Bucs Brooks finds himself on better footing [Times photo: Toni L. Sandys] As the Bucs' top pro linebacker recovers from injury, the defense appears to be finding itself as well. Bucs' luck with refs not good in St. Louis Didn't the guys in black and white get enough money in their contract settlement? Are they picking up extra on somebody's payroll? How could you reverse Kurt Warner's fumble and still look at yourself in the mirror. We seem to be constantly cheated by officials in St. Louis. Even the guys in the booth were astounded. Somebody better take a good look at who is paying for these bad calls. Wyche gets both sides of this one Pressed to pick, Sam Wyche laughed. Bengals or Buccaneers, Coach? Silence just adds to troubles CINCINNATI -- In a wacky season and with their team still in the middle of the playoff picture, Bucs owners are doing everything they can't to help. Kickin' back with Frank Murphy In his second year in the league, receiver/returner Frank Murphy is single and loving life. He's got a few takes on gold teeth, women and men, cooking and the presidency. Monte and Clyde Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin: Side line The first word HIGH PROFILE: ANTHONY MCFARLAND For starters

Hubert Mizell
Mickelson -- No. 1 golfer, er, gambler
This is not about Pete Rose, baseball's defamed hustler, whose gambling propensities cost him major-league presence and a plaque in the Hall of Fame.

College football
Fortune smiles on Miami again
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- For the 'Canes, everything keeps coming up roses.

Hurricanes barely earn Rose berth
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- They saw the roses wilting before their eyes, a season of perfection about to come undone in the mountains of Virginia. But apparently, roses do blossom in December. At least for Miami.

In finale, some redemption
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State sophomore defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, vilified for the past two weeks, wrote two simple words on the tape around his right and left wrists:

Nightmare end for UF senior class
GAINESVILLE -- When the demons come, they'll be playing country music. They'll dress poorly and dance wildly. Ecstasy will be their sword.

Untitled work
GAINESVILLE -- This is exactly why they play the game.

'Noles extra points
One last honor

Through struggles, Rix still endures
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State quarterback Chris Rix is tough.

Injury ends Jennings' streak
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State senior middle linebacker Bradley Jennings, nursing a slight tear of lateral cartilage in his right knee, was held out of Saturday's game against Georgia Tech.

Bragging rights belong to Army
PHILADELPHIA -- Army officers fighting the war on terrorism have reason to cheer.

Hokies receiver blames himself for drop, loss
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Ernest Wilford was inconsolable. His teammates attempted to cheer him up, but he had none of it. He dropped a pass in the end zone that would have tied the score. And he wasn't about to forget it.

In critical test, Gators defense fails in big way
GAINESVILLE -- Florida's new and improved defense wanted respect, but instead got a beating.

Gator extra points
Culpepper honored

UF Quotebook
Defensive end Alex Brown:

UT Quotebook
Defensive tackle John Henderson:

Vol runs like ex-Bulldog star
GAINESVILLE -- No, that wasn't Herschel Walker ripping through Florida's defense. It was Travis Stephens, though longtime Gator fans probably couldn't tell the difference.

FAU uses big run to beat UCF
BOCA RATON -- A 38-14 run during the final 13:38 lifted Florida Atlantic to a 78-66 come-from-behind victory over Central Florida on Saturday night.

Lightning/NHL
Few shots, no goals for Lightning
PHILADELPHIA -- Lightning defenseman Pavel Kubina posed a question before Tampa Bay's game against the Flyers.

Agent: Lecavalier concerned
PHILADELPHIA -- Has Vinny Lecavalier asked the Lightning for a trade?

NHL wants to head off labor woes
Most NHL watchers predict a work stoppage when the collective bargaining agreement between the league and its players expires after the 2003-04 season.

College basketball
Unbeaten Bulls dominate
TAMPA -- B.B. Waldon's first shot, fittingly, was a rebound and a dunk, and the only thing surprising about it was it came nine minutes into the game.

USF maintains perfect record
TAMPA -- South Florida maintained its balanced scoring attack as well as its perfect record in a 90-56 rout of Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis in the final of the Roundball Classic on Saturday at the Sun Dome.

Letters
Bowden should open up his eyes
It is unlikely Bobby Bowden specifically teaches his players to play dirty. But it would take a moron or liar not to recognize and admit his player is out of control. I saw two camera angles of the play in which Florida tailback Earnest Graham was hurt and could not conclude that FSU's Darnell Dockett did anything wrong.

Baseball
Yankees don't slow up
If Joe Torre, Yogi Berra and Mike Mussina hadn't put the full-court press on Oakland first baseman Jason Giambi by calling him last week, the most notable free agent news since the end of the World Series might have been right-hander Todd Van Poppel's signing.

Olympics
Street is on road to Olympic comeback
SALT LAKE CITY -- For Picabo Street, the 2002 Winter Olympics will not be measured in medals but by moments.

Rings & things
CATTLE CALL: Old West tradition or cruelty to animals? Salt Lake organizers are tiptoeing between both views, promising to minimize harm to animals during a rodeo.

Outdoors
Daily fishing report
A slow warming trend has prolonged the kingfish run in our area. Limits have been met almost effortlessly on a daily basis about 10 miles northwest of Clearwater. Schools of threadfin herring and Spanish sardines have settled in this 50-foot depth the past three weeks and held the kings in the vicinity.

Plenty of flies fool saltwater fish
Ask a group of saltwater fly-fishers to name their favorite flies, and you likely will spark a noisy debate.

NFL
Stewart boosting Steelers
He still goes by the name Kordell Stewart, which is odd because everyone around Pittsburgh is saying he's not the same guy.

Running
Six degrees makes difference in race
TAMPA -- At this time of year in Florida, what's the difference in a six-degree temperature swing? From 69 to 75 to 81, it's nice enough to wear shorts, walk on the beach or take in almost every outdoor activity.

Preps
Brandon could be even better
BRANDON -- Winning championships isn't a new idea at Brandon, considering the team hasn't lost a dual match in more than 28 years.