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.
APHoward had three blocks and was called for goaltending twice as Orlando built a lead that grew to 29-14 at the end of the first quarter. Paul had eight points to keep New Orleans in the game.
Fueled by a pair of 3s by Nelson and six straight points by Howard, including a rousing putback dunk, Orlando went on a 22-4 run to take a 59-29 lead with just over two minutes left in the first half.
Orlando shot 56 percent and made eight of 14 3s in the first half to take a 61-31 lead.
Paul had 12 points at halftime.
The Hornets resorted to a Smite-a-Dwight strategy, fouling Howard nearly every time he touched the ball in the paint. Howard, who was shooting a career-low 57 percent from the line this season, made four of eight.
“His energy was great, but he was frustrated because they were hammering him inside,” Van Gundy said.
“Last year we would have won a big game or two and then come back and a lose a game we believed we should win,” Howard said. “So far we’ve been staying consistent. That’s a great sign of maturity for a young team.”
Former starter Mickael Pietrus, still playing with a split on his broken right thumb, continued to come off the bench for the Magic and finished with 11 points. Keith Bogans, who started in his place, did not score.
Notes: The Hornets won their previous two road games. ... Howard had made the first of two free throws early in the second half when the crowd started chanting “MVP. MVP” He smiled as he shot the second one, clanging it off the front rim. He had made four of five free throws to that point. ... Howard was one of three players picked for the Slam Dunk competition on All-Star Saturday, Feb. 14, in Phoenix. He joins Memphis’ Rudy Gay and 2006 winner Nate Robinson of the Knicks. A fan vote will pick the fourth competitor. ... Howard wore specially designed blue-and-red Superman shoes for the first and only time this season.
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
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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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