Lightning

[Times photo: Bill Serne] It's Brad Richards' turn to take the Cup for a skate.

Lords of the rink
Nikolai Khabibulin makes Ruslan Fedotenko's two goals stand up.

An afterthought no more
Unheralded Brad Richards wins the Conn Smythe award for MVP.

Back at home in front of net
TAMPA - Nine days ago, Lightning wing Ruslan Fedotenko was slammed face-first into the boards, leaving a deep gash and nasty bruise on his right cheek.

Bulin Wall tall enough to keep critics at bay
Nikolai Khabibulin's struggles for respect should be over.

Fourth line provides energy
Late in the series, those with little playing time have been able to contribute a lot.

From A to Z, a closer look at 12 seasons of Lightning
If the Lightning's unprecedented postseason run has done anything, it has reminded us all of the team's history: the good, the bad, the ugly, as well as the laughable, the inspiring and the forgettable.

Game's over, but for shirtmakers, work has just begun
TAMPA - The embroidery machines were set to stitch polo shirts all night. An extra shift was poised to run the silk-screen assembly line. Trucks lined up outside waiting to make fresh deliveries to stores within 75 miles by 5 a.m.

It was the biggest scoop of his young life
Scott Vargas got the call Monday afternoon: The Lightning wants your help in Game 7.

Jubilant Fedotenko washes away trade, scar
It certainly wasn't an easy series for the Lightning forward, but he ended it with authority.

Parading the Stanley Cup
The city will throw a parade at noon Wednesday to celebrate the Lightning's capture of the 2004 Stanley Cup. Here's the plan (Fans who cannot attend can see it on Sunshine Network, which will air it live and at 8 p.m. Wednesday.):

Saprykin, like his favorite cafe, now a hot item
The 23-year-old forward has been a key factor late in the series.

Slapshots
Andreychuk still might retire

Sound bites
GREAT INFORMATION: Gary Thorne, Bill Clement and John Davidson dispensed key nuggets throughout, and ABC was sharp with relevant graphics, from Miikka Kiprusoff's sterling numbers after a loss to John Tortorella being the first American to coach a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup final to Dave Andreychuk playing the most games without winning a Cup - 1,759. (Until now.)

Three stars
RUSLAN FEDOTENKO: Acquired in a much-scrutinized trade two years ago, Fedotenko delivered both of Tampa Bay's goals in Game 7, his 11th and 12th of the playoffs. His reward for standing firm in front of the net: the Stanley Cup.

Win or lose, fans came to play
TAMPA - It was supposed to be a hockey game. Tampa turned it into Mardi Gras.

Game 7: period by period
Statistics and summary capsules of Game 7.

Goalie comparison
MIIKKA KIPRUSOFF

Rays
Rays tag Owl pitcher with top pick
Injuries don't scare Tampa Bay from picking Jeff Niemann, a power right-hander and one of three Rice players taken in top 10.

Can't beat him
Pitch to Barry Bonds, you lose. A walk is no good either. Either way, his power over pitchers is beyond argument.

Cruz not bitter about business of baseball
ST. PETERSBURG - Jose Cruz has a busy week ahead.

Late pick might be the best of the lot
ST. PETERSBURG - For every Rocco Baldelli (first round), there's a Toby Hall (ninth round).

Up next: Giants
SCOUTING REPORT: The Giants like to think there is more to their team than Barry Bonds, but they haven't done much to prove it this season.


Baseball
Royals remember Tigers' power hitter
Middleton's Josh Johnson makes a lasting impression, going in the draft's third round to Kansas City.
Surprise slice of history
Oakland goes against the norm by drafting a high school player, CCC right-hander Ryan Webb.
Feliz finds niche without Bonds
DENVER - Pedro Feliz's struggles batting behind Barry Bonds earlier this series forced manager Felipe Alou to move him around in the order.
Griffey makes march to 500 a family affair
As Ken Griffey closes in on another major milestone, it's clear 500 home runs means a lot more to his family than it does to the Reds slugger.
CCC's Webb hopes to follow dad with big-league career
Clearwater Central Catholic's Ryan Webb, the 127th pick overall, was surprised Oakland took him on the first day of Monday's draft, and even more surprised by how smoothly his dad, Hank, handled everything for him.
Padres select Bush No. 1; Weaver, Drew slip
NEW YORK - The San Diego Padres' decision to make hometown high school shortstop Matt Bush the No. 1 pick in Monday's draft came down to overall talent - and more importantly, money.
Suspense ends with excitement for Beattie
The University of Tampa pitcher goes 43rd to the Tigers, a huge improvement on his draft position three years ago.

Boxing
Winners emerge from no-decision
Vitali Tsypko had a gash over his left eye pouring blood like iced tea through a pitcher, and it might have been the best thing to happen to him.

Colleges
'Canes football recruit looks to rise above legal issues
GAINESVILLE - A July 26 trial date has been set for Miami football recruit Willie Williams on a felony charge for setting off fire extinguishers at a hotel during a recruiting trip.

In brief
Garcia in lead at U.S. trials
ST. PETERS, Mo. - Caesar Garcia took the lead with his second dive from the 10-meter platform and held it after the semifinals of the U.S. Olympic diving trials Monday. Garcia, from Baton Rouge, La., finished with 647.25 points, well ahead of second-place finisher Thomas Finchum's 620.13. Finchum, at 14, is the youngest male competitor.

Motorsports
Biffle takes delayed Dover
DOVER, Del. - Greg Biffle took the lead for the first time with 21 miles to go and drove away from the field to win the rain-delayed NASCAR Busch series race Monday at Dover International Speedway.

NBA
Perhaps it will take two losses to get Lakers' attention
Lacking offense and a sense of urgency, Los Angeles players blame themselves for losing Game 1.
Payton fined for blowing off media
LOS ANGELES - After avoiding reporters following Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Gary Payton spoke to the media Monday.

NHL
Senators look to Anaheim GM as coach
Bryan Murray may leave the front office for the bench. The Senators, who fired coach Jacques Martin April 22 after being eliminated by the Maple Leafs in the first round, have offered the post to Murray, according to the Canadian television network CBC.

Outdoors
Daily fishing report
Snook fishing has really picked up along the beaches in the northern part of the county in recent weeks. The best time to catch these large spawning fish is about an hour before sunset through the night and the first couple hours after sunrise. Snook are nocturnal feeders, and they seem to shed some of their inhibitions at night.

Preps
Delay takes toll on Secord
SPC grad Sam Secord finishes third, well below his best time, in the 800 meters at the Golden South meet.