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.
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS
2005 finish: 67-95, 5th place in AL East
Manager: Joe Maddon (1st year)
Free agents: 1B Travis Lee, IF Alex Gonzalez, 1B Eduardo Perez
On the block: RHP Danys Baez, OF Aubrey Huff, RHP Jesus Colome, OF Joey Gathright, IF Julio Lugo
Looking for: Starting pitching, third baseman
What’s going on: Few teams are going through more changes than the Rays, starting right at the top with Stuart Sternberg taking over control from Vince Naomoli, and putting the tandem of 28-year-old novice Andrew Freidman and veteran GM Gerry Hunsicker in charge of the baseball operation. The new manager is Joe Maddon, and don’t be surprised if he is a success. They exercised an option on closer Danys Baez, but he could be dealt for young starting pitching. Aubrey Huff’s value is down after a sub-par season, so he could go in the right deal — i.e. for quality young starting pitching. They probably will bring back the first-base platoon of Travis Lee and Eduardo Perez — both free agents — but might not re-sign Alex Gonzalez. Inconsistent Jesus Colome asked to be traded in August, and the Rays probably will do so rather than offer him arbitration. They believe Rocco Baldelli is over knee and elbow problems enough to guarantee him $9 million over three years in a new deal, so Joey Gathright — arguably the fastest man in the game — could be dealt for young pitching. Julio Lugo could go if and when B.J. Upton is ready, but probably not this winter.
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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.
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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.
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