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: 16-18, tied for 6th.
COACH: Corey Gaines, 2nd season, 16-18.
KEY ADDITIONS: C Nicole Ohlde (trade, Minnesota); G Temeka Johnson (trade, Los Angeles); F DeWanna Bonner (draft, No. 5, Auburn); G Ketia Swanier (waivers, Connecticut).
KEY LOSSES: G Kelly Miller (trade, Minnesota); F LaToya Pringle (trade, Minnesota); F-C Barbara Farris (trade, Sacramento).
STRENGTH: Offense. Using former coach Paul Westhead's frenetic offense, the Mercury led the league in scoring (88.5) for the third straight season. Diana Taurasi (24.1 ppg) and Cappie Pondexter (21.2 ppg) were the WNBA's top two scorers. Phoenix was also tied for second in field-goal shooting, fourth in rebounding, fifth in assists and 12th in turnovers. The 5-foot-3 Johnson was brought in to run the offense this year. After winning the Rookie of the Year award with Washington in 2005, she slipped while enduring injuries the last three years with Los Angeles. The 6-4 Bonner should fit in nicely in the fast-paced offense.
WEAKNESSES: Defense, scoring balance. On the flip side of the offense-first system, Phoenix was last in the league in scoring defense and 13th in steals. The Mercury sorely missed a consistent third scorer in defense of their 2007 championship after Penny Taylor (17.8 ppg in 2007) skipped the season to train with the Australian national team for the Olympics and has not returned this year. The Mercury pursued free-agent Lauren Jackson, but she decided to remain with Seattle. Tangela Smith (11.1 ppg) and Le'Coe Willingham (10.1 ppg) also scored in double figures last season. Ohlde will miss several weeks while recovering from a stress fracture in her left foot.
2008: 18-16, 4th; lost to San Antonio 2-1 in conference semifinals.
COACH: Jenny Boucek, 3rd season, 37-31.
KEY ADDITIONS: F Hamchetou Maiga-Ba (free agent, Houston); C Courtney Paris (draft, No. 7, Oklahoma);
KEY LOSSES: G A'Quonesia Franklin (trade, Phoenix), F Adrian Williams-Strong (free agent).
STRENGTHS: Backcourt, experience. The Monarchs had a surprising run to postseason last year, winning 10 of 13 down the stretch to secure the West's last playoff spot. Ticha Penicheiro (8.6 ppg, 5.2 apg, 2.0 spg) again anchors a strong backcourt, and Kara Lawson (12.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.1 apg) has emerged as starter at shooting guard. Forward Rebekkah Brunson (10.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg) gave the Monarchs another double-digit scorer. The trio, along with Nicole Powell and DeMya Walker remain from the team that played in consecutive WNBA finals in 2005 and '06, and Chelsea Newton was on the 2005 championship team. Maiga-Ba is also back after spending the last two years with Houston.
WEAKNESSES: Depth. Brunson is coming off knee surgery and Walker has missed most of the last two seasons with an injured knee as well. Powell (13.6 ppg) led the team in scoring, Crystal Kelly (7.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg) filled in nicely for Brunson down the stretch, and Laura Harper (5.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg) also had a solid rookie season. The Monarchs, 11th in rebounding and 12th in field-goal shooting, need more consistent play inside, and Paris - a four-time AP All-American who set nearly 20 NCAA records at Oklahoma - could provide a big boost.
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.
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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 |
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.