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.
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.
Getty ImagesQ: Since Tyrone Willingham is almost certain to be fired by Washington, who should the Huskies go after as their next coach?
— Lance Dotson from Federal Way, Wash.
A: Logic says Boise State’s Chris Petersen would be a good fit (assuming he wants the job; Boise State may actually be a better situation at this point).
Washington is a mess. The Huskies are 0-5 for the first time since 1969, allowing 42 points per game while only scoring 18.6, and it’s hard to see them winning a game (any game) given the state of the program.
Tyrone Willingham had some success at Stanford and Notre Dame, but things have gone terribly wrong at Washington (11-30 — wow!). Washington should be battling USC for Pac-10 supremacy, not looking at the Apple Cup game against Washington State as the potential last shot at a victory.
Q: Is Pitt now the favorite to win the Big East?
— Tim from Altoona, Pa.
A: I’ll go along with your premise, Tim, but with some reservations. I wouldn’t be surprised if a three-way scrum develops between Pittsburgh, West Virginia and South Florida.
But the Panthers (4-1) probably have the most momentum following their 26-21 win at South Florida. It was clearly the biggest win of Dave Wannstedt’s four-season tenure. Pittsburgh has recruited exceptionally well, and Wannstedt has drastically enhanced the program’s talent level (running back LeSean McCoy and linebacker Scott McKillop are two of the nation’s best players at their positions).
That hasn’t translated onto the field — until now. After a deflating home loss against Bowling Green in the opener, the Panthers have built a four-game winning streak, including victories against Iowa and now the Bulls.
Pittsburgh gets West Virginia at home for the 101st edition of the “Backyard Brawl’’ on Nov. 28 (the Friday following Thanksgiving). That will be a very big game.
Another potential mega-game is the Dec. 6 meeting between South Florida and West Virginia in Morgantown. Both teams have been disappointing in their own way. South Florida, moving up to No. 10 in the national rankings, looked like a long-shot contender for the national championship, but it clearly hasn’t escaped the patches of inconsistency that haunted its unraveling in 2007.
West Virginia, meanwhile, already has lost to East Carolina and Colorado (with an Oct. 23 game against Auburn on the docket). It is not the West Virginia of old — hard to believe it would be, after the departure of Coach Rich Rodriguez — and the Mountaineers are struggling to find an offensive identity.
So Pittsburgh gets the slight nod for now — because it appears to be the Big East program with the fewest amount of question marks. Maybe that’s a backhanded compliment, but it’s also reality.
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 |
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.