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.
CLEVELAND INDIANS
2005 finish: 93-69, 2nd place in AL Central
Manager: Eric Wedge (4th season)
Free agents: RHP Kevin Millwood, RHP Bob Wickman, RHP Bobby Howry, RHP Scott Elarton, IF Jose Hernandez, OF Juan Gonzalez
On the block: LHP Arthur Rhodes, OF Casey Blake, 1B Ben Broussard, RHP David Riske, RHP Jason Davis, IF Brandon Phillips, C Josh Bard
Looking for: Starting pitcher, power bat at first base or in the outfield, bench help, left-handed reliever
What’s going on: They will take a shot at retaining Kevin Millwood, but he probably will get offers beyond where Cleveland wants to go financially. He is seeking at least a four-year deal, and there is plenty of interest. That would make retaining Scott Elarton more of a priority. Setup man Bobby Howry also is a very popular commodity, and could price himself out of Cleveland’s budget, which likely will rise from $42 million to the mid-$50-million range. That would make retaining closer Bob Wickman vital, and could lead to either a free-agent signing or a deal for a setup man. With a handful of players to trade, they also should be able to add some power in the lineup, which didn’t produce enough offense down the stretch to the Tribe into the playoffs. Ben Broussard and Casey Blake could lose regular jobs in an effort to upgrade the offense, and possibly be dealt. They exercised a $4-million option on Ronnie Belliard, making disappointing prospect Brandon Phillips expendable. Lefty specialist Scott Sauerbeck signed a one-year deal. Juan Gonzalez is long gone. Luis Rivera was added to the coaching staff, replacing Robby Thompson.
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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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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.
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.
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