Rays
Piniella, Rays agree to 4-year deal
Lou Piniella's agent says "there's no doubt" the $13-million offer will be finalized, probably by Monday.

Lightning
Start has Lightning pleased, guarded
Undefeated Tampa Bay keeps its record start in perspective.

Roy's 13-game suspension ends
TAMPA -- He waits and he sits. Even worse, he practices and he sits.

World Series Giants turn to power game San Francisco gets 16 hits, 3 HRs to pull away, take command. John Romano Small hit, large consequences for Anaheim SAN FRANCISCO -- It rolled no more than 50 feet. Off the grass, down the line and, eventually, it curved just this side of lore. [AP photo] Ratings at a record low LOS ANGELES -- An outstanding Angels-Giants World Series is a dud with television viewers because of national indifference to a California Classic. Rally Monkey is talk of World Series The message boards are frightening.

NFL
Average guy? Yeah, right
Emmitt Smith would have you believe he's just like you.

Shell will handle appeals of on-field discipline
NEW YORK -- Hall of Famer Art Shell was hired Thursday by the league to handle player appeals of on-field disciplinary action.

Baseball
Oakland's Macha turns down Brewers offer
SAN FRANCISCO -- Athletics bench coach Ken Macha declined the Brewers' managerial offer on Wednesday and is expected to accept Oakland's job.

Sports TV/Radio
NBA gives ESPN chance at innovation
ESPN president George Bodenheimer calls it his 23-year-old network's "signature moment."

Et cetera
In brief
Agassi loses chance to make move

NBA
Magic closes preseason with loss
ORLANDO -- Dirk Nowitzki scored 16 of his 23 points in the third quarter, and Dallas beat the Magic 102-95 Thursday night in the final preseason game for both.

Motorsports
State road will honor Earnhardt
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Legislation to renumber a state road in honor of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt has been signed into law.

Consistency key to points
It was 1985.

Colleges
UT sweeps individual SSC titles
TAMPA -- The University of Tampa cross-country teams almost enjoyed dual championships at the Sunshine State Conference meet last weekend in St. Petersburg.

NHL
Flyers' Primeau, Handzus net 4, level Canadiens
PHILADELPHIA -- Michal Handzus scored twice during a 2:10 span in the second period Thursday night to lead the Flyers to a 6-2 victory over the Canadiens.

College football
Brothers kick rehab
Santiago and Bill Gramatica helped each other through their identical knee surgeries.

Finding some fun in football 1sts
One of the fun things about the South Florida football program is the accumulation of firsts.

State practice reports
Seminoles ready for the Irish

No restraint key to ND's veteran D
Coaches trust their leaders to take chances without fear of retribution, leading to a stifling unit.

North Carolina St. enjoys rout
CLEMSON, S.C. -- North Carolina State is off to the best start in school history. More importantly, the Wolfpack showed it's for real in the Bowl Championship Series race.

Golf
Sutton: I challenge Woods
Hal Sutton was not afraid to take on Tiger Woods two years ago when he dueled him down the stretch at the Players Championship.

Herron's record score seen by few
PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga. -- Tim Herron saw this kind of round coming.

Horse racing
Bad beginning to Baffert's day
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. -- A traffic jam got Bob Baffert's day off to a bad start.

Sailing
San Diego team wins women's title
Tampa Bay had flocks of Snipes competing for the Women's World Championship last week and for the Masters Worlds for sailors over 45 this week.

Preps
Turnovers put Park in big hole
SEABREEZE 42, PINELLAS PARK 21: The Patriots surrender 35 points in the first half.

Vikings' season at stake
Tonight against undefeated Class 5A, District 8 rival Seminole, a win locks upa district title and a playoff berth for Northeast. A loss could end its season.

Seniors spark Pirates' rally
CRYSTAL RIVER -- The Pirates needed a little something extra to beat Lecanto on Thursday.

Conference champs ready for districts
CLEARWATER -- The Bay Conference tournament played as a regular-season finale Thursday at Airco Golf Course.

Tonight's games: Pinellas
Seminole (7-0) at Northeast (6-1)

Tonight's games: Hillsborough
Gaither (3-4) at Alonso (2-5)

Hudson proves to be no pushover
WESLEY CHAPEL -- Hudson and Wesley Chapel entered Thursday's match with similar records but opposite perspectives on their success.

Durant topples No. 1 Plant in finale
DURANT -- Durant seniors Christen Garcia, Heather Connell, Danielle Herndon and Nicole LeBlanc have every intention of going out on top this season. And they proved it Thursday, whipping Class 4A No. 1 Plant 15-8, 15-12 in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Hawks have speed, power
Armwood's Ryan Watts and Kalvin Bailey force opponents to stop the run, which is what Wharton plans to do tonight.