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.
AP
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Johnny Damon, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter were big at the plate, yet the Yankee power hitters were awed by their teammate on the mound who was unruffled in his first major league start.
Backed by two homers from Damon, Rodriguez’s three-run shot and Jeter’s 2-for-4 outing, Alfredo Aceves kept Los Angeles hitters’ off-balance in New York’s 7-1 victory Tuesday night.
The Angels’ loss, combined with Texas’ 7-3 victory at Seattle, left their magic number at two for clinching their fourth AL West crown in five years. They can pop the champagne corks Wednesday with a victory in the series finale and a Texas loss on the road.
Aceves (1-0) allowed one run and five hits in seven innings, struck out two and didn’t walk anyone in his third major league appearance.
“A pitcher has a little advantage when the hitters haven’t seen him,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “He changed speeds and got some outs when he needed. I don’t think he did anything that surprised us, but until you get in the batter’s box and get a look at the guy, it’s tough to have an idea of exactly what his ball is going to do.”
Aceves, a native of Mexico who began the season at Single-A Tampa, was cheered by about 30 family and friends. He planned to give the lineup card to his father as a souvenir.
“We played very good defense and we hit,” he said alternately speaking English, then Spanish that was interpreted by catcher Ivan Rodriguez. “It’s a good feeling, but it’s another game. I’m not thinking of my past or my future. My job is to hold other teams and play good baseball to win.”
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But Damon singled out Aceves’ performance.
“Our guy threw the ball very well,” he said. “We’re definitely very proud of him.”
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Aceves had promised him seven innings and the 25-year-old pitcher delivered.
“He faced a very tough lineup,” Girardi said. “The kid has a lot of heart and obviously he’s not afraid to throw strikes.”
Aceves helped himself by starting an inning-ending double play in the fourth.
“That was a big turn,” starting catcher Chad Moeller said. “He’s got good stuff. It’s going to be learning how to pitch here and what to do. He’s got four quality pitches and he’s not afraid of anyone out there.”
Rodriguez’s 33rd homer in the sixth off Ervin Santana (15-6) extended the Yankees’ lead to 4-0 and helped them end a four-game losing streak against the Angels.
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.
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.
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.
