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.
Euro Roundup: First-place Manchester City won 1-0 at Aston Villa on Sunday on Joleon Lescott's goal in the 63rd minute, maintaining its two-point lead over Manchester United in the Premier League.
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.
TORONTO - The NHL suspended Wade Belak eight games for his two-handed chop to the face of Colorado defenseman Ossi Vaananen.
The Maple Leafs defenseman will be out for Toronto’s remaining six regular-season games and the club’s first two postseason games.
Belak slashed Vaananen on Saturday night and was given a match penalty for attempt to injure. He met with Colin Campbell at the league’s office in Toronto on Monday before the NHL executive vice president and chief disciplinarian handed down his decision.
“It was a little severe I think,” Belak said. “I wasn’t expecting to walk away with less than three (games), but I thought no more than five. Getting six plus two, it’s kind of harsh.”
Belak is a repeat offender, having received a two-game suspension in November 2002 when he elbowed Washington defenseman Brendan Witt in the head.
The suspension will cost Belak $67,682.94 in forfeited salary.
“Mr. Belak used his stick in a careless, dangerous and unacceptable manner,” Campbell said in a statement. “Players must be responsible for their sticks at all times, and blows with the stick to the head area will not be tolerated.”
The 6-foot-5, 221-pound Belak has one goal, one assist and 109 penalty minutes in 34 games this season, his fourth with the Leafs. A career enforcer, he has seven goals, 15 assists and 811 penalty minutes in 275 career NHL games.
The suspension came one day before Avalanche forward Steve Moore was expected to be released from a Denver hospital, just two weeks after his neck was broken by Vancouver’s Todd Bertuzzi.
Moore also suffered a concussion and deep lacerations when Bertuzzi hit him from behind and drove him into the ice during a March 8 game in Vancouver. Bertuzzi was suspended for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs, at least.
“I think the timing of it never gave me a fair chance,” said Belak. “Being in Toronto playing in a Saturday night game in front of all the media, I didn’t have a chance. They pretty much made up their mind about what was going to happen to me that night.
“I was off-balance. We need to be responsible for our sticks, I understand that part, but in no way was I trying to hurt him. Comparing me to Bertuzzi is kind of unfair.”
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.
Check out highlights from the Rangers 3-2 win over the Capitals.
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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.
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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.