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.
CHICAGO CUBS
2005 finish: 79-83, 4th place in NL Central
Manager: Dusty Baker (4th season)
Free agents: IF Nomar Garciaparra, OF Jeromy Burnitz, RHP Chad Fox
On the block: OF Corey Patterson, 2B Todd Walker
Looking for: Shortstop, outfielders, relievers, starting pitcher
What’s going on: General manager Jim Hendry has a busy winter in store, but at least he won’t have the Sammy Sosa distraction to contend with this time. And you can ignore the Dusty Baker rumors; he’s not going anywhere. Instead, he’s locked in at $4.5 million in 2006, and could get an extension. The Cubs have several holes to fill, most notably a leadoff hitter. That will prompt them to make a run at Rafael Furcal, who wants $50 million over five years, and make Nomar Garciaparra expendable. Two outfielders could be needed, particularly if they unload disappointing Corey Patterson, which is very likely. At least one setup man also is needed in front of closer Ryan Dempster, who signed a three-year deal. Scott Eyre is one possibility. Veteran lefty swingman Glendon Rusch signed a two-year, $6-million guaranteed extension, but they still will be searching for another starting pitcher in light of Kerry Wood’s chronic arm problems. If they can sign a Kevin Millwood or A.J. Burnett, then Rusch could end up in the bullpen. Neifi Perez signed a two-year, $5-million deal. Jerry Hairston and Jose Macias could be non-tendered.
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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.
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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