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.
Eleven shots separated Phil and Tiger Sunday at Pebble Beach as Lefty secured his 40th Tour win. Jason Sobel had 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.
NEW YORK YANKEES
2005 finish: 95-67, 1st place in AL East
Manager: Joe Torre (11th season)
Free agents: RHP Tom Gordon, RHP Kevin Brown, OF Matt Lawton, OF Bernie Williams, C John Flaherty, DH Ruben Sierra, 1B/DH Tino Martinez, LHP Al Leiter, LHP Alan Embree, RHP Felix Rodriguez, RHP Ramiro Mendoza, IF Rey Sanchez
On the block: C Jorge Posada, RHP Jaret Wright
Looking for: Center fielder, relievers, first baseman or DH, starting pitcher, bench help
What’s going on: Compared to what’s going on up the road in Boston, the Yankees seem downright boring this winter. All they’ve done is hire a bunch of ex-managers for Joe Torre’s remade coaching staff – Larry Bowa, Tony Pena, Lee Mazzilli and Joe Kerrigan, along with Ron Guidry. They also have done the expected and re-signed Hideki Matsui for four years and $52 million, keeping him out of free agency. The biggest need remains a center fielder. That could lead them to free agents Johnny Damon and Brian Giles, or a trade for Milton Bradley. They also are expected to make an offer to B.J. Ryan to become a setup man for Mariano Rivera. Most of the long list of free agents aren’t expected back, but they exercised an option on Tanyon Sturtze, and backup catcher John Flaherty also is likely to return. Bernie Williams also could be back at a reduced rate and in a reduced role. Tom Gordon could get a closer job elsewhere, or return to his setup role. Matt Lawton has the stain of a positive steroid test on him now, and might not be back. The bench must be restocked. Tino Martinez and Al Leiter could retire.
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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.
INTERACTIVE |
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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.
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.
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