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'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.
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.
Getty ImagesQ: What do you think of the new managers hired this week — Manny Acta in Cleveland and Brad Mills in Houston?
— Robbie Smith, Kalamazoo, Mich.
A: The two hirings were tied together, as Acta turned down the Astros' offer of a two-year deal — rightfully, in my opinion — because he wanted three years instead. And that's when the Indians stepped in and gave Acta what he wanted, and the Astros in turn chose Mills.
A two-year deal just isn't enough security for a new manager, as he will be facing potential lame-duck status in only his second year on the job. Fortunately for Acta, the Indians were willing to make that three-year commitment.
Acta has been highly regarded in baseball circles since before his two-year tenure in Washington, where he had little chance with a talent-short roster and two GMs — the first (Jim Bowden) who made a mess for the second (Mike Rizzo) to clean up.
So don't let Acta's 158-252 record fool you. He is regarded as a strong communicator, and despite his young age (40), gained plenty of managing experience in the minors and in the Dominican Republic before the Nationals gig.
Mills is a detail-oriented, highly organized veteran baseball man who managed in the minors for three different organizations before joining former college teammate Terry Francona in Boston.
He is legendary for plotting entire spring-training workout schedules, right down to the last detail, and should bring a more-professional and improved-fundamentals approach to the Astros.
After all he has done in the majors and minors, he deserves a shot at this point in his career.
Q: I'm assuming the Cardinals will let Rick Ankiel go in the offseason. Do you agree, and do you think he'll find another team?
— Aaron Krawitz, Columbia, Mo.
A: I'd say chances are better than 50-50 that Ankiel has played his last game for the Cardinals. And those odds will increase if the Cardinals are able to convince Matt Holliday to stay put, rather than take what certainly will be a bigger offer if the New York or Los Angeles teams enter his free-agent picture, as expected.
Ankiel lost at-bats after Holliday's acquisition from the A's, and he wasn't happy about it. He really never appeared to be the same hitter after he injured his shoulder running into an outfield wall in early May and spending time on the disabled list. So a change of scenery may be the best thing for him.
He's only 30, and given his solid 2008 numbers (.264-25-71 in 413 at-bats) and a return to full health, Ankiel could become a regular center fielder in the right place.
He has 30-homer power and arguably the strongest throwing arm among big-league center fielders. Those two tools will get him an opportunity elsewhere, even though he probably never will hit much for average, and isn't a very patient hitter.
Q: In your opinion, in the 1986 World Series, do you think Mookie Wilson beats Bill Buckner to the bag if Buckner had made the play cleanly? And has a poll of major-league players ever been conducted on this play? A dinner rides on your answer.
— Steve Whitfield, North Plainfield, N.J.
A: Keep in mind I wasn't covering major-league baseball at that point, wasn't at that game, and only can recall it from the nine zillion times the replay has been shown on television.
But I was able to ask two writers who did cover that game, and their recollections matched up perfectly. Buckner was playing at normal depth, and had he cleanly fielded the ball hit near the line, he would have had time to beat Wilson to the bag. And if not, the pitcher should have been able to get over and cover.
In other words, the play wasn't anything out of the ordinary to make — and it should have been the final out in what turned out to be a fateful inning.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
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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.
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The Red Wings have finally started to embrace a record they've been chasing.