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
BLAINE, Minn. - Josue Alexi has been on the losing end nearly all of his 14-year-old life.
He's been beaten by poverty. By hunger. And, most recently, by the magnitude-7 earthquake that leveled much of Haiti, his country, in January. Little Josue's joy was buried underneath the rubble, right next to homes, vehicles and as many as 300,000 people who died.
"Nobody smiled," said Tony Sanneh, a former Major League Soccer player who traveled to Haiti with the Los Angeles Galaxy in March. "The people were just sad. They were just trying to get by."
Josue found his smile on the lush, green soccer fields of suburban Minneapolis, thanks to the Galaxy and the Tony Sanneh Foundation, which brought the boy and 14 teammates here to participate in the largest youth soccer tournament in the country.
It only got better for the Haitians as the tournament progressed, culminating with a victory on Saturday for the Schwan's USA Cup weekend championship in the Gold Flight, which is just one step below the elite level at a tournament that features more than 900 teams.
The 15 boys, all under the age of 15, were winners for the first time in their lives. They danced on the podium as gold medals were draped around their necks and sang songs as they were presented the trophy.
One thing stood out more than any to Stephanie Pereira, a manager for L'Athletique d'Haiti — they all had smiles on their faces.
"To say it was happiness, it goes beyond that," Pereira said. "For these kids to smile, it takes a lot."
Josue and his teammates were able to just be kids for a few weeks and forget about the devastation at home. They arrived in the Twin Cities on July 9 and will start heading home next week to Port-au-Prince. Families here opened their homes, swimming pools and refrigerators to a group of kids who, even before the earthquake, had spent their lives struggling.
"It's only been four days and we're already crying tears that they have to leave soon," said Karen Anderson, a host mother.
Josue and his teammates do not speak English, but smiles are smiles in any language. Speaking of his time in Minnesota, he spoke through a huge, toothy grin.
"They treat me very well and make me very happy," he said through a translator.
An estimated 1.6 million Port-au-Prince residents remain homeless or living in tarps and tents. Most have no electricity or running water and the rebuilding effort has barely started.
In Minnesota, these kids got a taste of middle class living, PlayStation, air conditioning and Josue's new favorite food.
"Hot dogs!" he said.
They were honored during an Olympic-style opening ceremony that included fireworks and sky divers, cheered wildly by more than 1,000 people.
"Here people were rooting for them and they were like, 'What's wrong with them?"' Pereira said. "I told them, 'They're happy for you! You have to smile too.'
It didn't take them long to get the message.
"They are very loving," Anderson said. "They put their arms around you and we walk together and say je t'aime. I love you. Every day I try to have them teach me some new words. Explain what we're eating."
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.
Alex Morgan's 2 goals, including the winner in stoppage time, lift the U.S. past New Zealand 2-1.
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The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. 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.