Rays
Athletics GM: Rays should pursue Macha
Unless someone else hires him first, Oakland bench coach Ken Macha is likely to be a candidate for the Rays managing job.

Lightning
Hodson's hanging on
TAMPA -- Kevin Hodson knows appearances can be deceiving. So while indications are he will start the season as the Lightning's backup goaltender, he knows his job is anything but secure.

College football Weathering well [Times photo: Carrie Pratt] After a rainstorm and a flurry of criticism, FSU bounces back in the ACC. John Romano FSU realizes it needs Rix TALLAHASSEE -- The next time you are moved to anger, remember this night. Remember the anxiety and the relief. The fear and the joy. Defense closes holes in 2nd TALLAHASSEE -- During Florida State's championship years it was the defense that intimidated opponents while the offense got the glamor. But, in the past two seasons, the defense, subpar by FSU standards, has taken the heat for its inability to close a game. Elder Bowden doesn't relish matchups vs. son TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State coach Bobby Bowden doesn't dread playing Clemson, but doesn't particularly enjoy the annual showdown against his son, Tommy. Around the state UF likely to change at OT This week is make or break TAMPA -- Forget about Oklahoma. Forget about Arkansas, Southern Miss, East Carolina and everyone else for that matter. Forget about the big games, the Conference USA games and the little games. The most important football game of South Florida's season is Saturday at North Texas. Mitchell bidding to be the best Kawika Mitchell compares favorably with the nation's top linebackers. Illinois struggles, loses to Gophers MINNEAPOLIS -- Terry Jackson II rushed for a career-high 159 yards and Thomas Tapeh added 113 yards and a touchdown Thursday night to lead Minnesota past struggling Illinois 31-10.

Baseball playoffs
They have redefined winning
Twins, tied at 1 with the A's, beat contraction and their AL Central foes. Not bad for a team that was left for dead.

Millwood, Braves pull even at 1
BRAVES 7, GIANTS 3: The Atlanta starter goes six innings to salvage an early split at home.

Fox's Buck set to pull double duty, humbly
Joe Buck is back.

NL notebook: S.F. like Arizona, Sanders says
ATLANTA -- A year after he won a championship ring playing outfield for the Diamondbacks, Reggie Sanders is at it again.

Cards outduel another Diamondbacks ace 2-1
After beating Randy Johnson in the opener, St. Louis holds on to beat Curt Schilling for a 2-0 NLDS series lead.

Metrodome offers plenty of obstacles
MINNEAPOLIS -- As if it's not enough the way fly balls get lost against the roof and ground balls take fast hops off the artificial turf, the Metrodome should provide the Twins with another significant advantage today.

Motorsports
Race could be turned upside down
A wild points chase is likely to get wilder with all contenders wary of "the big one" at Talladega.

Another Earnhardt tries Talladega
TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Kerry Earnhardt, eldest son of the late Dale Earnhardt, will attempt to join half-brother Dale Jr. as a teammate in Sunday's EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Leader seeks a crown in new home
MIAMI -- Cristiano da Matta is close to completing his climb through CART.

Et cetera
Site's Stat Tracker makes fantasy life much easier
I caved.

NFL
Coughlin hires 2 sports psychologists for his Jaguars
JACKSONVILLE -- Never known as a touchy-feely guy, Tom Coughlin has hired two sports psychologists to help his Jaguars absorb the long grind of a difficult season.

Colleges
UT runners earn more hardware
TAMPA -- The University of Tampa's Sunshine State Conference cross-country opponents are familiar with the Spartans. Now, league officials are following suit. For the fifth time this season, Spartan runners earned the league's weekly awards.

NHL
Canucks re-sign forward Warriner
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Forward Todd Warriner, acquired by the Canucks in a five-player deal with Phoenix last season, re-signed with Vancouver.

Golf
Duval shares lead after finding game
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- With his passion for golf renewed by his Ryder Cup experience and his game in a better state than it has been for some time, David Duval once again made Kingsmill Golf Club look easy.

Preps
1987's Formidable Falcons
Dunedin should have felt some pressure. When a first-year coach and his team go 12-2 and advance to the state title game, repeating is supposed to be near impossible.

Indians QB key to ground game
J.B. Garris has made all the right calls in East Bay's Wishbone offense.

Northside's trophy case grows along with sport
SEMINOLE -- There were grumblings in the locker room at Seminole Lake Country Club on Thursday afternoon about it being too hot to play 18 holes.

Dunedin changes its perception
With two winning seasons in 15 years, Dunedin is synonymous with doormat. The 4-0 Falcons beg to differ.