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Tampa Bay Lightning loses Game 4 even before overtime goal

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By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

TAMPA

When the end finally came, when the Lightning had been defeated, when the Penguins had seized an NHL series by the neck, there was a moment that seemed to be owned by the numbness of it all.

The Lightning had lost. Finally and, perhaps, fatally.

It had lost after scuffling from yet another two-goal deficit, after getting off the canvas to give itself another chance.

It had lost when goaltender Dwayne Roloson, brilliant for most of the night, failed to stop a fairly ordinary-looking shot by James Neal that went past his glove and into the net.

After all of the shifts, after all of the sweat, after all of the coming back, it lost in one swift, stunning split second, and all that was left was to skate away from the pain. Vinny Lecavalier doubled over at the waist. Simon Gagne skated past the celebrating Penguins without looking their way.

For the Lightning, it was that dagger-thrust of a final shot that will leave its scars. It was that shot that will be debated and discussed, that play that will be repeated on highlight shows for weeks to come.

That play, however, was only the final blow.

For the Lightning, the real cause of death came earlier when, for some mystifying reason, it was not efficient enough — or perhaps desperate enough — to claim a game as big as this as its own. It lost when it fell behind 2-0 on its home ice. It lost because a two-goal deficit gives a team almost no margin for error.

Today, that should be the question asked of the Lightning. How could it be outplayed so badly early in a game this big? Put it this way: This time, no one is going to ask if the team was over-amped at the start. Into the second period, the Lightning was outshot 2-1 and outhit 2-1. It was hardly the look of a team with its back against the ropes.

"We've got to have a better start at home in the playoffs," said defenseman Pavel Kubina. "It happened last game and (Wednesday). I know emotions are flying up and down, but we have to be better in the first. I don't know why we freeze a little bit in the first and the first 10 minutes of the second.

"If we played all night the way we did in the second half of the game, it would be a different result. But we didn't."

And now, it is in trouble. The pulse-is-getting-weak trouble. The heartbeat-is-growing-faint trouble. The lights-are-growing-dim trouble.

You cannot overstate how huge this defeat was for the Lighting. After this, there are going to be lines in the confetti stores in Pittsburgh. After this, the Penguins are going to smell blood.

Of course, going down 3-1 to anyone in the playoffs is always a ticket to trouble. After all, only 8.7 percent of the teams have ever dug themselves out of such a hole. But going down 3-1 to Pittsburgh, a veteran team with an acrobat for a goaltender and guard dogs for defensemen, seemed like a particularly bad plan.

Win in Pittsburgh? Possible. Win again in Tampa Bay? Also possible. Win a second straight in Pittsburgh. Still possible.

Win all three in a row?

Not likely.

This one is going to sting for a while. For one thing, the Lightning spent so much time working its way out of yet another two-goal deficit. Even after its uninspired beginning, the Lightning came from behind.

In the end, if this is the end, that may be the lasting memory of Guy Boucher's first team. It fights to the end. Time after time, you think you have measured the sum of it, and time after time, it proves to be more than you thought. If it has a puncher's chance in this series, it is because of this.

It has some disadvantages, okay? The Penguins are a rebuilt team without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but they are rebuilt for playoff success.

Remember, the Lightning has nine players — 10 counting callup Mattias Ritola — who had never played in an NHL playoff game. By contrast, the Penguins dressed a dozen players Wednesday who have 40 games each — a half-season's worth. That has to play some part of what we are seeing in the way the Lightning has failed to defend its home ice.

Perhaps, too, it has something to do with the lingering struggles of Steven Stamkos, who found himself in front of the Penguins net with five minutes to play. The puck was on his stick — a pass from Marty St. Louis — and the net looked as large as the entrance to a freeway tunnel.

And Stamkos missed … well, he missed everything. He may have missed gravity.

I know, I know. Stamkos is still 21, and no, you shouldn't expect him to carry a team at this time of year. If he is a star, however, then shouldn't he show up somewhere along the way? At times such as these, aren't a team's best players supposed to be its best players?

That's the thing here. You get the feeling you are watching an older, wiser team take advantage of the places where the Lightning is not ready. The Penguins have won three games, two by a single heartbeat.

Is the Lightning resilient enough to win three straight and join the 8.7 percent? As plucky as this team is, can it beat the odds?

Not unless it grows up in a hurry.


Tampa Bay Lightning lost Game 4 even before overtime goal

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By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

TAMPA —When the end finally came, when the Lightning had been defeated, when the Pittsburgh Penguins had seized an NHL series by the neck, there was a moment that seemed to be owned by the numbness of it all.

It had lost. Finally and, perhaps, fatally.

It had lost after scuffling from yet another two-goal deficit, after getting off the canvas to give itself another chance.

It had lost when goaltender Dwayne Roloson, so brilliant for most of the night, failed to stop a fairly harmless looking shot by James Neal that went past his right foot and into the net.

After all of the shifts, after all of the sweat, after all of the coming back, it lost in one swift, stunning split second.

