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.
ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Dodgers have waited long enough for free agent outfielder Manny Ramirez. Time's up. If Manny isn't ready to make a decision, it's time to wish him well. There's a time to negotiate, and there's a time to do a deal.
That time is now.
Ramirez is a wonderful player, a Hall of Fame offensive presence. He transformed the Dodgers into a playoff team after joining them at the trading deadline last season. His devil-may-care attitude helped manager Joe Torre's young kids deal with the pressure of a pennant race. Suddenly, the attention and pressure were on Manny. Manny thrived and so did the kids.
The Dodgers have made it clear they want Manny back. They've offered him a two-year deal with an option for a third year. They've offered him $25 million for one year.
Agent Scott Boras has rejected both of those deals. Boras is brilliant at this stuff. He creates a market even when there doesn't appear to be a market. Sometimes, he drags out negotiations long enough that teams must give him what he wants or be left with a huge hole on the roster.
Because this free agent market is so different, however, the Dodgers have options.
Free agent outfielder/first baseman Adam Dunn has had a tremendous winter. He has worked out, reportedly has lost 17 pounds and is determined to prove he can be an impact player. Second baseman Orlando Hudson, a player with absolutely no negatives, is still on the market. So is outfielder Bobby Abreu.
If the Dodgers act now, they can replace Manny nicely. They won't get a player as good as Manny, but they won't be left high and dry. Spring training begins next week, so time is running out.
Because I have so much experience at being a major league general manager, I'd like to offer Dodgers G.M. Ned Colletti some advice. He should call Boras today and say, "Let's do it today, Scott." He should put his two offers back on the table: $45 million over two years (with an option for a third year) or $25 million for one year.
"Only thing," Colletti should say, "we need an answer. We're loading the equipment truck. It's go time." He should add, "This is not a negotiating ploy, Scott. We're withdrawing the offers at 5 p.m. and will be going in a different direction."
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My guess is that Manny would accept. He seemed to like Southern California, and he certainly liked playing for Torre. The Giants might be an option, but, hey, it's cold there. AT&T Park is cold in the summertime, Manny. It might be baseball's most beautiful ballpark, but it's not Dodger Stadium. If you've got a chance to be a Dodger, you should be a Dodger.
If Manny still thinks he can get more money elsewhere — if he believes the Giants, Yankees or Mets will offer a better opportunity — he should take it. At the moment, it appears the Dodgers are his only option. Maybe they're not. Maybe Boras really has other teams on the hook.
Colletti could move on tomorrow. He could choose between Dunn and Abreu. He also could add Hudson and maybe a pitcher for the money he had offered Manny. He could look himself in the mirror and say he did the best he could. He began negotiating with Manny right after the World Series. He gave it his best shot.
Let's face it, Manny comes with some baggage. To offer him $45 million is to take a risk. He is 36 years old. He has a history of sustaining mysterious injuries, of not being able to play. His behavior in Boston was disgraceful. Any team offering Manny a dance had better go into it with its eyes open.
That said, he is a great player. He is 35 home runs and 125 RBIs. Slam dunk. At least.
But as teams have learned through the years, it's better to have Abreu or Dunn than nothing. If Boras is serious about moving Manny elsewhere, he should do it.
The Dodgers have done their part.
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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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.
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.
