Rotoworld: Oregon RB LaMichael James and Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon among top 10 players who are being overhyped for the 2012 draft.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
The Detroit Red Wings equaled an NHL record with their 20th straight win at home, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 Sunday night on the strength of Johan Franzen's tiebreaking goal early in the third period.
PBT: Boston's Rajon Rondo continues to be named in trade talks, which is madness. The Celtics guard creates offense and makes everyone around him better, which was evident in Sunday's win over the Bulls.
Arc: Syracuse is among a solid group of No. 1 seeds in our latest tournament projections, but the middle of the pack is much more murky.
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.
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods greeted their Sunday pairing at Pebble Beach with optimism. But the day would end happily only for one.
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.
APMuddled outlook
Minnesota: There is talent here, what with Al Jefferson to return from his injury, Kevin Love proving there is a beneath-the-rim place for himself in the NBA and Randy Foye no longer merely the player acquired for Brandon Roy.
Plus there is a lottery pick and a few other first-rounders acquired in previous deals.
What there isn't is definitive leadership.
Although Kevin McHale proved to be a refreshing sideline presence, he clearly is not in coaching for the long haul.
And with McHale out of the front office altogether, the vision of the franchise won't come into focus until a new personnel chief is hired.
The right coach and the right general manager could put Minnesota on a course similar to Oklahoma City. But this hardly is a franchise or owner known for making many right decisions.
New Jersey: Spot a team Vince Carter, Devin Harris and Brook Lopez as a starting trio and there are plenty of general managers who would trade straight up from what they have.
But the Nets remain a mere sidebar to what's going on across the river and in the league overall.
Are they going to Brooklyn? Is there enough cash to pay off the debt on a Carter contract that calls for $18.3 million in 2011-12? And have you noticed how nobody is talking about LeBron James-to-the-Nets anymore?
With committed, deep-pocket ownership on the hobbyist level of a Mark Cuban, Micky Arison or Paul Allen, this could be something special. Instead, it's the never-mind Nets.
Toronto: About that Bryan Colangelo vision of European-style shooting, ball movement and playmaking? Uh, never mind.
For all the Calderons, Bargnanis and Ukics on the roster, the Raptors are headed in the wrong direction.
The new direction has to be anything that salvages the opportunity to retain Chris Bosh in 2010 free agency.
In other words: a post defender, an athletic small forward or shooting guard, and depth that includes names you actually recognize.
The clock is ticking on the Raptors to somehow become a real NBA team in the next 12 months.
Milwaukee: Don't let the record fool you; Scott Skiles has done a fine job in changing the culture. Injuries got in the way this season.
The question is whether finances get in the way this summer, with Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions to enter free agency.
If Sen. Kohl can somehow squeeze enough dollars from his low-revenue arena, Skiles could have the Bucks in contention for more than half a season.
But if Milwaukee decides to do it on the cheap, Skiles could wind howling at the wind that would be the empty seats at the Bradley Center.
PBT: Boston's Rajon Rondo continues to be named in trade talks, which is madness. The Celtics guard creates offense and makes everyone around him better, which was evident in Sunday's win over the Bulls.
Paul Pierce has been around long enough to know what Rajon Rondo's performance can mean for the aging Boston Celtics.
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