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.
AP
MIAMI - Florida receiver Percy Harvin embraced coach Urban Meyer near midfield, got a kiss on the cheek and two congratulatory words.
“Unbelievable performance,” Meyer said.
Enough said.
Harvin, who missed the Southeastern Conference championship game because of an ankle injury, had 171 total yards and a touchdown in his return to help top-ranked Florida beat No. 2 Oklahoma 24-14 in the BCS championship game Thursday night. He ran nine times for 122 yards and a touchdown, caught five passes for 49 yards and proved once again to be the fastest — maybe even the most talented — player on the field.
“The brighter the lights, the bigger he plays,” Meyer said. “He’s a big-time game performer.”
Harvin had runs of 45 and 52 yards, getting the Gators out of a huge hole with the first one and then setting up the go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter with the second.
“There’s no feeling like being a champion,” Harvin said. “I love it. There’s nothing like it.”
Harvin lined up at running back, quarterback and receiver against the Sooners. He darted through holes, broke tackles, outran defenders and burned cornerbacks.
And he wasn’t 100 percent.
Meyer said Harvin was still slightly hobbled by his ankle injury. The junior severely sprained his right ankle against Florida State on Nov. 29. He worked the next week in hopes of playing against Alabama, but he wasn’t able to go — and said sitting on the sideline felt like being at a “funeral.”
There was little doubt he would be back on the field against Oklahoma. Harvin even stayed in Gainesville during a short break for Christmas to get treatment.
“I never doubted him,” linebacker Brandon Spikes said. “He worked and worked and worked to get back on the field after the injury against FSU, and it all paid off. He gave us a big lift. Percy is a dynamic player, and he is the ultimate weapon for an offense.”
Harvin gave the Gators a big boost in the second quarter when he slipped through a hole at the Florida 3 line and went 45 yards before getting tackled. Instead of facing poor field position and the possibility of a punt from their own end zone, the Gators were at midfield.
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Florida ended up punting, but the run flipped the field. He was even better in the fourth, ripping off runs of 52 and 12 yards on consecutive plays to get the Gators in field-goal range. He seemed to injure his leg on the tackle, but after a few moments on the ground, he jumped to his feet and ran off the field.
He returned on the next drive and was healthy enough to carry a few more times and run around celebrating with teammates when it was over.
“Just to see him out there to do what he did,” receiver David Nelson said. “We know he’s been hurt. We know he’s been injured. To see him come out here and battle through the injuries, that just gives the team a tremendous lift.”
It might have been the last one.
Harvin is considering entering the NFL draft. The biggest question will be his durability.
No one will question his ability, especially considering what he did against the Sooners. And he wasn’t even 100 percent.
“He was spectacular,” Nelson said. “He carried us for most of the game. His speed and quickness, even not at 100 percent, he was the fastest player on the field.”
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.
After leading by 18 points in the first half, the Los Angeles Lakers were staring at a four-point deficit with less than two minutes to play.
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.