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?
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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.
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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.
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) -England defender Joleon Lescott preserved Manchester City's two-point lead in the Premier League by scoring a second-half winner in a 1-0 victory at Aston Villa on Sunday.
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.
APPena’s double off Kevin Slowey (12-11) gave Kazmir a 2-0 lead in the third inning. The Rays added three more in the fifth on Longoria’s RBI double, Dioner Navarro’s run-scoring single and pinch-hitter Rocco Baldelli’s bases-loaded walk.
Perez homered off Dennys Reyes in the sixth and Floyd, one of the veterans brought in last winter to provide leadership in a young clubhouse, went deep in the seventh against Matt Guerrier.
In some ways it was fitting that Kazmir (12-7) started the game that assured the first playoff berth.
At 24, he’s a two-time All-Star and already the club’s career wins leader. And more than a few people snickered when he made his bold preseason declaration about the team’s talent level.
“It couldn’t have been a better setting,” Kazmir said. “But I’ll tell you what. I couldn’t do it without the bats that we had tonight. We just show a lot of heart, every day — day in, day out.”
Boston roughed up the Rays ace during a 13-5 win over Tampa Bay last Monday, but the left-hander was a different pitcher against the Twins, allowing just five hits.
Minnesota loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth when Mauer singled, Justin Morneau doubled and Michael Cuddyer was hit by a pitch.
But Kazmir, who matched a career high by allowing nine runs in three-plus innings against Boston, escaped. He got some help from Morneau, who was caught off second after Delmon Young flied out to swallow center field for the first out.
The Rays lost their shutout in the ninth when Troy Percival surrendered an RBI single to Denard Span before being replaced by Trever Miller. Alexi Casilla’s run-scoring groundout made it 7-2 before Miller retired Mauer to start the celebration.
“It’s an incredible feeling. This is what you come to spring training for,” Longoria said. “We’re going to be one of eight teams in the playoffs. It’s awesome.”
Notes: Mauer’s fourth-inning single gave him a 10-game hitting streak. ... The sellout was the seventh at Tropicana Field this year. Sunday’s game is also sold out, giving the Rays full houses for consecutive games for the only the second time in club history. ... With 98 RBIs — 51 since the All-Star break — Pena is two shy of joining Fred McGriff and Aubrey Huff as the only players to drive in 100 twice for Tampa Bay. ... Rays CF B.J. Upton, out since Sept. 8 with a strained left quadriceps, pinch hit in the fourth inning and remained in the game.
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.
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