Digest

Sideline

By Times Wires
Published October 26, 2006

Front and back for Gators, USF

Florida had the most basketball players picked for the preseason All-SEC first team - Joakim Noah, above, Al Horford and Corey Brewer - and placed Taurean Green on the second team. The rest of the first team, voted by coaches: Jermareo Davidson, Alabama F; Ronald Steele, Alabama G; Glen Davis, LSU F; Chris Lofton, Tennessee F; and Shan Foster, Vanderbilt G/F. Meanwhile, Big East coaches picked USF to finish last in the league 2C. Pitt was picked to win.

Bryant's kick the best of all-time?

Sports Illustrated's Paul "Dr. Z" Zimmerman makes a good point:

Matt Bryant's 62-yard field goal was not just the third-longest field goal in history, but possibly the best of them. Under today's rules Tom Dempsey's 63-yarder probably would be 62 because the ball was placed between the yard lines on that kick. Jason Elam's 63-yarder was kicked at altitude, in Denver. And if you were picking one of the most unlikely people in the league to hit one from 62, Bryant would have to be right up there.

Cup on display at the Forum tonight

With the past two Stanley Cup champions playing each other, Lord Stanley's Cup will on hand at the St. Pete Times Forum before and after tonight's Lightning-Hurricanes game. The Cup will be in the Plaza from 5:30 to 6:30 and then in the Shots Sports Bar after the game.

Marbury puts his worst foot forward

You've heard the cool and admirable story about how the Knicks' Stephon Marbury is promoting a new line of sneakers that cost $15. He's even wearing them in games to show they are every bit as good as the $150 shoes made by Nike and Reebok. Well, Marbury is currently out because of ... foot problems. Marbury, however, swears his injury came from being stepped on. "Nah, it's not because of the shoes," Marbury told the New York Post with a laugh. "People can say what they want to say. I know what's going on."

"Another team (Florida) that jumped us wasn't even playing. They were home eating cheeseburgers and they end up jumping us. That befuddles me."

Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weis, on Florida leaping over Notre Dame in the coaches' poll

A photo caption in Wednesday's paper misidentified Lightning backup goalie Johan Holmqvist.

Lightning vs. Carolina, 7:30, St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa. TV: Sun Sports

[Last modified October 26, 2006, 02:48:12]