[Times photo: Toni L. Sandys] HEADY HELLO: After the morning workout Monday, cornerback Ronde Barber gets laughs by signing an autograph on the hat of St. Petersburg's Tina Kendall.

A sprain, but not bad
Keenan McCardell, one of the Bucs' biggest acquisitions in the offseason, might miss a week.

Opportunity helps rookie stand out
LAKE BUENA VISTA -- While second-year free safety John Howell still is out, rookie Jermaine Phillips is showing up ... big and often.

Board delays vote on security patdowns at Bucs games
TAMPA -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans won't be patted down or have their pockets searched before the team's first home preseason game. Nothing's certain after that.

Rays
Gary Shelton
Real attraction at the Trop? Thanks, Carl
ST. PETERSBURG -- In the middle of just another game, on a team going nowhere, in the dwindling days of a forgettable season, the darndest thing happened Monday.

Promising start meets fitting end
WHITE SOX 4, RAYS 3: Victor Zambrano looks sharp, but pen blows lead as bats go quiet.

Alvarez to begin new role in relief
ST. PETERSBURG -- Left-hander Wilson Alvarez returns to the Rays roster today after a second stint on the disabled list. To make room, right-hander Luis De Los Santos was optioned to Triple-A Durham after a brief and difficult first visit to the majors: three losses and an 11.57 ERA in three starts.

Lightning
Lightning rookie takes control
Center Alexander Svitov looks to overcome professional and cultural pressures for a spot on the roster.

College football
Leavitt pleased on Bulls' first day
It was the first day on the practice field Monday for South Florida's 19 newcomers, and coach Jim Leavitt minimized his standards and expectations accordingly.

Storm
Marcum wasn't going to be content with an overtime
TAMPA -- He would have gone for two.

Motorsports
Stewart's hot temper adds more to his woes
INDIANAPOLIS -- Tony Stewart had better have a good excuse this time. Something better than how competitive, passionate and intense he is when it comes to racing.

Tennis
Hingis may play in U.S. Open
Her ankle healing faster than expected after surgery, Martina Hingis asked Monday for a wild-card entry into the U.S. Open at New York, where she has been seeded No.1 every year since 1997.

NFL
Texan injures spine in collision
Safety Leomont Evans collapses after running head-first into a Giants running back.

Niners rookie Rumph pleads innocent to DUI
MIAMI -- 49ers rookie cornerback Michael Rumph pleaded innocent Monday to driving under the influence, and a warrant for his arrest was revoked.

Preps
Ex-Dunnellon baseball coach dies
DUNNELLON -- A former high school baseball coach who pitched for the Atlanta Braves died after a yearlong battle with Eastern equine encephalitis.

District realignment takes the blame for declining attendance
Every two years, high school football districts are realigned and new non-district opponents are assigned, Last fall, another cycle began, and some Pinellas fans made their opinions known on the new matchups.

Florida pitcher throws no-hitter in 1-0 victory
GULFPORT -- For the better part of a month, Jonny Lingo's name has been in headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Tampa Bay rolls in Junior softball tourney
The Tampa Bay Junior softball All-Stars are one step away from the World Series, and the competition can't seem to keep up with the Florida champions.

Outdoors
Daily fishing report
The baitfish spawn has invaded the flats, filling the stomachs of gamefish that normally feed on larger offerings. The spawn baitfish is only a 1/2-inch long, making it hard to imitate with artificial lures. The most productive lure has been a small strawberry jig with a light jig head. Snook, redfish, trout and bluefish nail the rig when worked with a steady retrieve.