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.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
2005 finish: 81-81, 3rd place in NL Central
Manager: Ned Yost (4th season)
Free agents: IF Wes Helms, IF Jeff Cirillo, RHP Rick Helling
On the block: 1B Lyle Overbay, outfield prospects
Looking for: Starting pitcher, relievers, bench upgrades
What’s going on: After going 81-81 to snap 12 years of losing records, the Brewers will try to take the next step and post a winning record. The good news is the payroll should jump a bit again, from $42 million to about $50 million. They exercised an $8.5-million option on Carlos Lee, giving them five players under contract for 2006 at $34 million. The others: Ben Sheets $11.5 million, Geoff Jenkins $7.5 million, Damian Miller $3.25 million and Doug Davis $3.2 million. Add in arbitration raises for Brady Clark, Lyle Overbay and Tomo Ohka, and you’re already over $40 million with 18 remaining spots. That could mean Overbay is dealt, but GM Doug Melvin says he will have to be overwhelmed for that to happen. It also could mean that free agent Wes Helms won’t be back. They are trying to re-sign free agents Jeff Cirillo and Rick Helling. Melvin received a three-year extension and is signed through 2009; look for something similar for manager Ned Yost. Rickie Weeks underwent thumb surgery and is expected to be recovered in time for spring training. Victor Santos, Trent Durrington, Chris Magruder and Julio Santana were dropped from the 40-man roster, and won’t return.
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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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