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.
Campbell, an offensive-minded defenseman, was a piece that Chicago needed to add. The Blackhawks had one of the worst power plays in the league last season and they lacked a blue-line quarterback. That’s where Campbell comes in and he has made his presence felt as Chicago’s power play, 21st in the league last season, had risen to No. 8 in mid December.
The biggest difference between Savard and Quenneville as coaches is probably structure. Quenneville has always been a very structured coach and his players know in no uncertain terms what’s expected of them as far as their positioning in all situations. The Blackhawks are vastly improved on defense and under Quenneville they play with more defensive structure.
Chicago has enough offense to get by and the high energy play of Toews and Kane is contagious as their teammates feed off of it. A key is to keep brittle second-line winger Martin Havlat healthy. He missed 47 games last season. Havlat is a high-risk, high-reward investment to the tune of a four-year, $24 million contract that expires after this season. He’s a creative player from whom the Blackhawks need scoring.
Also contributing to Chicago’s success is that management has gone to a greater level of patience with some of the team’s developing younger players and time spent in the minors has helped the emergence of Kris Versteeg and Dustin Byfuglien.
The Blackhawks’ attendance is unbelievable. They are averaging over 21,000 per game and might wind up leading the league in that category. The fans have had plenty to cheer about and they are hoping to still be filling up the United Center and cheering when the playoffs roll around.
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.
Check out highlights from the Rangers 3-2 win over the Capitals.
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The true meaning of 'team' Jan. 1: How the Blackhawks rallied around GM Dale Tallon in his moment of need. |
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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 |
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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