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 three goals as the New York Rangers beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Saturday for their seventh straight win over the Flyers.
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
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 title chances now.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
Move over, Hollywood and NFL types, golf's two real A-listers take center stage Sunday at Pebble Beach, both in need of a win.
The United States swept favored Switzerland out of the Davis Cup on Saturday when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan beat Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Luis Suarez's refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra overshadowed Manchester United's 2-1 win over rival Liverpool that lifted the defending champions to first place in the Premier League on Saturday.
Marlies Schild of Austria won her sixth World Cup slalom of the season Saturday after overall leader Lindsey Vonn and defending champion Maria Hoefl-Riesch crashed out in the opening run on the windy Pyrenees course.
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
ST. LOUIS - Albert Pujols put on quite a show Saturday.
Pujols hit a grand slam and a three-run homer to match a career high with seven RBIs, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to an 11-2 victory over the Houston Astros.
“Literally, thank, whatever made it happen, that we’ve had a chance to see this guy all these years,” St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. “That’s how we should all feel.”
It was Pujols’ 24th multihomer game and first since Aug. 16, 2008, against Cincinnati. He matched his career best for RBIs set Aug. 22, 2006, against the New York Mets.
The All-Star first baseman went 2-for-4 and is batting .429 with three homers and nine RBIs in the team’s first six games.
“The best player in the game,” Houston manager Cecil Cooper said.
Pujols is just glad to get off to a fast start.
“I feel good,” he said. “I don’t know about locked in. I just putting my best swing out there and doing what I can to help this ballclub out.”
Rick Ankiel and Joe Thurston had three hits apiece for the Cardinals, who finished with 19 hits overall. Adam Wainwright (1-0) pitched five shutout innings.
Roy Oswalt (0-2) had a rare bad outing at Busch Stadium, allowing six runs and nine hits in six innings for the Astros. He had a 1.83 ERA in five previous starts at the new Busch.
“I don’t think we’ve ever done that against the guy,” Pujols said. “I’m pretty sure every time he pitched, he’s pitched pretty well against us.”
St. Louis scored five times in the fifth inning to take a 6-0 lead. Pinch-hitter David Freese doubled in a run before Skip Schumaker walked and Colby Rasmus singled to load the bases for Pujols, who hit Oswalt’s first pitch over the wall in left.
“I was ready and I put my best swing on it,” Pujols said.
Oswalt felt he had to go after Pujols in that situation.
“With the way we’ve been scoring, instead of throwing around him to get to the other guys, I was trying to get a double play and leave the game at 2-0,” Oswalt said.
The Cardinals added four more against Wesley Wright in the seventh, including Pujols’ three-run shot to left.
Wainwright allowed four hits, walked three and struck out four to improve to 6-0 in 13 games against Houston.
“It’s amazing how when you score a few runs it makes you feel a little better about your outing,” Wainwright said. “But deep down, I know I’ve got to improve.”
Notes: Astros pitcher Doug Brocail was scheduled to return to Houston on Saturday to be examined by Dr. David Lintner after experiencing discomfort in his right shoulder while pitching Friday. ... St. Louis reliever Jason Motte pitched a scoreless 6th inning and lowered his ERA from 27.00 to 15.43. ... Wandy Rodriguez, scheduled to start for Houston on Sunday, had a 1.11 ERA against St. Louis in 2008. ... Schumaker, who hit .168 against lefties last season (20-for-119), is 4-for-6 against southpaws thus far. ... Houston’s Kaz Matsui, who led off the game with a single, has hit safely in all five games.
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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Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
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.
Adreian Payne scored 15 points, Draymond Green added 12 and defense-minded No. 11 Michigan State beat No. 3 Ohio State 58-48 Saturday night, ending the Buckeyes' 39-game home winning streak.