[Times photo: Kevin White] Quarterback Brad Johnson and coach Jon Gruden have appeared more comfortable together with each game.

Rays
Piniella won't contribute to Rays rumors
NEW YORK -- Lou Piniella may be the person folks around town (and Tropicana Field) are talking the most about in connection with the Rays' managerial opening, but Piniella isn't saying much about the possibility.

Lightning
Tampa Bay posts shutout over Thrashers in preseason game
TAMPA -- Where were all these goals last season?

Personnel director gets back to the game
Barber, who lost his wife last year, joined the Lightning in August.

Baseball
As usual, Yanks find way to win
YANKEES 8, ANGELS 5: Bernie Williams' three-run homer caps a four-run rally in the eighth.

Twins rally back from early jitters
TWINS 7, A'S 5: After digging 5-1 hole with three quick errors, Minnesota rallies in opener.

Mets, Rangers ax managers
NEW YORK -- For Bobby Valentine and Jerry Narron, last place meant no more last chances.

NL: Plenty of seats still available in Atlanta
ATLANTA -- Turner Field looked as though it were shutting down for the season, not gearing up for the playoffs.

AL: Season takes Fasano from Rays to riches
NEW YORK -- Sal Fasano started his season in spring training with the Rays. He's ending it in the playoffs with the Angels.

Bonds after what pal has
ATLANTA -- Barry Bonds cradled the 3-week-old child in his arms, joking that he'd teach him the right way to play the game. Listen to me, he said, not your old man.

College football
Bulls, Gators agree to games
South Florida continues its climb to the big time with games against Florida in 2008 and 2009 in Gainesville.

Gators must be first to pressure Manning
GAINESVILLE -- The Florida defense will face one of its biggest tests of the season Saturday when the Gators play at Mississippi. Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning is being protected by an offensive line that has yet to give up a sack. Since the start of the 1999 season, Mississippi has allowed the fewest sacks in the Southeastern Conference with 33. Ole Miss has not allowed a sack since Nov. 17 against Georgia -- 10 consecutive games.

State Practice Reports
Benched lineman won't quit

Miami starters might lose jobs
CORAL GABLES -- For the first time this season it appears Miami coaches are prepared to take disciplinary measures that might cost some players their starting spots.

NFL
Moss now faces drug charge
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Vikings star receiver Randy Moss was charged Tuesday with possession of a small amount of marijuana, adding to charges last week that he pushed a traffic officer with his car.

NHL
Defending champs beat Blues 4-2
DETROIT -- Nicklas Lidstrom, Brendan Shanahan and Henrik Zetterberg each had a goal and an assist as the Red Wings beat the Blues 4-2 Tuesday night.

Motorsports
Crew chief shakeups for Labonte, W. Burton
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Two struggling Winston Cup drivers will have new crew chiefs in 2003.

Et cetera
Breesman leads after first day
CRYSTAL RIVER -- Barbara Breesman shot 77 to lead by a stroke after the first day of the 33rd Lollypop Invitational at Seven Rivers Golf and Country Club.

Top pick Warner flops after injury, poor stats
With apologies to Curtis Martin and Randy Moss, Kurt Warner may have wrapped up the 2002 Flop-of-the-Year Award Sunday. The honor is mostly of his own doing, considering he has thrown eight interceptions in three-plus games. But throw in the broken pinkie finger he sustained against Dallas, which will keep him out 8-10 weeks, and you have a complete waste of what was likely the No. 1, 2 or 3 pick in your league.

Wright, Lacy might not need Jones' spotlight
Winky Wright and Jeff Lacy as co-main events on a fight card in St. Petersburg?

Sports briefs
Knicks' Thomas can't visit home

Preps
Tornadoes grind out win vs. Eagles
CLEARWATER -- After enduring the first losing season in school history and failing to make the playoffs for the first time since 1994, Clearwater hoped to return to glory this season.

Competition yields fast times at PCAC meet
Those surprised at the Southwest Pool clock or the agate type in the newspaper, don't be: Performances at Saturday's Pinellas County Athletic Conference meet really were that fast.

Plant committed to speed
A disciplined approach has the Plant boys team among the top programs in the state.

'Fun' combination forged at Gaither
CARROLLWOOD -- In 1969, Jean Tinnen filled in as Chamberlain's swimming coach for a friend, who had to take maternity leave.

Cobras quick to seal victory against Gators
LAND O'LAKES -- Hudson's big hang-up in the first half of the season was a difficulty finishing opponents off. There were no such game-point anxieties Tuesday night.

Mitchell sails to breeezy victory
TRINITY -- You can't stop Mitchell's golfers. You can only hope to contain them.

Outdoors
Daily fishing report
Fall offers a great time to pursue the sometimes elusive inshore slam: snook, redfish and trout. The key to an early day's success is a live well crammed with scaled sardines.