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.
SEATTLE MARINERS
2005 finish: 69-93, 4th place in AL West
Manager: Mike Hargrove (2nd season)
Free agents: LHP Jamie Moyer, RHP Shigetoshi Hasegawa, IF Dave Hansen, IF Pokey Reese, RHP Jeff Nelson
On the block: RHP Joel Pineiro, RHP Ryan Franklin, IF/OF Mike Morse
Looking for: Starting pitching, left-handed bat, left fielder, catcher, relievers
Long gone: LHP Bobby Madritsch
What’s going on: The M’s exercised a $6.25-million option on closer Eddie Guardado, but with the possible exception of 43-year-old Jamie Moyer, the other free agents won’t be back. The big need for starting pitching could lead to Moyer returning at a lesser salary. They also figure to pursue the top free agents, led by A.J. Burnett and Matt Morris. Brian Giles is arguably the best outfield bat on the free-agent market, and will draw interest here as well, as they desperately need power in the outfield or at DH. The other option could be a trade, as they had interest in signing Carlos Delgado last winter, and are interested once again. Japanese free agent catcher Kenji Jojima is another target, as veteran Dan Wilson has announced his retirement, leaving Yorvit Torrealba and Rene Rivera as the club’s top two catchers. They didn’t exercise options on Shigetoshi Hasegawa and Pokey Reese, so neither will return. Injured lefty Bobby Madritsch was claimed on waivers by Kansas City. Front-office consultant and former GM Pat Gillick is the Phillies’ new general manager.
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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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