NHL Lemieux to end his retirement [AP photo] Legend jolts Penguins, NHL with plan to become player-owner. NHL briefs Sabres end Devils' run

Gary Shelton
Let Supercomputers save NFL
Once, I was in darkness. Now I see the light.

College football
Weinke wins Act I of college awards show
The Seminole is named the nation's top quarterback, beating Oklahoma's Josh Heupel. Both are Heisman finalists.

Friendly battle kicks off Outback
TAMPA -- The Outback Bowl is 25 days away, but Ohio State coach John Cooper and South Carolina coach Lou Holtz were in town Thursday in a heated struggle.

College basketball
USF wins 69-54, drops FSU to 1-6
TALLAHASSEE -- Three days after losing in overtime to Furman, Florida State was again embarrassed in Thursday's 69-54 loss to South Florida.

Martin Luther King III supports ex-USF players
Civil rights activist Martin Luther King III said Thursday he will ask attorneys for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to review the federal racial discrimination lawsuits against the University of South Florida and decide whether to become a part of the case.

Women's college basketball briefs
Shepard scores 21 in USF win

Devil Rays
Rays willing to wait
ST. PETERSBURG -- What a difference a year -- and some $25-million -- can make.

Bucs/NFL
Gramatica, Mare riding hot streaks
TAMPA -- Considering that the Bucs and the Dolphins have excellent defenses and conservative offenses, and stress the running game, two players who could factor heavily into Sunday's game are kickers Martin Gramatica and Olindo Mare.

NFL briefs
Eagles snatch Warren off waivers

Lightning
Logo gets a tweak; 3rd uniform on way
TAMPA -- The Lightning will sport a new look next season after all.

What could have been: Avalanche, Lecavalier
Colorado tried to deal for Tampa Bay's top pick in '98. The Lightning didn't budge. Three of the four Avs '98 first-rounders visit tonight.

NFL
Wannstedt is wanted
A happy union of castoff coaches and players proves so successful that the Dolphins leader settles in.

Et cetera
ESPN's Conley keeps eye on basketball, his health
After 20 years of calling college basketball games for ESPN, fatigue finally hit Larry Conley last season. But he was too busy to pay attention -- and his procrastination could have killed him.

Sports briefs
MLS shortens its schedule to attract fans

NBA briefs
Magic wins 4th straight; return of Hill delayed

Preps
Jackson, Tigers rout turnover-prone Pirates
Pirates remain winless after being outscored 40-8 in the second half.

Hawks enter semifinal in good hands with star quarterback
SEFFNER -- It's the first week of December and the Armwood football team is still crammed onto that little field between the school and the football stadium.

Bears get key district victory
Central finds some offensive touch in beating Lecanto 57-38 in a Class 4A, District 7 matchup.

Armwood's post-season journey continues tonight
SEFFNER -- It's an Indian mascot leaping from a horse and thrusting a spear into the center of the field in an attempt at intimidation.

Hurricanes fend off Eagle rally
PALM HARBOR -- A week after the Hurricanes lost a 14-point fourth-quarter lead to Tarpon Springs only to pull out a close victory, Palm Harbor U. was in familiar territory Thursday, entering the fourth quarter with an 11-point lead over East Lake.

Cougars show off their improvement
The name Randall Leath doesn't roll off the tongue of most observers when asked to name the best coaches in the county. But considering his track record, it should.

Boca Ciega smothers Seminole
The Pirates' pressure defense helps them to a 69-50 victory over the Warhawks.