Time is ticking for King [Times photo: Jim Damaske] Tonight's game against Jacksonville might be the QB's last chance to impress coaches.

Gary Shelton

Rays
Rays find a spark in surprising Sheets
RAYS 4, INDIANS 3: A ninth-inning HR continues veteran's resurgence.

Bonifay to become scouting director
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays didn't have to look far for a new scouting director.

Lightning
Lightning signs wings Fedotenko and Dwyer
The Lightning tapped into place the last significant piece of its offseason puzzle Thursday when left wing Ruslan Fedotenko signed a two-year, $1.6-million contract.

Little League
Tampa Bay wins behind a one-hitter
TAMPA BAY 3, MICHIGAN 0: The team remains undefeated in the postseason and reaches the World Series semifinals.

Banned team to be honored at Little League ceremony
South Carolina leagues refused to play the 1955 Cannon Street All-Stars, leading to the all-black squad's exclusion.

Softball
Dunedin's defense disappears
JEFFERSONTOWN, Ky. -- Dunedin National hit a green wall against Central region champion Gladstone, Mich., on Thursday. And not the one in Fenway Park.

Baseball
Aug. 30 strike date near certain
Optimism wanes as talks break up with luxury tax still a stumbling block and no meeting scheduled for today.

3 exiled umps rehired as grading dispute heats up
NEW YORK -- Three more of the 22 umpires who lost their jobs during a failed mass resignation in 1999 were rehired.

Ailing Johnson still dominates
CINCINNATI -- Randy Johnson felt rundown when he woke up Thursday morning, still suffering from a one-day malady that left his head pounding and his 6-foot-10 frame wobbly.

Mondesi powers Yanks in ninth
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Raul Mondesi got a big break, and he took advantage of it.

NBA
Ewing and Magic part after 1 year
ORLANDO -- Patrick Ewing and the Magic are parting ways after one season.

NFL
Mistake-prone Miami fizzles
MIAMI -- Maybe the Saints won't miss Ricky Williams after all.

Popular Ex-Giant Rote dead at age 73
Kyle Rote, one of the most popular players in Giants history, died at 73.

Around the AFC
BRONCOS: Wide receiver Ed McCaffrey, who strained his right quadriceps in a 27-3 win over Chicago Saturday, missed a third straight practice. Coach Mike Shanahan said he will miss Monday's game against San Francisco.

Around the NFC
COWBOYS: Receiver Raghib Ismail sat out two practice sessions for precautionary reasons, a day after straining his neck in a collision with linebacker Dat Nguyen. He is questionable for Saturday's preseason game at Carolina.

'Hard Knocks' hype is a team effort
Anyone who has seen the second season of HBO's Hard Knocks can attest to the candor and frankness of the behind-the-scenes look at life in the NFL.

College football
Offensive line has Florida worried
GAINESVILLE -- One of Florida's biggest concerns is the offensive line.

Tennis
Hingis to play in Open
Former champion Martina Hingis received a wild-card entry to the U.S. Open, which starts Aug.26.

Motorsports
NASCAR plans to keep all-star race in Charlotte
CONCORD, N.C. -- The Winston, NASCAR's annual all-star race, will return to Lowe's Motor Speedway next season for a 16th straight year, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

Golf
Golden drains twister for 1-shot LPGA lead
VAUDREUIL-DORIAN, Quebec -- Kate Golden was as surprised as anybody.

Looking for No. 1
Lightning blasts, rain falls and the stakes rise as clubhouse leaders get a shot at their first major title.

Toms frustrated after marquee pairing
CHASKA, Minn. -- For a major champion, it was a major admission: "I'm not in their league."

Preps
Tampa's Span, Twins reach deal
TAMPA -- Former Tampa Catholic outfielder and Minnesota first-round draft pick Denard Span agreed to a major-league contract with a $1.7-million signing bonus Thursday.

Robert E. Lee player collapses, dies
JACKSONVILLE -- A high school player died Wednesday after collapsing during practice.

Outdoors
Daily fishing report
Here, there and most everywhere