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.
AP
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - Long before making his first pitch with the New York Mets, Pedro Martinez has begun to earn the $53 million he will receiver in the next four seasons.
Martinez said he has contacted several players, especially the free agents that interest the Mets, to convince them to sign with New York.
“I spoke with Carlos Delgado and explained to him the Mets' plan to become contenders," Martinez said. “I couldn't talk with Carlos Beltrán before he signed, but I did speak with Moises Alou and other players."
Martinez said he talked with Sammy Sosa, who is under contract with the Cubs but has been subject of trade rumors.
“Sammy told me it would be an honor to join me in New York," Martinez said.
The right-handed pitcher, 33, signed with the Mets as a free agent after seven seasons with the Boston Red Sox. He helped them win their first World Series in 86 years in November.
The Mets also signed center fielder Beltran for seven years and $119 million.
Delgado will meet with the Mets for a second time.
Delgado will get together with Mets executives on Thursday in Puerto Rico, according to his agent, David Sloane. Delgado and Sloane are to meet the Texas Rangers’ front office on Friday.
“We hope that these meetings, along with my discussion yesterday with the Florida Marlins, will make it possible to conclude the negotiations for Carlos in the near future,” Sloane said in an e-mail Wednesday.
Mets executives met with Delgado in Puerto Rico last Thursday, but Sloane was not present at that session.
Baltimore also is among the four teams trying to sign the first baseman.
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.