For the Lightning, it was that dagger-thrust of a final shot that will leave its scars. It was that shot that will be debated and discussed, that play that will be repeated on highlight shows for weeks to come.

That play, however, was only the final blow.

For the Lightning, the real cause of death came earlier when, for some mystifying reason, the team was not hungry enough, desperate enough or energized enough to claim a game that it needed to claim as its own.

Today, that should be the question asked of the Lightning. How could it come out so bland? So pedestrian?

For the first period and a half of this game, it might as well have been playing the Panthers in Game 78 at the end of a six-game road swing. Put it this way: This time, no one is going to ask if the team was over-amped at the start.

For a very long time, it was outshot 2-1 and it was outhit 2-1. It was hardly the look of a team with its back against the ropes.

And now, it is in trouble. The pulse-is-getting-weak trouble. The heartbeat-is-growing-faint trouble. The lights-are-growing-dim trouble.

You cannot overstate how huge this defeat was for the Lighting. After this, there are going to be lines in the confetti stores in Pittsburgh.

Of course, going down 3-1 to anyone in an NHL playoff series is always a ticket to trouble. After all, only 8.7 percent of the teams have ever dug themselves out of such a hole. But going down 3-1 to Pittsburgh, a veteran team with an acrobat for a goaltender and guard dogs for defensemen, seemed like a particularly bad plan.

Win in Pittsburgh? Possible.

Win again in Tampa Bay? Also possible?

Win a second straight in Pittsburgh. Still possible.

Win all three in a row?

Unlikely.

This one is going to sting for a while.

For one thing, the Lightning spent so much time working its way out of yet another two-goal deficit. Even after its lead-footed beginning, the Lightning came from behind.

In the end, if this is the end, that may be the lasting memory of Guy Boucher's first team. Give it this: It fights to the end. Time after time, you think you have measured the sum of it, and time after time, it proves to be more than you thought. It may yet lose this playoff series to the Penguins, but for the life of it, it will not go easily.

It has some disadvantages, okay?

The Penguins are a rebuilt team without Sidney Crosby of Evgeni Malkin, but they are rebuilt for playoff success with a roster chocked with veterans.

Remember, the Lightning had nine players — 10, counting call-up Mattias Ritola — who had never played in an NHL playoff game. The Penguins dressed out a dozen players on Wednesday who have 40 games each — a half-season's worth. That has to play some part of what we are seeing in the way the Lightning has failed to defend its home ice.

Perhaps, too, it has something to do with the lingering struggles of Steven Stamkos, who found himself in front of the Penguins net with five minutes to play. The puck was on his stick — a pass from Marty St. Louis — and the net looked like a freeway tunnel.

And Stamkos missed … well, he missed everything. He may have missed gravity.

I know, I know.

Stamkos is still a kid, and no, you shouldn't expect him to carry a team this time of year. If he is a star, however, then shouldn't he show up somewhere along the way?

That's the thing here. You get the feeling you are watching an older, wiser team take advantage of the places where the Lightning is not ready. They have won three games, two of them by a single heartbeat.

Is the Lightning resilient enough to win three straight games and join the 8.7 percent?

Not unless it grows up in a hurry.

Indians 7, Royals 5

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Times wires
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Indians 7, Royals 5

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Justin Masterson improved to 4-0, and the Indians rallied after being stymied for five innings by Luke Hochevar. The Royals starter retired the first 15 while allowing only three hard-hit balls to give him 31 straight outs over two starts. He lost everything, including his composure, in a messy sixth that saw Cleveland send nine men to the plate. Masterson settled down after a two-run first.

Dodgers 6, Braves 1

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Times wires
Thursday, April 21, 2011

Dodgers 6, Braves 1

LOS ANGELES — Jon Garland pitched a four-hitter and the Dodgers won on rookie manager Don Mattingly's 50th birthday. It was Garland's 11th career complete game and first since Aug. 2, 2009, when he and Arizona beat the Mets. Juan Uribe broke out of a slump with four RBIs in the first two innings, and Andre Ethier had three hits, including his 100th career home run, extended his hitting streak to a major league-best 17 games. Braves third baseman Chipper Jones has no RBIs in his past four games.

Tampa Bay Lightning's Marty St. Louis a finalist for Lady Byng award

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 21, 2011

Tampa Bay Lightning wing Marty St. Louis is a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy given for sportsmanship. St. Louis won the award last season.

Here is the announcement from the league:

Dallas Stars left wing Loui Eriksson, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom and Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Martin St. Louis are the three finalists for the 2010-11 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, which is awarded "to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability," the National Hockey League announced today.

The members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submitted ballots for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 22, during the 2011 NHL Awards from the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel Las Vegas. The 2011 NHL Awards will be broadcast by VERSUS in the United States and CBC in Canada.

