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.
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 title chances now.
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.
AP
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Johan Santana struggled in his first game since August, allowing four runs on six hits in 1 2-3 innings, and the Houston Astros beat the New York Mets 8-4 on Tuesday.
Kaz Matsui hit a solo homer for the first of four straight hits in the first inning off Santana, who struck out one and walked one.
The left-hander made it through the short outing with no setbacks as he continues to build strength following Sept. 1 surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow. Santana had reached his pitch count when he was pulled from the game.
“They made me work today,” said Santana, who threw 33 of 47 pitches for strikes. “They were swinging right away, but I feel good because I was able to throw all my pitches. I was a little off with my mechanics and release of the ball, but that’s part of spring training. That’s what we are here for, trying to make adjustments and throw my pitches. The good thing is I felt good. I didn’t feel any problems with my arm.”
The two-time Cy Young Award winner said he held back some in his first outing but was glad to be back in a live game.
“Mentally you feel good because that’s one of the big steps you have to make to finally get into a real game and see how your arm reacts to that surgery,” Santana said. “Overall, I felt pretty good.”
Astros right-hander Brett Myers, the former Phillies ace who is projected as the No. 3 starter in Houston, showed progress in his second outing of the spring. Continuing to work on his slider, he gave up two runs on four hits in three innings, including a two-run homer to David Wright in the first. Myers struck out one and walked one.
“The first inning I struggled a little bit trying to make an adjustment to the mound and the things we worked on in the bullpen,” Myers said. “You go from different mound to different mound, and it just took me a little longer than I wanted to make the adjustment.”
Pedro Feliz, another free agent pickup from the Phillies, hit a two-run homer for Houston.
Mets first base prospect Ike Davis, a first-round draft pick in 2008, continued to impress with his second home run of the spring in the seventh inning. He likely will start the season in the minor leagues, but manager Jerry Manuel wants a good look at him in camp.
“He has a real fluid, powerful swing, and you’ve got to give him some thought when that kid hits the ball out to center field, grand slams and so forth,” Manuel said.
NOTES: Tests on Mets SS Jose Reyes confirmed he has an overactive thyroid. He is expected to remain in New York while the results of additional blood tests are used to determine his treatment. ... The Mets said the commissioner’s office voided their waiver claim on LHP Jay Marshall because of a preexisting shoulder condition and he has been returned to Oakland. ... The Mets reassigned catchers Francisco Pena, Kai Gronauer and Mike Nickeas to minor league camp.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
DeMarco: Plug in a well-heeled ownership group and negotiate one of those mega-bucks TV deals that are going around, and the Dodgers could become the west coast version of the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox.
HardballTalk headlines |
 | Interactive |
 |
 | Slideshow |
 | Unbreakable records in baseball A look at the most unbreakable records in baseball including Nolan Ryan's seven no-hitters. |
| Slideshow |
 | The top tools of baseball You hear a lot about the tools of baseball, but who are the best hitters, fielders and pitchers? We break it down. more photos |
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.
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.
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.