Rays
Rays may have say in playoff seedings
NEW YORK -- The Rays could end up playing a key role in determining who represents the American League in the World Series.

Change coming, but how much?
GM Chuck LaMar says a lot depends on team's budget for next season, something that won't be known for several weeks.

Up next: Red Sox
SCOUTING REPORT: The Red Sox were officially eliminated from the playoff race Wednesday, so they wouldn't seem to have much to play for.

Lightning
Bumps, bruises adding up
BRANDON -- Midway through the preseason, coach John Tortorella still is mixing and matching to find the right player combinations. The last thing he needs two weeks before the Oct. 10 opener is injuries.

Feaster looks forward to facing former boss
The Lightning general manager sees a "whole 'nother dimension' against Rick Dudley's team.

College football Dazed and deluged [Times photo: Scott Keeler] Louisville 26, FSU 20 (OT): Sloppy conditions -- and a Seminoles performance to match -- leave the country's No. 4 team all wet. Gary Shelton Defeat represents fall from power LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The old man stood in the rain, his eyes glassed, his face showing the traces of bewilderment. Through pain, he's gained After dealing with the loss of his parents in high school, Ron Hemingway is a better man. Most of Louisville's recruits are Florida-grown LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Louisville coach John L. Smith inherited a club that finished the 1997 season 1-10, but his teams have gone to four consecutive bowls and have won back-to-back Conference USA titles. Gardner: 'Nobody got the job done' Talman Gardner has a career-high eight catches and 130 yards in FSU's loss. Father of UF coach dies at 75 Ron Zook's dad, Pete, succumbs to cancer. State practice reports Bulls hear a stirring speech

Ryder Cup/Golf
Like America, with 2 twists
The Belfry doesn't resemble the typical British golf course, but it has a pair of strategic holes that could be critical in the Ryder Cup.

Ryder Cup to get plenty of coverage
With all of the hard feelings about the Americans' overexuberance at Brookline a faded memory, here's hoping someone coughs during a backswing to get the juices flowing this weekend as NBC broadcasts a whopping 15 hours of Ryder Cup coverage Saturday and Sunday.

Ryder Cup site has dual perspectives
On one side, American flags. On the other, Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer shaking hands. One side hypes players "talking trash," and the other raves about the "colourful" pageantry of the opening ceremonies.

Fast start helps struggling putter take one-shot lead at Texas Open
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Robert Gamez had nine birdies, including six on the front nine, and shot 7-under 63 to take a one-stroke lead over John Huston and Frank Lickliter after the first round of the Texas Open on Thursday.

Motorsports
Fan input works for Kansas
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Stann Tate walked through the empty infield at Kansas Speedway, pointing to all the amenities that have been added since the track's inaugural season last year.

Baseball
AL: Rally lifts A's to West crown
SEATTLE -- The Oakland Athletics were all smiles, high-fives and handshakes on the infield grass at Safeco Field. Then it was party time inside the visitors clubhouse.

Angels can breathe easy
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Now, the Anaheim Angels can celebrate.

Baseball notebook
Portland readies push to bring Expos to town

NL: Johnson rights Diamondbacks
PHOENIX -- Randy Johnson pitched a six-hitter for his major league-leading 24th victory, and the Diamondbacks snapped a six-game losing streak by beating the Colorado Rockies 4-2 Thursday night.

NHL
Bure's surgery goes 'extremely well'
NEW YORK -- Rangers forward Pavel Bure had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Thursday and is expected to take two weeks to recover.

Colleges
Graduation rates rise to 60 percent
INDIANAPOLIS -- The graduation rate for Division I student-athletes has reached 60 percent for the first time since the NCAA began tracking the figures 18 years ago, according to a survey released Thursday.

NFL
Moss apologizes, but not to officer
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Randy Moss apologized to his team, family and friends Thursday, but insisted he wasn't looking for trouble when he was arrested on charges of pushing a traffic officer with his car in Minneapolis.

Around the NFC
EAGLES: Defensive tackle Jeremy Slechta and safety Julian Jones were promoted from the practice squad. To make room on the 53-man roster, the team released quarterback A.J. Feeley and linebacker Tyreo Harrison.

Around the AFC
BRONCOS: Quarterback Brian Griese might miss Monday night's game after tripping over his dog at his home Wednesday and spraining his left ankle. Griese is probable for the game at Baltimore. He didn't participate in practice and had X-rays on the ankle, which revealed no broken bones.

Preps
Panthers hand Warriors first setback
LECANTO -- Playing previously undefeated Seven Rivers Christian brought out the best in Lecanto on Thursday as the Panthers pulled of a 15-11, 15-8 win.

IRC crashes party with meet sweep
As St. Petersburg Catholic's Brian Sullivan somberly picked up his ribbon for a ninth-place finish at Thursday's Baron Invitational, a voice shot out from the crowd:

Wharton has new-and-improved QB
Ross Corcoran is bigger, stronger and in command.

Pretenders or contenders?
This year's Wildcats are poised to make some noise in Class 5A, District 6.