Following are the finalists for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, in alphabetical order:

Loui Eriksson, Dallas Stars

Eriksson is a trophy finalist for the first time in his five-year NHL career. The 25-year-old Gothenburg, Sweden native played a strong two-way game for the Stars, leading the club in power-play goals (10) and game-winning goals (six) and placing second in scoring with a career-high 73 points (27 goals, 46 assists) and in plus-minus with a +10 rating. He posted a nine-game assist streak from Dec. 28 to Jan. 15, tied for the longest in the League this season. Eriksson received just eight minutes in penalties, the fewest among the League's top 50 scorers and by any player appearing in at least 76 games.

Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings

Lidstrom is a Lady Byng finalist for the first time in eight years and for the sixth time in his NHL career. He has never won the trophy, finishing second or third in the voting for five consecutive years from 1999 through 2003. Lidstrom enjoyed one of his most productive seasons, ranking second among NHL defensemen in scoring with 62 points (16 goals, 46 assists) in 82 games, highlighted by a career-best 11-game point streak. The Red Wings captain, who turns 41 on Apr. 28, assumed his usual heavy workload yet rarely saw the penalty box, receiving just 20 penalty minutes in a team-leading 1,924:25 of ice time.

Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning

St. Louis joins Lidstrom as a six-time Lady Byng Trophy finalist, all in the past seven seasons; he captured the award for the first time in 2009-10 after finishing second from 2007 through 2009 and third in 2004. The 35-year-old wing surged late in the season, tallying points in each of his last nine games and in 15 of his final 17 to finish second in League scoring with 99 points (31 goals, 68 assists). He tied a franchise record for assists in a season and posted the second-highest point total in his 12-year NHL career. St. Louis was assessed just 12 minutes in penalties, matching his career low set last year.

History

Lady Byng, wife of Canada's Governor-General at the time, presented the Lady Byng Trophy during the 1924-25 season. After Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers won the award seven times in eight seasons, he was given the trophy to keep and Lady Byng donated another trophy in 1936. After Lady Byng's death in 1949, the National Hockey League presented a new trophy, changing the name to the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.

Snakes alive, put down that shovel

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By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors Editor
Thursday, April 21, 2011

. fast facts

Snakes are cool for kids

George L. Heinrich teaches a popular herpetology camp for children, ages 7 to 11, at several local nature preserves:

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, St. Petersburg, June 20-24 and Aug. 15-19

Weedon Island Preserve, St. Petersburg, June 27-July 1

Brooker Creek Preserve, Tarpon Springs, July 18-22

For information, go to www.heinrichecologicalservices.com.

WEEDON ISLAND — Shhhh. Want to know a secret? Snakes are cool.

Kids already know this, but unfortunately for these misunderstood reptiles, many grown-ups wind up being afraid of some of the neatest critters you will find slithering along the local nature trails.

"Your average toddler has no fear of snakes," said George L. Heinrich, a St. Petersburg-based biologist and environmental educator who has helped hundreds of schoolchildren develop a healthy love and respect for these fascinating creatures. "It is too bad that so many adults end up having an aversion to these reptiles."

Heinrich and colleague Timothy J. Walsh just released a waterproof field guide titled Snakes of Central Florida. The pocket-sized brochure describes more than 40 species found in our region, including venomous varieties that often get so much negative attention.

Now that the warm weather is here, snakes are on the move. Your chances of encountering a snake in your yard or on a river or trail are better than ever. So learn to identify snakes, then stand back and enjoy them from a distance.

"More than half of all venomous snakebites in the U.S. occur when somebody is trying to capture or kill a snake," Heinrich said. "We could reduce the number of snakebites by 50 percent if people just left them alone."

Florida has 44 native species of snakes but only six of these are venomous — four are found in Central Florida.

In our area, the Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake is the largest and most dangerous to humans. Rattlers live in just about every habitat in Florida, but unless you're a hunter or a hiker bushwhacking through the scrub, the chances of a negative encounter are slim.

The Tampa Bay area has another smaller rattlesnake, the pygmy, sometimes called a ground rattler, which also packs a powerful wallop.

Rounding out the Big Four are the cottonmouth, or water moccasin, which looks a lot like many harmless water snakes, and the country's most venomous reptile — the Eastern coral snake — which has a neurotoxic venom similar to that of a cobra.

Because of its bright yellow, red and black bands, the coral snake is often confused with the scarlet king, a snake with similar markings.

But forget the rhyme, "Red touch yellow, kill a fellow; red touch black, good for Jack." Just look at the face: The coral snake's is black; the king snake's is red.

Every Floridian should know how to identify the state's venomous snakes (and in case you are counting, the other two are the canebrake rattlesnake and the copperhead), but more important they should also develop an appreciation for those harmless reptiles most often encountered by outdoor enthusiasts.

"There are so many different kinds of snakes," Heinrich said. "Snake observation, like bird watching, can be great fun. The more people learn about them the more likely they are to help protect them."

Snake populations are declining. In Florida, snakes have enemies that have been recently introduced, including fire ants and feral cats. Development and habitat destruction are threats.

Then there are what Heinrich calls "the shovel people."

"Unfortunately, many people have an irrational fear of snakes, so any time they see one the first thing they do is grab a shovel to try and kill it," he said. "But snakes are not evil creatures. We need them. They play an important role in our environment."

