’s pretty much had everything. Hopefully, there’s nothing left,” Jeter said, turning to his locker to knock on wood. “Hopefully, there are no more setbacks. Hopefully he goes out there and helps us to win.”
New York manager Joe Girardi said Pavano will be on a 100-pitch count. In his final rehab start Aug. 17 with Double-A Trenton, Pavano threw 88 pitches.
“Hopefully, that’s about eight innings,” Girardi said. “The good thing is he is back and he’s healthy and he’s going to pitch for us. Beyond that, we’re not looking past Saturday.”
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.
After leading by 18 points in the first half, the Los Angeles Lakers were staring at a four-point deficit with less than two minutes to play.
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.