Super Bowl XLVI
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.
Adreian Payne scored 15 points, Draymond Green added 12 and No. 11 Michigan State beat No. 3 Ohio State 58-48 Saturday night, ending the Buckeyes' 39-game home winning streak.
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.
Cubs GM Jed Hoyer said Thursday that Alfonso Soriano is doubtful to be traded before spring training.
"I think that's unlikely (that he'll start the season with another team)," Hoyer told The Carmen, Jurko & Harry Show on ESPN 1000. "Our hope is obviously you want him to get on base a little more. The power was there last year, the RBIs were there." Soriano, 36, batted .244 with a .759 OPS in 2011. The Orioles expressed some interest in him this winter, but trade talks didn't get far.
Cubs claimed INF/OF Adrian Cardenas off waivers from the Athletics.
Cardenas was designated for assignment by the A's last week in order to make room for Jonny Gomes on the 40-man roster. The 24-year-old former top prospect batted .314/.374/.418 with five homers, 51 RBI and a .780 OPS with Triple-A Sacramento last season while making starts at second base, shortstop, third base and left field. With Blake DeWitt booted off the roster in a corresponding roster move, he'll have a chance to win a job with the Cubs as a utility man.
Cubs designated INF/OF Blake DeWitt for assignment.
The move was made in order to make room for the newly-claimed Adrian Cardenas on the 40-man roster. It's a bit of a surprise, as the Cubs and DeWitt just avoided arbitration last month by agreeing to a one-year, $1.1 million contract. The 28-year-old .265/.305/.413 with five home runs, 26 RBI and a .718 OPS last season and could draw trade interest from those in the market for a lefty-hitting utility player.
According to FOX Sports' Jon Paul Morosi, the Cubs are "more likely" to move Matt Garza at the trade deadline this summer than before the start of the regular season.
The Cubs clearly weren't blown away by the offers they got for Garza this winter and will simply try again in July. Garza, 28, registered a 3.32 ERA and 197/63 K/BB ratio across 198 innings last season. He's set to earn a $9.5 million salary in 2012.
Cubs and RHP Matt Garza avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $9.5 million contract.
The deal is under the $10.225 million midpoint, but it also contains performance bonuses that could push the total higher. The 28-year-old right-hander earned $5.95 million last season while posting a 3.32 ERA and 197/63 K/BB ratio in 198 innings. He remains under team control through 2013 but figures to be a prime trade candidate at the July deadline.
Cubs signed LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith to a minor league contract.
The 29-year-old left-hander failed to reach the major leagues last year with Houston and had a brutal 6.75 ERA in 109 1/3 innings with the Mariners in 2010. He will function as organizational relief depth for the Cubs.
The Cubs and Matt Garza have an arbitration hearing scheduled for Friday.
Garza requested $12.5 million and was offered $7.95 million from the Cubs when arbitration figures were exchanged earlier this month. Despite the large gap between the two sides, Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Cubs are still hopeful of reaching a settlement prior to a hearing.
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.
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.
Trae Golden scored 17 points, Jeronne Maymon added 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Tennessee upset No. 8 Florida 75-70 Saturday, ending the Gators' home-winning streak at 19.