If you are interested in learning more, Snakes of Central Florida is available at many nature parks, including Boyd Hill Preserve, as well as bookstores.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers long snapper Andrew Economos tears Achilles tendon

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By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 21, 2011

Tampa Bay Buccaneers long snapper Andrew Economos tore his Achilles tendon, general manager Mark Dominik said Thursday.

Recent DUI arrests "disappoint" Tampa Bay Buccaneers' GM Mark Dominik

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By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 21, 2011

TAMPA — The recent string of DUI arrests within the organization is "disappointing," Bucs GM Mark Dominik said Thursday, and he pledged further education along with continued consequences for players and staff involved in alcohol-related incidents.

On Wednesday, Jay Kaiser, 37, the assistant to head coach Raheem Morris, became the third member of the coaching staff or front office to be arrested on DUI charges in the past eight months.

Kaiser, who refused field-sobriety and blood-alcohol testing, was released from jail after posting $500 bail. Pro scouting coordinator Shelton Quarles, 39, was arrested in March, and former defensive line assistant coach Chris Mosley, 32, was arrested in September.

"I'm thankful no one has been hurt because that's the scariest thing about that arrest or driving under the influence is what the ramifications could be outside of just that one person," Dominik said. "I'm going to make that very real to everybody within our organization. Hopefully, that continues to help, but it's not been through a lack of effort internally.

"All I can say to our fans … is we're trying to do everything we can to build up this football team to be the team that this town and this community is proud of."

Dominik would not disclose what sanctions the club has imposed, but he suggested the discipline policy is under review.

"They all pay consequences, and everyone has been dealt with how I feel is … fit whenever an action like this occurs," he said. "The other thing I can say is we're going to find ways, just like I challenge my scouts in terms of finding players, we'll continue to find ways to reach everyone in the organization."

INJURED SNAPPER: Long snapper Andrew Economos has torn his Achilles' tendon, Dominik said.

Dominik was unsure how the injury occurred, but it could prevent Economos, 28, from playing in his sixth season in the league. He has not missed a game the past four seasons.

Teams are prohibited from having contact with players during the lockout. But team doctors and trainers are able to monitor the progress of injured players through a third party.


Tampa Bay Lightning needs to improve key areas to extend playoff series against Pittsburgh Penguins

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 21, 2011

Patience, not panic, and selective memory.

That is what Lightning players and coaches preached after Wednesday's 3-2 double-overtime loss to the Penguins that put Tampa Bay down three games to one in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series and one loss from elimination.

Patience, left wing Simon Gagne said, because winning three straight, including two in Pittsburgh, starts with winning the first period of Game 5 on Saturday at the Consol Energy Center.

Selective memory, goaltender Dwayne Roloson said, because, well, the past is past. "Amnesia, bud," he said when asked about overcoming Wednesday's emotional loss.

Gagne and Roloson know the drill. Gagne was with the Flyers last season when they overcame a 3-0 series deficit to beat the Bruins in the East semifinals. Roloson was with the Wild in 2002-03 when it beat the Avalanche in the West quarterfinals and the Canucks in the semis after being down 3-1 in both series.

"We've got the character in this room to do it," Roloson said. "We've just got to play our game plan for 60 minutes or whatever amount of minutes it's going to take to win a hockey game."

Where does the Lightning need to improve? A primer:

Shoot the puck

Tampa Bay has been outshot in each game and 159-111 overall. Including the regular season, it has been outshot in 11 of its past 13 games. Forget the perfect play. Pittsburgh's James Neal in Game 4 simply threw a puck on net and scored the winning goal.

Win faceoffs

The Penguins have won the faceoff battle in each game, taking 52.2 percent. Tampa Bay has been even worse on special-teams faceoffs, winning just 14-of-36 (38.9 percent) while short-handed and 9-of-19 (47.4 percent) on the power play. Winning faceoffs means puck possession and, on the penalty kill, time off the clock.

Timely goaltending

Dwayne Roloson has been brilliant at times, and his .943 save percentage entered Thursday third in the league among goalies with more than one playoff game. But he has allowed at least four softies, two in the 3-2 Game 4 loss, including the winner. Roloson's 50 saves in Game 4 were nothing at which to scoff. Still, a goalie has to make the save he should.

Get a lead

In each game in the series, the team that scored first went on to win, and consider Tampa Bay has led only 60 of the 264 minutes. As Simon Gagne said after Game 4, in which the Lightning overcame a two-goal, second-period deficit, "That took a lot of energy for us to get to the second overtime, especially when you have to battle back to tie the game."

Diversified scoring

Marty St. Louis entered Thursday tied for second in the league with four playoff goals. No other Lightning player has more than one, and Steve Stamkos has zero, not to mention just five shots. No playoff team has fewer players with a goal than Tampa Bay's six.

Can the Lightning win the series?

"If you knew me, you wouldn't ask me that," coach Guy Boucher. "It's possible. I've seen it before. I've done it before."

