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.
2008: 22-12., 1st; beat San Antonio 3-1 to win WNBA championship.
COACH: Bill Laimbeer, eighth season, 136-90.
KEY ADDITIONS: G Shavonte Zellous (draft, No. 11, Pittsburgh); G Kristin Haynie (free agent, Atlanta); C Britany Miller (draft, No. 18, Florida State); F Kristen Rasmussen (free agent, Minnesota); F Barbara Farris (free agent).
KEY LOSSES: C Kelly Schumacher (free agent, Washington); G Sheri Sam (free agent).
STRENGTHS: Experience, chemistry. Coming off their third straight finals appearance, and second title in that span, the Shock return the core of the team largely intact. Deanna Nolan (15.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.4 apg) and Katie Smith (14.7 ppg, 4.0 apg) anchored the backcourt after starting every regular-season game for the third straight year. Detroit, fourth in the league in scoring (78.6), dropped to second in rebounding - behind Los Angeles - after leading the way the previous five seasons. Taj McWilliams-Franklin (10.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg with Detroit) is back for a full season with the Shock after coming over in a trade during the Olympic break to fill the void left by the season-ending injury to Cheryl Ford. Plenette Pierson (11.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg) remains the top reserve.
WEAKNESS: Consistency. Detroit has the balanced talent to contend for the title every year, but is often hampered by a lack of consistent play. The Shock were fifth in the league in turnovers and last in steals. Detroit was fourth in 3-point shooting, but 11th overall in field-goal shooting. Still, the Shock, who led the league in personal fouls, figure to be the top team in the East.
2008: 17-17, 4th; lost to Detroit 2-1 in conference semifinals.
COACH: Lin Dunn, second season with team, 50-80 overall.
KEY ADDITIONS: F Yolanda Griffith (free agent, Seattle); G Tamecka Dixon (free agent, Houston); G Briann January (draft, No. 6, Arizona State); F Christina Wirth (draft, No. 19, Vanderbilt).
KEY LOSSES: G Tan White (waived); G Allison Feaster (waived); G Sherill Baker (waived); F Doneeka Hodges-Lewis (waived); F Kristen Mann (waived); G LaToya Bond (waived).
STRENGTHS: Backcourt, depth. The Fever are coming off a season in which they dropped off after reaching 21 wins the previous three years. Katie Douglas vastly improved the Fever's guard play, averaging a team-high 15.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 3.2 apg. She will again team with Tully Bevilaqua (5.8 ppg, 2.2 apg) in the backcourt. The Fever also added the Dixon, one of the few players who has been in the league from its inception. Veteran forward Tamika Catchings had a slow return from an Achilles' tendon injury, but still finished second on the team in scoring (13.3) and rebounding (6.3). Veteran forward Yolanda Griffith provides depth in a frontcourt that includes Tammy Sutton-Brown (11.8 ppg and 6.3 rpg) and Ebony Hoffman - who won the league's Most Improved Player award last year after averaging 10.4 points and 7.8 rebounds.
WEAKNESS: Chemistry. Douglas was the offensive leader early on last year while the Fever played the first eight games without Catchings. When she returned, the team had to adjust again. Then, the monthlong break during the Olympics stalled the team's flow, and toward the end of the season, Douglas injured a knee. Now, with everyone healthy and the additions of the Griffith and Dixon and the rookie January, the Fever's success will be dictated by how quickly they develop chemistry.
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.
NEW YORK (AP) - As the glow fades from the Giants' Super Bowl triumph, some New York sports fans are tuning in to basketball and hockey, with the Rangers in first place and the Knicks' overnight sensation, Jeremy Lin, sparking "Lin-sanity.''
Robins: This year, six new breeds will be making their debut on the green carpet for the Westminster Dog Show, which begins Monday.
 | Slide show |
 | The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
| Slideshow |
 | Who's hot on Twitter? Check out which of your favorite athletes have the best pages and most followers! NBCSports.com |
 | Special feature |
 | NBCSports.com |
| Slideshow |
 | Presidential candidates and sports How do President Obama and his Republican rivals stack up when it comes to their sports backgrounds? |
Inside NBCSports.com |
| Slideshow |
 |
The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
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.
The Red Wings have finally started to embrace a record they've been chasing.