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.
ReutersMinnesota lost its fourth consecutive game and got swept for the third time this season; the Twins were swept just twice all last year.
Brad Radke held Boston to six hits over seven innings but didn’t get a decision; he has won just once since June 1.
“It was frustrating,” Radke said. “We had our shots and it didn’t happen. We should have walked out of here with a win today.”
Red Sox starter Jon Papelbon didn’t get a win in his major league debut, but he also pleased the crowd, earning a standing ovation when he struck out two batters in first.
The 24-year-old right-hander gave up three runs — two earned — in 5 1-3 innings, striking out seven and walking five. He walked the bases loaded in the fifth before Terry Tiffee hit a line drive to the right-field warning track that was caught, then he gave up Jacque Jones’ leadoff homer in the sixth.
Papelbon struck out Justin Morneau before Lew Ford singled and Michael Ryan walked. That was it for Papelbon, who received a standing ovation from the crowd and the congratulations of his teammates as he left the mound.
Papelbon said he felt goose bumps down his neck when Ramirez drove home the game-winning run.
“To be honest with you, I bet you everybody on the bench did,” Papelbon said.
Manny Delcarmen, making just his second major league appearance, took over for Papelbon and struck out Nick Punto. But after making a diving stop on Shannon Stewart’s hard grounder, third baseman Bill Mueller tried to get the runner at second and threw the ball into right field as Ford scored to make it 3-2.
Boston tied it in the seventh on Kevin Millar’s sacrifice fly.
Morneau homered in the fourth to make it 1-0, but Boston went ahead on back-to-back solo homers by Ortiz and Olerud in the bottom half. Jones led off the sixth with a homer into the Red Sox bullpen to make it 2-2.
Notes: Francona said Olerud’s hamstring injury will be re-evaluated on Monday, an off day for the Red Sox. ... The Red Sox purchased Papelbon’s contract from Triple-A Pawtucket, where he was 1-2 with a 3.57 ERA in four starts since he was promoted from Double-A Portland. He was called up Sunday after Wade Miller missed his turn in the rotation with right biceps tendinitis. Boston optioned LHP Lenny DiNardo to Pawtucket to make room for Papelbon. ... The Red Sox pitching staff has hit 56 batters, the most in the majors. ... Boston RF Gabe Kapler saved a run with an over-the-shoulder catch on Ford’s liner in the seventh.
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.