"We know we can win against that team if we play the way we can play," Simon Gagne said. "It's not going to be easy. You just need that first one, 20 minutes by 20 minutes."

And considering Tampa Bay's convincing 5-1 road victory in Game 2, "there is not one person in our room who thinks this is over or is going to be easy," Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. "We understand how dangerous that team is over there."

Still, of the 240 NHL teams that previously fell behind 3-1 in a seven-game series, only 23 (9.6 percent) came back to win.

"It's going to take everything we've got," defenseman Pavel Kubina said. "We've got to bring the series back (to Tampa for Game 6). Then, you never know what is going to happen."

Captains corner: Shipping channel holds battle-ready grouper

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By Doug Hemmer, Times Correspondent
Thursday, April 21, 2011

What's hot: Gag grouper fishing is now open in state waters. Some of the best action is inside Tampa Bay. Most of the grouper can be found on the drop-off of the shipping channel. Target areas 25 to 31 feet deep. These areas are at the top of the channel. Using a bottom recorder, look for areas that have a hard rock reading. You can also locate good bottom spots by trolling the top area of the channel. Most trolling rigs consist of large plugs behind a No. 3 planer or a large jig run off a downrigger. Zig-zag over the top of the channel to locate productive grouper spots. When you catch a grouper while trolling, mark the spot and return to that area and bottom fish. The best bottom baits are live pinfish and threadfins. If you tail-hook the baits, they won't tangle in the current. Tighten the drag. A drag that's not tight will give the grouper a shot at cutting you off on the rocks.

Tackle: Rods should be rigged with 50-pound line and a 60-pound leader. Use a 5 to 7/0 hook and enough weight to keep the bait over the rocks. With the drags set tight, be ready to muscle the fish as soon as it strikes. Fishing for grouper in water this shallow doesn't allow time to pause.

Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 347-1389.

With or without Aqib Talib, Tampa Bay Buccaneers might look at cornerbacks in NFL draft

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 21, 2011

TAMPA — Aqib Talib sits at home, his football career more or less on hold.

Meanwhile, for the Bucs, the show must go on. And the curtain rises with next week's draft.

With, arguably, their best defensive player facing a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon, there is an obvious question hanging over One Buc Place:

Does cornerback become a need because Talib might not be available for the foreseeable future?

The answer, general manager Mark Dominik said, doesn't matter. It appears that under any scenario, drafting a cornerback (or two) is on the Bucs' to-do list. The only issue, it seems, is when they select one.

"(Talib's arrest) doesn't really affect me other than it just reinforces my opinion that you can never have enough cornerbacks in the National Football League," Dominik said Thursday. "We have, right now, eight selections, and who knows where we're going to use them and at what positions?

"But that's a position that I'm always going to put high on my priority list."

Still, whether Dominik concedes it or not, the need to address the position has been exacerbated because of Talib's situation. The Bucs could opt to cut the often-troubled but immensely talented cornerback when the lockout ends (transactions are not permitted during it), or commissioner Roger Goodell could suspend the 25-year-old fourth-year player under the league's personal-conduct policy.

Either way, the odds are good Talib's career will be interrupted for multiple games after his involvement in a shooting in Garland, Texas. The arrest comes on the heels of Talib's suspension in 2010 for a battery arrest.

Dominik would not speculate about the case or state if he believes Talib would be available this season.

But Dominik left the impression that if there's a cornerback deemed to be a difference-maker on the board early in this draft, the Bucs would not hesitate to pick him — Talib or no Talib.

"You have to take the draft as it comes to you and take the player that you think can best fit your football team," he said. "That won't change regardless of a specific event or a specific person."

It's hard to disagree with Dominik's cornerback theory. With increasingly high-powered offenses and potent passing attacks dominating the NFL, defending the pass is as critical as ever.

As he observes the league as an analyst for Monday Night Football, this fact has been reinforced to former Bucs coach Jon Gruden.

"You have to have a number of defensive backs that can match up and cover these people," Gruden said. "You don't ever have enough of them. You get a guy that gets hurt, you get a guy that has an equipment problem or whatever, and you have to have three or four corners available every Sunday."

At least.

That's particularly true when you're a team such as the Bucs, who employ the nickel (five defensive backs) and dime (six) packages upward of 50 percent of a game's defensive snaps.

So what might the Bucs do to address cornerback in this draft? There's near consensus that LSU's Patrick Peterson and Nebraska's Prince Amukamara will be gone long before the Bucs select at No. 20 overall. According to ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper, the wise move would be to hold off because the remaining talent isn't worthy of a first-round pick.

"There's a lot of good corners," he said. "They can find one pretty much from the second round on."

Free agency, which won't take place until after the lockout ends, is an option for the Bucs, too.

As for cornerbacks already on the roster, the team's top returners are 36-year-old Ronde Barber and 23-year-olds E.J. Biggers (who has played 16 games over two seasons) and Myron Lewis (who played 10 games as a rookie last season). After that, things get thin with little-used fourth-year player Elbert Mack and a handful of undrafted prospects.

