Darrell Fry
Sampras sees career starting to slip away
Usually this is how it starts. With a slip here or a stumble there. If they are smart, and not all of them are, they get out before the bottom completely falls out.
NFL
In N.Y., the House That Fassel Built
Taking a cue from Joe Torre's Yankees, Giants coach teaches unity.
For Boulware, it’s agony of victory
After playing with a shoulder injury in 1999, Ravens linebacker feels he can do anything.
CB Allen nearly a Buc
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Oakland's Eric Allen has been, and continues to be, one of the best overall cornerbacks in the league.
Bucs’ Edwards is in demand
Defensive backs coach will interview for head-coaching vacancies with Lions, Jets, Houston.
NFL briefs
Chiefs put Vermeil among best-paid coaches
NFC playoffs notebook
Toomer's ankle improves, WR says he will start
Devil Rays
Meet the real Sidd Finch
Rays uncover a possible Louisiana gem: an 18-year-old grade-school dropout who throws hard, hits with power.
College basketball
Asbury playing through it all
TAMPA -- Eighty-four days ago, Chonsey Asbury had arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. He was uncertain how it would affect his senior season.
Hands-on approach is taboo
The rules preventing college basketball from deteriorating into a game of clutch-and-grab with more roughhousing than a WWF match have long been on the books. They just weren't being enforced.
Parity is present in ACC
For the past several years, coaches in the so-called "lower tier" of the ACC have been saying it was only a matter of time before they would have the talent to compete with the upper-echelon teams like North Carolina, Duke and N.C. State.
College basketball briefs
Haskins denies any misconduct
Motorsports
Gripes arise from money splits
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR president Mike Helton unveiled the sport's plan to distribute revenue from its six-year, $2.47-billion television rights agreement during the circuit's Media Tour this week.
Et cetera
Sports briefs
Astros' Hidalgo gets raise
College football
FSU trio plans to return
Florida State safety Chris Hope, middle linebacker Bradley Jennings and receiver Atrews Bell announced Friday that they will follow a developing school tradition and eschew early entry into the NFL draft.
Divergent stories collide at Classic
But players bring the same goal: make an impression on scouts.
Outdoors
Captain’s Corner
If forecasters are accurate and temperatures continue to rise, we could enjoy increased activity.
Preps
Hurricanes hold off Panthers
LECANTO -- They came to Lecanto girls coach Kevin Towne offering congratulations and sympathies. Congratulations for what might have been the Panthers' best effort ever against rival Citrus and sympathies for a difficult 4-3 loss.
Hudson earns 2A-8 top seed
SPRING HILL -- Springstead thought it was about the calls that weren't made, but it wasn't so much that. It was about the shots, assignments and, ultimately, opportunities the Eagles missed. In a physical and verbal battle with the feel of an FA Cup final, Hudson clinched the top seed in the Class 2A, District 8 tournament with a 3-1 win Friday.
Free throws almost cost Bears
BROOKSVILLE -- Three nights ago, Central missed 14 free throws in a one-point overtime loss at Pasco. Friday against Hernando, each whistle in the closing minutes served as a reminder. With a victory over a rival on the line, the Bears hit just enough free throws to eke out a 60-57 win, splitting the season series and handing the Leopards only their second district loss.
Around Pinellas
FOOTBALL: Derrick Jelks, a 1999 St. Petersburg Catholic graduate, has signed to play with South Dakota, a Division II school in Vermillion, S.D. Jelks (5 feet 10, 175 pounds), a defensive back who played the past two seasons for Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College, led the Arizona Community Colleges Athletic Conference with six interceptions and was named first-team all-conference.
Rivalry grows after two ties
If it weren't a rivalry already, St. Petersburg-Clearwater is after Wednesday's 2-2 tie at Clearwater. The Class 3A, District 11 teams battled for 80 minutes and then battled after the game as well.
Bulls dominate Indians
GIBSONTON -- Bloomingdale made quick work of East Bay on Friday.
Spartans edge Tornadoes in OT
ST. PETERSBURG -- During free-throw shoot-arounds at practice, Lakewood senior Ashley Sumbry always shoots last. She figured such pressure might come in handy one night.
Two late goals lift PHU to win
The Hurricanes rally for a 2-1 victory over Durant with two goals in the final 15 minutes of play.
