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.
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October is here and 14 unbeaten teams remain in the Top 25 (and a few outside the Top 25). How are things going to shake out in the coming 31 days? Luckily for you, I have seen the future. Have looked into a crystal ball — or was that the Sears Trophy? — and am now eager to share my vision with you.
Behold, a day-by-day breakdown of this exciting month in college football:
Wednesday, the 1st — Inspired by the success of Penn State's "White Out" and other such "outs" at various stadiums across the country, UCLA’s zealous marketing staff places ads for the Bruins’ upcoming contest with woeful Washington State that invite fans to be part of a "Blow Out."
Thursday, the 2nd — ESPN airs the vice-presidential debate between Joe Biden (D) and Sarah Palin (R) Your moderator: Erin Andrews.
Friday, the 3rd — Brigham Young extends the nation’s longest winning streak to 15 games in a Friday evening walkover at Utah State.
Saturday, the 4th — USC exacts revenge on the Beaver State with a 49-17 defeat of Oregon at the Coliseum in prime time on ABC. In the opening half, the Trojans knock out the Ducks’ preseason fourth-string and fifth-string passers, Jeremiah Masoli and Darron Thomas. Oregon sideline reporter Holly Rowe informs us that the Ducks will go with Matt Saracen in the second half, while her counterpart on the Trojan sideline, Erin Andrews, reports that USC backup QB Mitch Mustain is "willing to switch schools right here, right now."
Sunday, the 5th — Still trailing Joe Paterno by one on the all-time wins list with a bye week approaching, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden hastily schedules a game with similarly idle Washington for the coming Saturday. ESPN agrees to televise the game and dispatches Erin Andrews to Tallahassee.
Monday, the 6th — After having beaten Rice in a shoot-out (no, fans were not told to bring guns) two days earlier, Tulsa now stands 5-0, with the nation’s highest scoring offense and its leader in passing efficiency, David Johnson. Still, the Golden Hurricane continues to be ignored as a potential BCS buster while dyslexics just read the school name and giggle.
Tuesday, the 7th — In a hastily called press conference, Congress unveils its fiscal bailout plan. House majority leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announces that the $700 billion that had been earmarked for a bailout has been wagered on Michigan State, a slight favorite at Northwestern.
Wednesday, the 8th — In a pre-taped interview for tomorrow evening’s nationally televised game between Clemson and Wake Forest, Tigers head coach Tommy Bowden admits, "Honestly, I don't know which one is 'Thunder' and which one is 'Lightning'."
Thursday, the 9th — World markets plummet at the news that Michigan State running back Javon Ringer has sprained his ankle and will miss Saturday’s game at Northwestern.
Friday, the 10th — Louisville quarterback Hunter Cantwell tosses seven picks in a loss at Memphis. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr., interviewed after the game, defiantly insists that Cantwell’s value has never been greater because of his ability to find so many different receivers.
Saturday, the 11th — The SEC race only gets murkier as Florida takes down unbeaten LSU in The Swamp ... Oklahoma becomes the second No. 1 to fall on the road to a team clad in orange (okay, burnt orange) jerseys this season as Texas upends the Sooners in Dallas ... Penn State rolls at Wisconsin, as JoePa picks up win No. 379 ... Notre Dame-North Carolina becomes a battle of the "Dueling Tates" as Irish wide receiver Golden Tate and Tar Heel wide out Ben Tate trade touchdown catches ... Oregon loses yet another quarterback and petitions the NCAA to give former Duck passer Joey Harrington a fifth season ... Ringer plays, the Spartans cover, and the republic is saved.
Sunday, the 12th — The Pac-10 coordinator of officials issues a public apology for an erroneous flag that disallowed what should have been a Wildcats touchdown in yesterday’s Arizona-Stanford game. Public outcry is muted when it becomes apparent that nobody watched the Arizona-Stanford game.
Monday, the 13th — Austin resident and cycling overlord Lance Armstrong announces that he is re-retiring, at least temporarily, because "the Longhorns need me and McConaughey is hosting a pig roast at his place this Friday night before the Missouri game."
Tuesday, the 14th — Facing anemic ticket sales for their upcoming home game versus Stanford, UCLA's marketing department invites former students who never graduated to "come out to the Rose Bowl and be a part of our first-ever 'Drop Out'."
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.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
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 Memphis fulfills BCS dream Tigers officials thrilled to announce that school has been accepted to join the Big East Conference in 2013. |
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The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
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.
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.
Paul Pierce has been around long enough to know what Rajon Rondo's performance can mean for the aging Boston Celtics.