"I thought Biggers did play very well for us," Dominik said. "He held his own against some of the best.

"Myron Lewis got a lot of experience last year.

But using Dominik's philosophy that you can never have too many cornerbacks, it certainly seems Barber, Biggers and Lewis aren't enough. And with Talib's outcome likely to remain unknown for some time, don't be surprised if the Bucs begin reloading during next week's draft.

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@sptimes.com.

Outdoors news and notes

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By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 21, 2011

Making news

Kingfish run means string of Tournaments

The much-anticipated Spring King of the Beach kingfish tournament out of Madeira Beach is April 30, A good way to warm up for this event and scout the area is to fish in the Billy's Stonecrab tournament Saturday out of Tierra Verde. The cost is $50 per boat and the captains meeting is tonight at the restaurant. Fishing begins at dawn Saturday, and the weigh-in is from 3-4 p.m. Kingfish generally start migrating through our waters in late April, and with perfect weather conditions they should be here in great numbers. For information, call (727) 458-6731.

License-free fishing in June

For two weekends in June, a saltwater fishing license will not be required statewide, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced. The license-free weekend of June 4-5 follows the opening of red snapper season in the gulf, and the June 18-19 freebie is Father's Day weekend. Also, the FWC announced that it will expand bay scallop season to open a week early, on June 25, and extend the season by two weeks to end Sept. 25. In addition, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Florida State Parks will offer half-off admission on both Mother's Day (May 8), and Father's Day (June 19). There are 160 parks throughout the state and 74 unique saltwater fishing facilities, including piers, boardwalks and jetties.

Things to do

12 hours of music is for the birds

Birdstock II will feature 12 hours of continuous music Saturday on Corey Avenue in St. Pete Beach. There will be six indoor and two outdoor stages set up along the street, and all proceeds from the concert go to the nonprofit Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges. Last year, Birdstock raised more than $15,000 to support the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary's Gulf Coast oil spill response effort. For information, call (727) 360-6697.

Rodney Page, Times staff writer

Titans reach national tourney

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Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 21, 2011

The St. Petersburg College women's tennis program has been around for only three years, but it is making its second appearance at the National Junior College Athletic Association national championship. The Titans finished third at the state tournament played at Hills­borough Community College on April 15-17. They will play in the national tournament May 7-12 in Tucson, Ariz.

St. Petersburg College's appearance in the national tournament is not a surprise. The Titans were ranked first in the Florida Junior College tennis poll and third nationally by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association in its March poll. The Titans ended their season 15-2.

The team has an international flavor. There are players from five countries on the roster. Team members are Stephanie Dunseith, Tiffany Easton, Madlena Gueorguiev, Lindsay Hodgdon, Yurina Kunishima, Victoria Reis, Jovana Vasic and Greta Veinberga. The coach is Phil Girardi.

More tennis

Ricky Symanski of Clearwater teamed with Miles Holvoet of St. Petersburg to win the NTCT boys 18 designated doubles championship April 10 at The Naples Tennis Center. It is the eighth doubles win this season for the duo.

• McMullen Tennis Center's Senior 4.0 team, led by captain Wendall Walker, won the local league championship recently and will represent Pinellas County in the sectional championships May 20-22 in Daytona Beach. McMullen was 8-0 during the season. Feather Sound Country Club's Senior 3.0 team, captained by Roger Rogers, won its flight and will also represent Pinellas at the sectional championship matches. McMullen Tennis Center's 4.5 team, captained by Ron Massey, won its flight by winning all six of its matches in a four-team league. It will be going to the sectionals tournament May 13-15 in Daytona Beach. McMullen Tennis Center 3.5 Senior team with captain Sten Tallarida and co-captain Claude Brenco won the local championship. Its record in the seven-team flight was 5-1. It will also represent Pinellas in Daytona Beach May 13-15.

• The Serve Into Spring Rookie Tournament was held in Largo on April 16-17. The boys 14 singles winner was Gantt Shiflet, the 12 singles champ was Oscar Bravo and the 10 winner was Takuma Walter. The girls 16 winner was Avni Agrawal, the 14 winner was Sybil Sha, the 12 winner was Duylan Nghiem and the 10 winner was Christen Crosby.

• The Clearwater Spring Break Classic was held April 16-18. The men's open singles winner was Milos Koprivica, the 30 singles winner was Timothy King, the 40 singles winner was John Miller, the 50 winner was Philippe Assor, the 60 winner was William Rogers and the 70 winner was Andy Rao.

Golf

The County Golf Association held an individual tournament at East Lake Woodland's North Course on April 14. The regular division gross winner was Tom Parsley, who shot 76. The regular division net winner was Matt Pepito, who shot 64. The senior gross winner was Connie Wren, who shot 76. The senior net winner was Frank Ruffolo, who shot 64. The ladies net winners were Lorrie Post, Jeannine Wiles and Sara Wold, who shot 70s.

