Rotoworld: Oregon RB LaMichael James and Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon among top 10 players who are being overhyped for the 2012 draft.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
The Detroit Red Wings equaled an NHL record with their 20th straight win at home, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 Sunday night on the strength of Johan Franzen's tiebreaking goal early in the third period.
PBT: Boston's Rajon Rondo continues to be named in trade talks, which is madness. The Celtics guard creates offense and makes everyone around him better, which was evident in Sunday's win over the Bulls.
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.
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods greeted their Sunday pairing at Pebble Beach with optimism. But the day would end happily only for one.
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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It's June, everyone. The time of year when a young man's fancy turns to ... preseason polls.
They're out in full force now — from preseason magazines to blogs to that annoying talk radio guy who scans the Internet to come up with "his" top 25.
This poll sees the season for what it is: the players. And there are rules to my annual summer splash of the top 25 players in the nation:
It has nothing to do with NFL value.
It has everything to do with college value.
Now that we have that squared away, on with the show.
1. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida. I said it last year and everyone thought I was an idiot (some still do): When his career is complete, Tebow will be the greatest amateur player ever in a team sport. No one affects the game like he can.
2. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma. Performs off the charts in three crucial areas for a quarterback: mental toughness, accuracy/arm strength, leadership.
3. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State. Deep speed for big plays, physical frame for tough catches — an absolute nightmare in man coverage. One more thing: Don't punt to him.
4. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas. Sees plays develop before they do and throws on the run better than anyone in a long, long time.
5. Taylor Mays, S, USC. An enforcer who can change passing games with one big hit; and plays like a fourth linebacker in run support.
6. George Selvie, DE, South Florida. Forget about his injury-marred 2008. When healthy, he's a disruptive, unblockable force.
7. Jahvid Best, RB, California. The fastest player in the game blossomed as a runner last fall. Now he has added muscle mass.
8. Eric Berry, S, Tennessee. At some point, the new Tennessee staff must find a way to get Berry 10 plays per game on offense.
9. Jeremiah Masoli, QB, Oregon. More of a run threat last season, watch how he develops in the passing game in Year 2 under new coach Chip Kelly.
10. Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State. Best pure tailback in the game; could reach 2,000 yards with the most balanced offense in the nation.
11. Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama. When McClain was a freshman, one AFC scout told me he was the best linebacker in the SEC. That was two years ago.
12. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska. Suh isn't your typical, beefy noseguard: athletic and powerful, he's also a dangerous pass rusher.
13. Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech. Think about this: Dwyer said that by the end of an impressive 2008 season, he still didn't completely comprehend Tech's triple option offense.
14. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma. A matchup problem for any defense, he will dominate with more physical play after the catch.
15. Julio Jones, WR, Alabama. Had a brilliant freshman season despite average quarterback play. What happens if/when the Tide gets an athletic quarterback with a strong arm?
16. Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU. Former high school tailback continues to add rush moves to his game and no longer is just a speed guy off the edge.
17. Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida. Fiery, emotional, big-hitting run stuffer with invaluable leadership skills.
18. Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State. You better believe this raw project is among the best in the nation. Or as former USC linebacker Rey Maualuga said last September: "He's going to be unreal."
19. Ciron Black, OT, LSU. The best pass blocker in the game; he's a wall to get around.
20. Jevan Snead, QB, Ole Miss. First season as a starter was remarkable, especially considering he sat out 2007 after transferring from Texas.
21. Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame. Explosive, tough athlete is a breakaway threat in any route on the field — and with kick returns.
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22. Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma. Prototypical interior run-stuffer finally put it all together last year — and smartly stayed in school for one more run at a national title and to improve his draft stock.
23. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State. Diminutive 'Quizz would've been the first freshman to lead the Pac-10 in rushing had a shoulder injury not limited him the last three games of the season.
24. Joe Haden, CB, Florida. The best cover corner in the game. Former high school quarterback gets terrific breaks on the ball because of his passing-game knowledge.
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25. Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois. Illini quarterback Juice Williams regressed last year, but the dynamic Benn continued to put up big numbers.
Ten on the outside: Robert Griffin, QB, Baylor; Jason Worilds, DE, Virginia Tech; Syd'Quan Thompson, CB, California; Zac Robinson, QB, Oklahoma State; Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida; Sergio Kindle, DE/LB, Texas; Damian Williams, WR, USC; Navorro Bowman, LB, Penn State; Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama; Stevenson Sylvester, LB, Utah.
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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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.
The Red Wings have finally started to embrace a record they've been chasing.
