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.
Golf's dream pairing - Woods and Mickelson - is on the course in the final round at Pebble Beach. Jason Sobel has 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.
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Fan ranker: Who will be MVP of the NBA? Visit each week during the regular season to rank the candidates. NBCSports.com |
Q: I've got some bad news. In my flash-forward, Dwayne Wade was playing for the Chicago Bulls.
— Chris, Boca Raton, Fla.
A: Uh, no, that was John Paxson's flash-forward. Yours actually wasn't a flash-forward, that was John Salmons you were confusing with Dwyane.
Q: Will the Miami Heat pick up either Carlos Boozer or Chris Bosh before the trade deadline?
— Rondell, Fort Polk, La.
A: I could see a one-year rental deal with Utah, especially if the Jazz continues to struggle. But I don't think anyone is moving for Bosh amid the uncertainty of his impending free agency, nor do I think the Raptors would be looking to make such a move.
As far as the Heat goes, I think Pat Riley wants to keep every possibility open for next summer, if there is even a sliver of a chance that LeBron might relocate.
But Boozer does have connections to the franchise-owning Arison family, so his name likely will remain in play with the Heat. The issue is whether the Heat has anything that would assist Utah in lowering its luxury-tax bill.
Q: Would LeBron James be a good fit with the Lakers?
— Joey, Wallula, Wa.
A: You can fill in any team after the "with" part of your question.
Q: Erick Dampier having a good year? Who would've guessed, after all, it is a contract year for him. He did the same thing in Golden State, to the point of the Mavs overpaying.
— Jeffrey, Columbus, Ohio
A: It is funny how that works in the NBA, isn't it?
Q: When will the NBA realize that it's no longer relevant? With inflated salaries, a dwindling fan base and lack of quality game play (as a whole) I can't see myself or anyone that I know paying to see any games. I was a huge NBA fan because of Michael Jordan and that era, but I cannot stomach the sight of a half-filled arena where there are players that make $10 million and don't even reach the court. The NBA doesn't matter anymore. They should consolidate the league into half the teams to eliminate the scrubs. NBA = Nobody's Buying it Anymore!!!
— Richard, Terre Haute, Ind.
A: I'm still buying. I'm still buying that at any given moment, a LeBron James or Dwyane Wade or Kobe Bryant could provide a moment that is, well, worth the price of admission.
When Wade was giving Anderson Varejao that Sideshow Bob facial, can you honestly say you wouldn't have wanted to be in that crowd at that moment?
The key is to not get caught up in the salaries or the second-tier drop off on so many rosters. Just about every team, save perhaps for the Nets, features a player with a unique skill set that is unmatched.
No, this is a good product that happens to be caught in tough times. If you can't afford to attend, I understand. But prices for entry (and, no, we're not talking great seats) are probably as low as they have been for years.
I think you're confusing the NBA with Major League Soccer.
Ira Winderman writes regularly for NBCSports.com and covers the Heat and the NBA for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
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
Rajon Rondo recorded a triple-double with 32 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics to a 95-91 win Sunday over the Chicago Bulls, who were without star guard Derrick Rose.
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 Knicks, Lin still streaking Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni and point guard Jeremy Lin discuss the team and Lin's recent success. |
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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 |
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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.