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 file“I think Antoine’s ego was hurt a little bit. He’s a prideful guy, but I think he knows that it wasn’t personal,” Ainge said. “I told him it was a lot more pleasant calling him this time. It’s never fun making that (other) call.
“But, to be honest, I don’t care what he thinks of me. I’m just glad he’s excited to come to Boston.”
Walker spent seven years with the Celtics from 1996-2003, making the All-Star team three times. But nine days before the 2003 opener, Ainge traded the team’s strongest all-around player and its strongest personality to Dallas for center Raef LaFrentz, guard Jiri Welsch and a first-round draft pick. Dallas traded Walker to Atlanta last summer; Welsch was traded to Cleveland on Thursday for a 2007 first-round draft pick.
As a TV analyst before he took over the Celtics, Ainge made no secret of his distaste for Walker’s game. When Walker was traded, Ainge commented less on his play than on his influence on the locker room, saying the player “had a grasp on the franchise.”
“He’s been the best player here for quite a while. He’s been a vocal leader in the locker room,” Ainge said at the time. “Now we’re going in a different direction.”
Walker leads Atlanta with 20.4 points, 9.4 rebounds and 40.2 minutes per game. In his career, he is averaging 20 points and 8.7 rebounds.
Payton, 36, reluctantly came to Boston last summer after the Lakers traded him in the aftermath of their Shaq-and-Kobe disaster. He is averaging 12.1 points and 6.1 assists this season while serving as a mentor to the 23-year-old Banks.
As part of the trade, Atlanta cut disgruntled point guard Kenny Anderson and forward Chris Crawford, who has missed the entire season with a knee injury.
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
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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.