[Times photo: James Borchuck]
Safety Mike Logan sacks Brad Johnson for a 9-yard loss on fourth and 5 in the third quarter.

Gary Shelton Boos all around for this staggering team TAMPA -- Go ahead. Boo. Bucs chat: Take the reins off offense Rick Stroud asked us Sunday, "Could there be a more disappointing group of Bucs players than the defensive line?" I think I have the answer. SPORTS POLL: Who or what deserves the blame for the Bucs slow start? Vote Gimme five Sound bites Game balls Bucs quotebook Steelers quotebook Bucs lose war of words, labeled 'paper champions' TAMPA -- Less than 30 minutes after the Bucs' 17-3 loss to Pittsburgh Sunday, Steelers safety Lee Flowers wouldn't have dared pour salt on their open wounds. Bettis brings big game The running back not only gains 8.4 yards a carry but has Pittsburgh's lone touchdown pass too.

Dominated in all phases almost from the outset, the Bucs fall flat as a mediocre start to the season turns woeful in a 17-10 loss to Pittsburgh. Main story • Photo gallery • Flash photo and audio gallery Dunn hurt, status in doubt Warrick Dunn, in just his second game back after missing a week with a sprained foot, sustained a right hamstring strain against Pittsburgh on Sunday and could miss more playing time. Bucs at a loss after Steelers' sack attack There's this funny thing about protection. It has to protect. 'Easy stuff' sinks defense Missed tackles, missed assignments, inability to make third-down stops plague the vaunted unit.

Baseball
D'backs' fast four-ward
In only its fourth season, Arizona defeats Atlanta to advance to the World Series, the quickest of any expansion team.

Soriano homer lifts Yankees
Rookie second baseman connects off Seattle's Kaz Sasaki in the ninth.

Wild night on mound
NEW YORK -- Who's on first?

Baseball briefs
Rothschild unsure of his next destination

Atlanta won't be forgotten
ATLANTA -- The Braves became the first franchise in any of the four major sports to win 10 consecutive division titles this season.

Lightning
Disallowed goal is fine with team
TAMPA -- The Lightning wasn't about to turn down any breaks, but the players and coaches were willing to admit they got one in a 5-2 win over the Rangers Saturday night at the Ice Palace.

NHL briefs
Two ex-Lightning wings join Devils

College football
Spurrier: There could be changes, not at QB
GAINESVILLE -- Florida coach Steve Spurrier said Sunday there might be changes in the starting lineup Saturday against Georgia but quarterback Rex Grossman will not be among those.

Blackwell shines, and team yawns
TAMPA -- This is what it has come to. He completed every pass he attempted in the second half (13) and connected on 37 of 46 in the game, and it barely drew positive recognition from his coaches and teammates.

Bowden rethinks stance on Rix as QB
TALLAHASSEE -- Since he tabbed redshirt freshman Chris Rix as the clear-cut starting quarterback in mid August, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden has dismissed any talk of competition with Adrian McPherson.

Motorsports
Earnhardt Jr. in a storm again
He'll likely keep his win in the EA Sports 500 after his car fails inspection, but controversy follows victory for him again.

Wreck and reaction are predictable
TALLADEGA, Ala. -- A number of drivers climbed from their mangled cars after Sunday's EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway and made a beeline for the NASCAR trailer.

NBA
Ice Palace problems rain on Magic game
Orlando and the L.A. Clippers pull their starters after condensation builds up on the arena's court.

Hill healthier; team ailing
TAMPA -- Grant Hill's surgically-repaired left ankle is less and less of a concern for the Magic as he concentrates on conditioning and regaining the form that made him a six-time All-Star.

Golf
Drama on 18th green goes Argentine's way
Jose Coceres beats Davis Love III by one stroke at Disney World.

Azinger's first hook is expensive
LAKE BUENA VISTA -- No matter how much money a golfer has made in his career, he doesn't take too kindly to simply throwing cash away. That, in essence, is what Paul Azinger did on the 18th hole Sunday.

Outdoors
Daily fishing report
Stone crab season just opened, giving us inshore dive sites and welcome relief from heavy seas offshore.

NFL
Giants are struggling to shorten field
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- When the Giants beat the Eagles in the playoffs last season, Ron Dixon set the tone.