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.
AP25. Music City Bowl (Dec. 31)
Boston College (9-4) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6), Nashville
The Commodores play in front of a home-town crowd for their first bowl game in 26 years. The Eagles boast an 8-game bowl win streak, the nation’s longest. Neither offense is in the top half nationally in scoring.
*Eagles lead the nation in pass interceptions with 26.
24. Champs Sports Bowl (Dec. 27)
Wisconsin (7-5) vs. Florida State (8-4), Orlando
The uniforms command more respect than the teams themselves this season, although this may be a bowl record for age discrepancy among head coaches. Bret Bielema is 38, while Bobby Bowden is 79.
*Badgers have nation’s worst kickoff return yardage (17.26 per) unit.
23. Gator Bowl (Jan. 1)
Clemson (7-5) vs. Nebraska (8-4), Jacksonville
Can we take a moment here to note that recently, on the same weekend, the last two teams coached by Bill Callahan, the Huskers and the Oakland Raiders, attempted nearly identical fake field goal plays? And in both instances, the defense intercepted the flip and returned it for a score.
*Huskers’ aptly named Nate Swift is 8th in the nation in punt return yardage.
22. Emerald Bowl (Dec. 27)
California (8-4) vs. Miami (7-5), San Francisco
The Golden Bears are a 20-minute bus ride from AT&T Park, while the Hurricanes will journey more than 3,000 miles. Both teams share the same sideline in this game for sight-line purposes at this baseball venue.
*Cal sophomore Jahvid Best is 2nd-best nationally in all-purpose running.
21. Meineke Car Care Bowl (Dec. 27)
North Carolina (8-4) vs. West Virginia (8-4), Charlotte
I miss Pat White. I know he’s still a Mountaineer, but one of the most dazzling talents in college football the past four seasons had the lowest rushing output of his four years this autumn (behind a line that returned five starters). He just wasn’t the same player this season, and it wasn’t his fault.
*Tar Heel LB Quan Sturdivant leads the nation in solo tackles with 81.
20. Texas Bowl (Dec. 30)
Rice (9-3) vs. Western Michigan (9-3), Houston
Enjoy the final game for Rice of quarterback Chase Clement and wideout Jarett Dillard, who hooked up for more TD passes than any FBS tandem in history.
*Owl TE James Casey is second in the nation in catches (104) and, because bowl stats count, needs 10 catches to pass North Texas’ Casey Fitzgerald, whose team will be idle.
19. Humanitarian Bowl (Dec. 30)
Maryland (7-5) vs. Nevada (7-5), Boise, Id.
The bowl most likely to cause frostbite, this Boise-based brrr!-fest features the Wolfpack for the second time in three years. The Terrapins' only other trip west of the Mississippi this decade was last year’s Emerald Bowl loss to Oregon State.
*Wolfpack are 2nd nationally in rushing offense.
18. Insight Bowl (Dec. 31)
Minnesota (7-5) vs. Kansas (7-5), Tempe, Ariz.
Call it the Flashback Bowl. Two years ago, the Golden Gophers blew a 38-7 second-half lead in this bowl game, costing Glen Mason (no relation to Legg Mason, or W.B. Mason) his gig. Where can I buy one of those “Our Coach Can Eat Your Coach” T-shirts?
*Jayhawk passer Todd Reesing is 8th nationally in total offense, but 5th in the Big 12.
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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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.
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.
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