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.
NEW YORK - The Knicks are trying to persuade Jason Kidd to come to New York, while deciding how much they want David Lee and Nate Robinson to stay.
Kidd and his agent met with Knicks president Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D’Antoni at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, the first day of free agency. The Knicks are interested in the point guard, but plan to be cautious in free agency because they want to save salary cap space for the summer of 2010.
Walsh told reporters that no contract offer was made to Kidd, who is exploring his options. The Knicks hope he would consider a return to the New York area after starring for New Jersey before he was dealt to Dallas in February 2008.
The Mavericks also are interested in keeping Kidd, who was a member of the U.S. team that won a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. D’Antoni was an assistant coach on that team.
Walsh has repeatedly said his goal is to be a major player next summer, when LeBron James can be the biggest name in a potentially loaded free agent class. So he may be hesitant to offer much more than the midlevel exception of about $5.6 million to Kidd, who can earn much more by remaining in Dallas.
The Knicks also have said they’d like to retain two of their own free agents, Lee and Robinson, if the prices are right.
Lee’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, said he spoke to the Knicks late Tuesday night but had “nothing really new to report” late Wednesday afternoon. He expects interest in the power forward, who was third in the league in rebounding last season and topped the NBA with 65 double-doubles.
“We’re having substantial talks with different teams,” Bartelstein said.
Lee and Robinson are both restricted free agents, so the Knicks can match any offers they receive.
Meanwhile, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban had a 12:01 a.m. meeting Wednesday with Kidd in New York, a symbolic gesture aimed at letting the free agent point guard know how much the club values him and wants to keep him.
Later Wednesday, Cuban wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press that the get-together “went well, i was really happy how it turned out.”
Kidd also met Wednesday with Knicks president Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D’Antoni at Madison Square Garden. Several other clubs are expected to woo the 36-year-old star, perhaps including a top contender like the Cavaliers.
Kidd’s agent, Jeff Schwartz, did not immediately respond to phone messages left at his office.
The Mavs also are targeting Orlando center Marcin Gortat, sending coach Rick Carlisle as one of their recruiters.
Gortat backed up Dwight Howard as a rookie last season and is now a restricted free agent, which means the Magic could keep him by matching any offer. However, with the addition of Vince Carter and his salary, Orlando isn’t likely to invest heavily in the backup to their franchise player.
Dallas could view Gortat as a backup to Erick Dampier or possibly his eventual replacement. Dampier’s expiring contract makes him potential trade bait this summer, so the starting spot could be open in months or by next season if Dampier ends up playing out his deal.
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
ProBasketballTalk tweets |
|
Source: Twitter. For more, follow @basketballtalk. |
 | Video: NBA from NBC Sports |
 Knicks, Lin still streaking Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni and point guard Jeremy Lin discuss the team and Lin's recent success. |
 | Slideshow |
 |
more photos |
Ask the NBA expert: Ira Winderman |
Do you have a burning NBA question? Submit it now, and then check back for our reader mailbag. |  |
 | Special feature |
 |
Who will be MVP? Interactive: Rank each player on a scale of 0 to 10 (10 = best player, 0 = barely worthy of consideration). NBCSports.com |
| Slideshow |
 |
more photos |
 | Slideshow |
 |
The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
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.
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.