Sports

Rays
Rupe is masterful as skid ends at 4
RAYS 5, MARINERS 1: Starter has first professional complete game and John Flaherty hits grand slam.

Rays extra
TONIGHT: RAYS VS. MARINERS

Struggling Hall, Tyner demoted
Rays try wakeup call for youngsters, bring up Aubrey Huff, Paul Hoover.

Flaherty ready but says Hall will return
ST. PETERSBURG -- With Toby Hall's demotion to Triple-A Durham, John Flaherty took over Tuesday as the Rays starting catcher. Though the 34-year-old is eager to play more than one or two games a week, he understands the move doesn't change his role in the team's future.

Plate bears brunt of Piniella's rage
ST. PETERSBURG -- Before the ninth inning Tuesday night, as the Rays showed highlights from their five-run third inning on the centerfield video screen, Mariners manager Lou Piniella came up with some highlights of his own.

Bucs

[Times photo: James Borchuck]
Jon Gruden, with coffee in hand, begins his work day at 3:57 a.m. on Tuesday. He usually is at One Buc Place by 4 a.m.

The first 100 days
Jon Gruden turns each marathon day into a sprint for success. From the wee morning hours to the darkened road home, the Bucs coach won't allow himself to fall behind.

John Romano
Rays' hint to Hall: It's time to grow (mentally)
ST. PETERSBURG -- It is only a hunch, mind you, but the Rays have a pretty good idea where Toby Hall's problems began.

NHL
Carolina in uncharted territory
HURRICANES 2, LEAFS 1 (OT): Its first Stanley Cup final awaits after Martin Gelinas' winner.

Baseball
A week of highlights on mound
It might go down as the most successful week of pitching the Rays organization has seen.

Soccer
An English obsession
The World Cup, Beckham's foot and heavy history meet in soccer's birthplace.

Colleges
Winning seasons justify Spartans' high hopes
TAMPA -- Most athletic seasons start with high expectations.

ACC baseball tourney might come back soon
Don't be surprised if the ACC baseball tournament returns to St. Petersburg soon. It will be played in Virginia in 2003 and 2004. But the league will solicit offers in early 2004 for its next three-year cycle, and St. Petersburg will be a contender.

Preps
Wali's journey not over
The Green Devils' top player, who left Pakistan to improve his game, did not complete his quest to capture a state title.

Club sends 21 to nationals
BRANDON -- After another week of grueling wrestling, 21 members of the Brandon Wrestling Club qualified for the national championships this summer in two states. They qualified last week at Southeast region tournaments in Jacksonville and New Orleans. Seven members of the Brandon High varsity, or half of the Eagles' starting lineup, earned national tournament berths.

Around the county
Swimming

Davis wins Cougars debut
CLEARWATER -- This used to be a delightful sight for John Davis: placekicker Joey Ijjas trotting onto the field in the closing seconds for a game-winning kick.

Outdoors
Daily fishing report
Inclement weather forecasts and up-and-down buoy reports kept many close to shore for the long weekend, but the wind and seas were half of most predictions.

Boxing
Local bantamweight hopes King can secure title fight
Jack Frissina wants one thing for his son, Pete: a world title.

On The Wire
Arizona Regains No. 1 Ranking in AP Poll
Garnett Eclipsed by Jordan Farewell
Report: Creditors O.K. Bid for Senators
Green Surprises Earnhardt at Daytona
UConn Remains Unanimous in Women's Poll

Americans Lose in 1st Round of Davis Cup

World Cup soccer

South Korea Thanks Soccer Teams

Brazil Celebration Turns Ugly

World's Worst Claims Soccer Honors