Rays know their way sans Jose [Times photo: Michael Rondou] Albie Lopez shuts out the Twins as youngsters Jose Guillen and Steve Cox land key hits.

Darrell Fry
Promising arm nearly wasn't
TAMPA -- They are lined up along the hall at Sickles High, linebackers and tailbacks, tight ends and safeties. It's Monday, the first official day of practice for many area high school football teams, and there is paperwork to process, equipment to fit and rosters to formulate.

Devil Rays/baseball
Pitching staff gets boost with Eiland
ST. PETERSBURG -- Dave Eiland comes off the disabled list, into the Devil Rays pitching rotation and onto the mound tonight for his first start since a hip injury sidelined him May 24.

Strawberry surgery: cancer not spreading
NEW YORK -- Yankees outfielder Darryl Strawberry remained in stable condition at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center on Tuesday after surgery to remove a tumor.

Chipper agrees to $90-million
The slugger will be tied with Kevin Brown as baseball's richest player.

Durham in playoff race again
For the third straight season, Triple-A Durham is in a playoff race with a little less than a month remaining. The Bulls are 5 1/2 games ahead of Charlotte through Monday in the International League's South Division.

Bucs/NFL
Bucs tight ends answer call for more offense
But coaches face tough decisions as competition heats up.

Dungy likes Dolphins' different style
TAMPA -- They have scrimmaged against the Dolphins in each of the past two seasons, and they will meet again in Thursday night's preseason game at Pro Player Stadium.

Trade talk nearly ruins Dunn's day
TAMPA -- It's a waste of good cyberspace, but Bucs and NFL chat rooms have been busy contemplating a false trade rumor -- Tampa Bay running back Warrick Dunn and receiver Reidel Anthony for Cincinnati Bengals holdout running back Corey Dillon.

Favre doesn't worry coach
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Coach Mike Sherman and offensive coordinator Tom Rossley say quarterback Brett Favre has had an excellent training camp and dismiss his mediocre statistics from the preseason opener as misleading.

Around the NFC

Around the AFC

Swimming
Well-Suited
As world records fall, the must-have attire of many Olympic swimming hopefuls is setting off waves of controversy.

Mutiny
Hankinson wants explanation on poor officiating
Mutiny coach Tim Hankinson has had enough and he's not going to take it anymore.

Arena football
Super game planned for Arena all-stars
Super Bowl Saturday?

College football
College practice reports
Janikowski's legacy adds pressure

NBA
Amaechi stays with the Magic
ORLANDO -- John Amaechi, who spurned a more lucrative long-term deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, signed a one-year, $600,000 contract Tuesday to remain with the Magic.

WNBA
New York clinches another Eastern title
NEW YORK -- The Liberty, led by Tari Phillips' 14 points, clinched its second straight Eastern Conference title with a 57-44 victory over the Cleveland Rockers Tuesday night.

Outdoors
Captain's corner
A cool alternative to fishing on hot summer days would be a night trip. Summertime offers an assortment of game fish to target. Sharks come to mind first.

TV/Radio
Visser returns to CBS
NEW YORK -- Lesley Visser, bounced as sideline reporter for ABC's Monday Night Football, is back where she began her television career.

Et cetera
Black's arraignment set for today, maybe
Sports agent Tank Black faces arraignment in federal court today on charges he was part of a multimillion dollar drug ring.

Softball players settle appeals
Three players left off the U.S. Olympic softball team have agreed to settle their appeals, allowing the team to compete with its original roster.

Preps
Local team proves itself at tourney
When you think of basketball hotbeds, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Washington, D.C., come to mind.

Scholarship program announced
TAMPA -- Junior golf in Tampa took a significant step forward Tuesday as the YMCA Urban Junior Golf program announced plans for several community-based scholarships at a luncheon to celebrate the program's 10th year.

Local trio has dreams of qualifying for Sydney
The distance from Indianapolis to Sydney, Australia, is about 10,000 miles, or 20 hours via airplane.