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.
Eleven shots separated Phil and Tiger Sunday at Pebble Beach as Lefty secured his 40th Tour win. Jason Sobel had 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.
Five reasons why Ohio State-USC will live up to the hype:
1. Ohio State is desperate: This is a manhood game, plain and simple. The last two times we've seen the Buckeyes in big games, it was utterly embarrassing. It wasn't so much the score as it was them coming completely unhinged mentally — something so out of character for Jim Tressel-coached teams. Every player who has been through those emasculating losses in the last two BCS title games knows this is a statement game. Let's see if they respond.
2. The matchups: It's obvious now that Ohio State has problems with teams that run the spread option. USC does not run it, and the Trojans' pro-style offensive scheme plays into the Buckeyes' strength: athletic bruisers in the front seven and cornerbacks who can get physical with receivers. None of the USC receivers will run away from coverage, which will allow CBs Malcolm Jenkins and Chimdi Chekwa to jam at the line of scrimmage and disrupt the Trojans' timing-based passing game.
3. The next USC Heisman Trophy winner. Mark Sanchez is the most physically gifted of all Pete Carroll's quarterbacks at USC, and that's saying plenty. He has it all: big arm, accuracy, mobility. And his teammates love him. "The biggest goofball on the team," says USC defensive tackle Fili Maola. The biggest star, too.
4. USC when it matters. These aren't the games that sidetrack what is annually the nation's most talented team. When healthy, USC owns these games. And this Trojans team hasn't been this healthy in two years. It's the Stanfords and Oregon States that give the Trojans fits — games in which USC is expected to roll, but they sleepwalk until it's too late to turn it around.
5. The Terrelle Pryor factor: No doubt, a healthy Chris Wells would help — and until he returns, this Ohio State team is fourth-best in the Big Ten. But just as important is the emergence of Pryor, the nation's No. 1 recruit from last year. QB Todd Boeckman doesn't scare teams — not with his arm (because OSU has no deep speed outside), and certainly not with his legs (he's a statue in the pocket). Pryor, on the other hand, can completely flummox USC's speedy defense. When fast defenses are forced to think and react to options (see: zone-read play), the tempo slows, and everyone on the offense immediately gets faster.
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.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
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 Memphis fulfills BCS dream Tigers officials thrilled to announce that school has been accepted to join the Big East Conference in 2013. |
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No. 3 USC 18, No. 8 Ohio State 15 |
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.
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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