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 three goals as the New York Rangers beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Saturday for their seventh straight win over the Flyers.
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
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.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
Move over, Hollywood and NFL types, golf's two real A-listers take center stage Sunday at Pebble Beach, both in need of a win.
The United States swept favored Switzerland out of the Davis Cup on Saturday when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan beat Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Luis Suarez's refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra overshadowed Manchester United's 2-1 win over rival Liverpool that lifted the defending champions to first place in the Premier League on Saturday.
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.
So you’re planning a ballpark tour this summer and you’ve got a week to spare? Well, if you haven’t already, be sure to consider one of these top 10 baseball destinations on your list, from north to south, east to west.
1. Destination: New England, Gimme Some Chowda …
Looking for a playoff atmosphere without watching the playoffs? Head to Boston where the Red Sox have MLB’s longest consecutive sellout streak dating back to May 2003. Buying tickets will likely cost you an arm and a leg, but remember, you’ll be entering the most historic ballpark in MLB and one of the best fan atmosphere’s anywhere.
While in the Bay State, head on out to Cape Cod to see some of MLB’s future stars playing in the No. 1 college wood bat league in the country, the Cape Cod League. The fields in Chatham and Orleans are particularly picturesque — and all games are free. Just bring your lawn chair and your glove. What’s more, two great Minor League parks within a short drive of Boston are LeLacheur Park in Lowell and Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine which has its own Green Monster.
2. Destination: The City That Never Sleeps, New York, For Some Borough Ball …
Start spreading the news because the new ballparks in New York, the city that never sleeps, has your name written all over it. You’ve got the new CitiField in Flushing and the shiny (and really expensive) Yankee Stadium in the Bronx where be sure to arrive plenty early to enjoy Monument Park.
But that’s not all. Take the subway out to Coney Island in Brooklyn to catch some future Mets at one of my favorite Minor League ballparks, KeySpan Park, with a view of the rollercoaster’s, beach and H20. And if that wasn’t enough, from Manhattan, hop on the free (yes, free) Staten Island Ferry as you enjoy your lovely cruise by the Statue of Liberty en route to a game at waterfront Richmond County Bank Ballpark, another gem of a Minor League park and where you can check out some future Bronx Bombers. While you’re in the Empire State also don’t forget to make the jaunt upstate to a special little place called Cooperstown, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. En route to Cooperstown, stop by the Babe Ruth gravesite in Westchester County.
3. Destination: PA, where you’ll meet plenty of baseball friends in Pennsylvania …
No state on the U.S. eastern seaboard has more great baseball variety in the summertime than the Keystone State, from the pros to multiple amateur tournaments in August.
So in addition to great MLB ballparks in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, there’s also eight Minor League and three independent league teams, most notably in Reading, which is known as “Baseballtown” for its diehard fans. August is amateur tournament month. Johnstown has the AAABA World Series the first week of August while Washington annually hosts the Pony League World Series and Williamsport, the Little League World Series.
4. Destination: The Tar Heel State where you can revisit some Crash Davis haunts …
In the heat of the summer down in Carolina, you’ll find baseball being played in virtually every city, from Tobacco Road to the mountains and coastline, so all you really need is a whole lot of sunscreen.
With 10 Minor League teams, the state made famous in the movie Bull Durham lives up to its name. Among the top gems are McCormick Field in Asheville and the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Carolina also has great amateur baseball in the form of the Coastal Plain League, as teams play in ballparks that used to be home to many Minor League teams like in Asheboro, Edenton, Thomasville and Wilson.
5. Destination: The Great Lakes and the Buckeye State …
From Cleveland to Cincinnati, you could spend a week enjoying baseball in Ohio, which boasts some of the most unsung baseball fans in the country. Not only are the state’s two MLB ballparks beautiful, but there’s six great Minor League ballparks between and within a short drive of both cities.
Dayton’s Fifth Third Field has been known to sell out games as a Minor League affiliate of the Reds while Columbus, the state capitol, has a new downtown yard as the Indians Triple-A affiliate. Within an hour of Cleveland, fans can also take in a Minor League or independent league game in Akron, Eastlake or Avon.
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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Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
Doron Lamb hit a 3-pointer with 3:18 left to put No. 1 Kentucky ahead to stay, and the Wildcats took a big step toward a Southeastern Conference regular-season title by beating Vanderbilt 69-63 Saturday night for their 17th straight win.
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.