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.
CHICAGO - Chicago Cubs pitcher Mark Prior told a Chicago radio station Thursday that Sammy Sosa must explain to his teammates — if he plans on returning to the team for next season — why he showed up late for the final game of the season and then left shortly after the first pitch, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
"I personally feel like everybody does need an apology because that's not a team move," Prior told WSCR-AM (670), the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
"Everybody knew he was gone. A lot of guys were perplexed, kind of wondering. I know now that Dusty [Baker] and Jim [Hendry] have said their piece and tried to make a statement."
"I was unhappy, and it's unfortunate that it happens," Prior added. "It was a tough season, I think we all know that, it was a very frustrating season, and a lot of us were very mad and upset at what happened, especially in the last week and a half.
"But you never want to see someone bail on the team and feel they bailed on you."
Sosa was fined $87,400 — one day’s salary — for arriving late to the Cubs’ regular-season finale at Wrigley Field and leaving the game early. The slugger’s agent said Thursday that Sosa most likely will file a grievance.
Sosa arrived 70 minutes before Sunday’s first pitch, and he apparently left 15 minutes after the game started without putting on his uniform, according to security cameras in the team’s parking lot at Wrigley Field. Sosa told the Chicago Sun-Times he was in the clubhouse until the seventh inning.
After hearing that manager Dusty Baker told reporters he wanted Sosa to be in top shape next season, an angry Sosa told the newspaper he was tired of Baker blaming him for the Cubs’ failures.
“It’s certainly inexcusable for him not be at the ballpark and not dressed with his teammates,” general manager Jim Hendry said.
Sosa’s agent, Adam Katz, called the fine too steep. Katz acknowledged Sosa made a mistake by not being in uniform but the entire matter has been overblown.
“I think, on balance, with all the surrounding issues, the fine is severe,” he said. “Sammy is a baseball player who delivers everything he has.”
“He is emotionally, mentally and physically prepared and a warrior inside the lines,” Katz added. “He definitely overreacted by not being in uniform and it was a mistake and he recognizes it.”
The episode follows an injury-plagued season in which Sosa batted just .253 with 35 homers and 85 RBIs, leading to speculation the Cubs will try to trade him.
Sosa is to make $17 million next season and the club has an $18 million option for 2006 with a $4.5 million buyout. If Sosa is traded, his 2006 contract becomes guaranteed and a 2007 club option is added at $19 million with a $4.5 million buyout.
Katz is confident the disagreement can be worked out.
“I don’t view it as an issue,” he said.
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 |
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.
NBC Sports TV and livestream listings
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.