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.
NBAE/Getty ImagesQ: With Tim Duncan getting older, do you think it would be good for the San Antonio Spurs to have a losing season in order to get a top rookie through the draft?
— Davian Herrera, New Braunfels, Texas
A: No. The Spurs have done a terrific job in snaring Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker low in the draft. But they are the luckiest team in the world in falling into Tim Duncan in David Robinson's one injured and poor season. Remember, Robinson never won until Duncan came. Duncan has won a few times since Robinson left. Yes, their so called Big Three is getting a bit older, perhaps Ginobili as much as anyone for the pounding he takes, but they have several good years to go together. They just need to fill in some youth and athleticism around them, which they are doing. They are too smart to believe losing and getting into the draft is better. And no one gets that lucky twice.
Q: With all the turmoil surrounding the Clippers, what do you think their chances are of making the playoffs?
— Lalo Valle, Madera, Calif.
A: Actually, not bad. Yes, they wanted to keep Elton Brand, but he is coming off an Achilles injury and is somewhat of a risk. But one I would have taken. I thought they did a nice job of picking up Marcus Camby, which gives them two 7-footers who can block shots and a top point guard in Baron Davis. With two big guys they can get something out of Tim Thomas now, as he's best on the perimeter. And their young perimeter guys of Al Thornton and Eric Gordon are intriguing. I like their playoff chances.
Q: Now that the Sonics are in Oklahoma, do you think the new ownership will suddenly start spending money on players?
— Edward, Seattle
A: No. It cost a lot to get there in paying off Seattle to get out of the lease and no one talks about the substantial relocation fee they have to pay to the league that goes to the other teams. I see them going slowly through the draft for several years and not being much in contention until they get their financial issues straightened out, as the community now will be only to glad to have them no matter what their new name.
Q: Will the acquisition of Jerryd Bayless and the signing of Rudy Fernandez, along with a healthy Greg Oden, make Portland a dominant force in the Western Conference?
— Adam Bray, Reidsville, N.C.
A: It could. Summer league means nothing. Less than nothing. Nothing that ever has happened there has mattered. But Bayless has looked very good and the way Brandon Roy pretty much plays point guard in the fourth quarter means Bayless could play with him and they wouldn't need a classic point guard. Obviously, a healthy Oden is the key and no one has seen him play yet. I'd say dominant for next season is a little premature given their youth, but perhaps in a season or two. You have to like their team.
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.
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.