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.
Padres signed RHP Jeff Suppan to a minor league contract.
He'll also get a spring training invite. Suppan didn't throw a pitch in the majors last season, but had a 4.78 ERA and 94/51 K/BB ratio over 165 2/3 innings with the Royals' Triple-A affiliate. The 37-year-old owns a 4.69 ERA over 16 seasons in the majors. He'll serve as insurance for the starting rotation.
The Padres will give the newly signed Micah Owings a chance to compete for the final spot in the rotation.
He's unlikely to get it, as Dustin Moseley is the clear favorite as long as he's healthy. Anthony Bass will be the third contender. Owings' ability with the bat makes him an ideal long reliever, though, as he can work multiple relief innings while saving the Padres from having to use a pinch-hitter. The 29-year-old right-hander posted a 3.57 ERA and 44/23 K/BB ratio over 63 innings last season for the D'Backs.
Padres signed RHP Micah Owings to a one-year, $1 million contract.
The 29-year-old right-hander was non-tendered by the Diamondbacks in December after posting a 3.57 ERA and 44/23 K/BB ratio over 63 innings last season. He'll try to win a spot in San Diego's bullpen this spring. Perhaps his ability with the bat will give him a small edge.
Padres and RHP Dustin Moseley avoided arbitration by agreeing on a one-year contract.
Corey Brock of MLB.com reports that he'll make $2.0125 million this season. Moseley requested $2.55 million and was offered $1.5 million when arbitration figures were exchanged earlier this month, so the two sides settled for a little under the midpoint. The 31-year-old right-hander posted a 3.30 ERA and 64/36 K/BB ratio over 120 innings last season and projects to open 2012 in the Padres' starting rotation.
Padres and LHP Clayton Richard avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract.
Bernie Wilson of the Associated Press reports that the deal is worth $2.705 million. Richard requested $3.1 million and was offered $2.35 million by the Padres when arbitration figures were exchanged last week, so they came pretty close to the midpoint. The 28-year-old left-hander posted a 3.88 ERA and 53/38 K/BB ratio over 99 2/3 innings in 2011 before undergoing season-ending surgery on his left shoulder in July, but he's expected to be 100 percent for spring training.
David Eckstein's agent denied reports that his client is retiring.
"If the right opportunity arises, he will play," Ryan Gleichowski said. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported over the weekend that Eckstein had officially decided to retire. Jon Heyman tweeted Sunday that Eckstein had the opportunity to play for the Mariners last season, but opted against it. The 37-year-old didn't play in 2011. The former World Series MVP has played 10 seasons and has a .280/.345/.355 career batting line.
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that David Eckstein has officially decided to retire.
Eckstein, 37, didn't play in 2011 but said at midseason that he'd consider playing again in the right situation. But, he's decided to hang up his cleats even though there were some teams willing to offer him a minor league contract. The former World Series MVP played 10 seasons and finishes with a .280/.345/.355 career batting line.
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.
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.