• The CGA also played a better ball tournament April 18 at River Wilderness. The regular division gross winners were Tom Parsley and Ed Parsley, who shot 74. The senior division gross winners were Mike Sanderson and Bobby Kilgore, who shot 69. The overall net winners were Bill Greenman and Carl Mozal, who shot 64. The ladies net winners were Shirley Nesbitt and Diane Springer, who shot 66.

• The SLAPS golf league held a two-day tournament at St. Petersburg Country Club on April 4 and 11. The overall champion was Nancy Burkett of Bayou Club, who shot 162. The Eclectic group champion was Dena Hale of Belleair Country Club, who shot a net score of 58. The Flight A winner was Anna Hayes of St. Petersburg Country Club, who shot 64.

Gymnastics

LaFleur's Gymnastics of Largo's Level 7 and 8 teams competed in Atlanta for the Regional Championships. In Level 7, Alexa Mattessich won a bronze medal on beam, floor and all-around. In Level 8, Heidi Hepokoski won gold on vault and bronze on beam and all-around. Cassidy Marks won gold on bars and Gina Pergolizzi won gold on bars, silver on vault and floor and bronze in all-around.

The team also competed in the Levels 9 and 10 regional meet in New Orleans on April 16-17. There were two level 9 gymnasts who qualified for nationals, Jasmine Kauffman and Selma Lemezan. In Level 10, Morgan Marks qualified for nationals. Also in Level 10, Amanda Condreay and Kaitlin Green qualified for the National Invitational Tournament.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft: Cornerbacks

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 21, 2011

The situation

This position, considered a strength until recently, is now seen as an area of need. Things changed dramatically with the onset of Aqib Talib's most recent legal troubles. The top-flight cornerback stands accused of assault with a deadly weapon in Garland, Texas.

That has left the Bucs in a precarious position.

While they are high on young backups E.J. Biggers (age 24 in June) and Myron Lewis (24 in November), Tampa Bay's coaches didn't plan on leaning heavily on them yet. Meanwhile, veteran Ronde Barber, who turned 36 on April 7, is possibly entering his last season. Expect the Bucs to operate under the assumption they will be without Talib for the foreseeable future, perhaps even permanently if they decide to release him.

Even with Talib, cornerback depth is, arguably, an issue. Either way, the Bucs are looking closely at the position.

What they're looking for

While the Bucs once were seen as employing cornerbacks skilled in playing the traditional Tampa 2 zone, coach Raheem Morris — also the defensive coordinator — has deviated a bit and added dimensions. They now use a blend of man and zone coverage, in some cases one-on-one coverage.

This requires a different brand of athlete. Talib and Lewis, both more than 6 feet and 200 pounds, are emblematic of the type of cornerbacks the team is gravitating toward. Both are long, physical and able to match up with today's larger, more-powerful receivers.

Fitting the bill

Because the Bucs, who pick 20th in the first round, almost certainly won't have a shot at LSU's Patrick Peterson — a physical specimen who is among the top prospects, regardless of position — they will have to look further down the board.

Nebraska's Prince Amukamara, left, also is expected to be gone by No. 20, but his combination of size (6-0, 206) and speed make him tempting to the Bucs and Morris, a former secondary coach. Jimmy Smith of Colorado is another intriguing option. But he might not be seen as a good fit because of past off-the-field issues (two minor drug arrests three years ago). Remember, it's Talib's issues that have made cornerback a need to begin with.

Aaron Williams of Texas, Ras-I Dowling of Virginia, DeMarcus Van Dyke of Miami and Cortez Allen of the Citadel are options in the second round and beyond who possess qualities attractive to the Bucs.

Top 10 prospects

. Patrick Peterson

LSU, 6-0, 219

Complete player; among fastest prospects overall; won 2010 Thorpe (top defensive back).
Prince Amukamara

Nebraska, 6-0, 206

Considered a top-flight one-on-one cover man; 2010 Big 12 defensive player of the year.
Jimmy Smith

Colorado, 6-2, 210

Excellent size and athleticism; character concerns will affect stock.
Aaron Williams

Texas, 6-0, 205

Among most physical defensive backs in this class; has knack for corner blitz.
Brandon Harris

Miami, 5-10, 191

A bit inconsistent, but All-ACC second-teamer is a natural athlete.
Ras-I Dowling

Virginia, 6-1, 200

Limited by injury to five games as a senior; had big junior season, including 58 tackles.
Brandon Burton

Utah, 5-11, 191

Early entrant coming off unspectacular season; 2009 season will help his stock.
Curtis Brown

Texas, 5-11, 183

Considered a superior athlete; has faced top-tier Big 12 receivers and fared well.
Davon House

New Mexico State, 6-0, 197

Four-year starter with superb ball skills; could excel in man-to-man.
Chimdi Chekwa

Ohio State, 5-11, 190

Standout track sprinter had six interceptions as a senior.

Best guess

Because the expectation is no cornerback worthy of a first-round pick will be available when the No. 20 selection arrives, the Bucs don't seem likely to choose one in the first round without trading up.

