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Bucs
Bucs a bit improved
[Times photo: Toni L. Sandys]
The defense shines but the offense sputters in a 7-6 loss to the Browns.
Rookies need to make special plays
CLEVELAND -- The first day of training camp, special-teams coach Joe Marciano broke out a tape of the '96 Bucs with John Lynch and Derrick Brooks covering kicks, busting wedges and making tackles.
Gibson still forming identity
Bucs second-year safety David Gibson is an unknown commodity eager to make his mark in the game. He's in the market for an NFL career, but off the market when it comes to love (he got married in June). Check out Gibson on marriage, a wife who can golf and sensitivity. |
Gary Shelton
The offense still needs a Gramatica kick-start
CLEVELAND -- For those of you who continue to be disappointed in a Bucs offense that continues to be disjointed, we bring you the following encouraging news from the front.
Hubert Mizell
Memphis used to wooing teams
Memphis has checked out of Heartbreak Hotel. It's more than the city of just Elvis, barbecue, FedEx, blues and The Firm. Pleading for a major-league sports franchise was rolling long when The King was still rocking at Graceland.
Darrell Fry
McNown might find new town
Talk is swirling around Chicago that quarterback Cade McNown is falling further out of the Bears' plans. The Bears reportedly have been shopping the 24-year-old around the league, but so far there have been no takers.
Devil Rays
Twins sweat out skid-snapping win
Rays rally for three in ninth before falling 6-4, their first loss in six games to Minnesota.
Flaherty adapts to spot starting
MINNEAPOLIS -- The trick to hitting well as a backup, Rays catcher John Flaherty has learned the past month, is constant adjustment.
Rays tales
THE IRONMAN COMETH: Tropicana Field is the next stop on Cal Ripken's farewell tour, and for some of the Rays there will be some special goodbyes.
Call-ups reflect focus on upside, not stats
The past few times the Rays needed pitching, they bypassed minor-leaguers with more impressive stats, such as Mickey Callaway, Travis Harper and Brian Rose, and went for the ones with stuff, such as Jesus Colome, Victor Zambrano, Jason Standridge and Bobby Seay.
Letters
Yan should come with warning label
SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Esteban Yan may cause hypertension, sudden nausea, indigestion, respiratory complications, fever, disorientation, rage and acute cases of Tourette's syndrome.
PGA Championship
Mickelson gets support in major hunt
DULUTH, Ga. -- Paul Azinger knows about chasing that elusive first major championship. He endured plenty of questions before winning the 1993 PGA Championship.
Tough final holes cost Azinger, Huston
Bradenton's Azinger finishes bogey-bogey, and Clearwater's Huston makes seven on 17.
Hole of the Day
No. 15, Par-3, 207 yards.
College football
Ward, Weinke and now there is Rix
Redshirt freshman has the legs of one FSU Heisman winner and the work ethic and poise of another.
College football around the state
FSU's Boldin injures a knee
Reelin' in the years
Florida State played last season with 28-year-old Chris Weinke as its starting quarterback. It enters this season with 20-year-old Chris Rix designated No. 1. Here's a timeline of some things Weinke lived through before Rix was even born.
Little League
Apopka beaten in perfect game
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- A shy 12-year-old as soft-spoken in his native Spanish as he is in English came close to strikeout perfection on Saturday.
Palm Harbor storms to championship 7-4
Neither stall tactics by the opponent nor late balky weather can knock off team's run to title.
Baseball
Baseball this week on TV
When 'good' isn't enough
When Jimy Williams was fired unexpectedly by the Red Sox last week, it continued the club's tradition of axing managers with winning percentages over .500. Of the past six managers fired, only Butch Hobson had a losing record. The Red Sox were 207-232 under Hobson from 1992-94. Here's a look at the five by the years they were fired:
League puzzles over Bosox firing
Jimy Williams had to know he was going to get gone sometime.
Outdoors
Daily fishing report
The combination of strong tides, excessive bait and warm water slowed bottom fishing, especially for grouper, almost to a stop last week. We were forced to target cooperative species such as mackerel, mangrove snapper and barracuda.
IMAX pits predator vs. prey
Take a walk along the beach at dawn, look across the water and you will see bait roiling at the surface.
Outdoors calendar
TODAY: 10th annual Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin Shootout, Gators on the Pass, Treasure Island, 363-0071.
Et cetera
Week in sports
Highs and lows
South Florida is not up to I-A standards
The University of South Florida football team is busy practicing twice a day in preparation for its Division I-A debut Aug. 30. But you'd never know that from the school's official site.