The more likely scenario is the selection of a cornerback in the second, third or fourth round, an area of the draft where the team has had success in the past. Barber was a third-round choice, and former Buc Brian Kelly was as good a second-round pick as you will find.

In that area of the draft, good options are plentiful.

Stephen F. Holder, Times staff writer

Round 1Rounds 2-3Rounds 4-7where
Thursday, 8 p.m., ESPN, NFL Network April 29, 6 p.m, ESPN, NFL NetworkApril 30, noon, ESPN, NFL NetworkRadio City Music Hall, New York

Bucs picks Round 1: 20; Round 2: 19 (51st overall); Round 3: 20 (84); Round 4: 19 (116); Round 5: 20 (151); Round 6: 22 (187); Round 7: 19 (222), 35 (238)

Dr. Remote

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By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 21, 2011

Dodgers at Cubs: 2 p.m. on WGN. Don't you miss the old days with Harry Caray calling an afternoon weekday game from Wrigley?

Magic Live: 7 p.m. on FSN. A preview to get you ready for Game 3 between the Magic and Hawks in Atlanta.

Friday Night Fights: 10:30 p.m. on ESPN2. The main event is a junior welterweight bout between Breidis "Khanqueror" Prescott (23-2, 19 KOs) and Bayan "the Mongolian Mongoose'' Jargal (15-1-3, 10 KOs).


Reds 7, Diamondbacks 4

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Times wires
Thursday, April 21, 2011

Reds 7, Diamondbacks 4

CINCINNATI — Mike Leake, making his first appearance since his shoplifting charge (see notebook), ignored razzing from the home fans and allowed just three runs in his longest outing of the season to give the Reds their second win in the last eight games. "I didn't know if they were going to support me or not," he said. "For the most part, I think they were very nice about it."

Top NFL free agent cornerbacks

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 21, 2011

.Fast facts

Top free agent cornerbacks

Nnamdi Asomugha, Raiders: Will be, perhaps, the top-paid free agent, regardless of position.

Antonio Cromartie, Jets: Not well-rounded but among the best cover men in the game.

Brent Grimes, Falcons: Has 11 interceptions over the past two seasons.

Johnathan Joseph, Bengals: Physical player who turned 27 last week and is in his prime.

Ike Taylor, Steelers: Turns 30 in May; has been a solid starter for six seasons.

Website of the day

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By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 21, 2011

Website of the day

MLB.com on Wednesday had 142.3 million page views (requests to load one page of a site), the most in one day for the 10-year-old site. Since opening day, the site has averaged 122 million page views per day, about 48 percent higher than a year ago. MLB.com is averaging 11.5 million visitors per day, up 17 percent from a season ago.

Retirement of the day

Woody Durham, the legendary announcer for the University of North Carolina, announced his retirement this week. Durham, 69, called Tar Heel football and basketball games for the past 40 years. He was under contract until 2013 but decided to step down now after talking with his family. He said he has no health issues; it was just time to walk away.

Shooting from the lip

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By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 21, 2011

St. Petersburg Times staff writer Tom Jones offers up his Two Cents on the world of sports.

Ratings of the day

The Lightning played its first two home playoff games in four years this week. The Rays played a run-of-the-mill home series against a White Sox team that really can't be considered one of the marquee teams in the majors.

So you might think the Tampa Bay area was more interested in watching the Lightning on television. You would be wrong.

Ratings show the Rays trounced the Lightning on Monday and Wednesday nights, the nights the Lightning hosted the Penguins while the Rays hosted the White Sox.

Monday, the Lightning averaged a 2.0 rating, meaning 2 percent of all Tampa Bay area households with televisions were tuned in. (One rating point equals about 17,950 households). The Rays that night drew an average rating of 3.2.

The Rays' broadcast on FSN started at 6:30 p.m.; the Lightning game on Sun Sports started at 7:30. While the games were on simultaneously (meaning from 7:30 until a little after 9), the Rays drew a 3.9, the Lightning a 1.7.

Wednesday produced similar numbers. The Rays averaged a 3.7 for the night, the Lightning a 2.3. While the games were on at the same time, the Rays held a substantial advantage over the Lightning: 4.06 to 1.45.

After the Rays game ended, the Lightning numbers spiked at 4.0 and stayed in the 3.5 range during the one-plus overtimes.

This also should be noted: The Lightning sold out both games, drawing 20,545 on Monday and 20,326 on Wednesday.

The Rays drew weak crowds of 12,016 on Monday and 13,214 on Wednesday. In the end, the Rays drew nearly twice as many television viewers, but the Lightning drew nearly twice as much of a crowd in its arena.

What does it all mean?

For starters, the numbers say the Rays continue to be a draw on television. Fans still aren't showing up for games, but they do appear to be interested in and involved with the team.

That supports last year's numbers: The Rays were among the major leagues' top five in local television ratings but ninth from the bottom in attendance.

It could be suggested that most Rays fans prefer to watch the games on television as opposed to going to Tropicana Field.

Why? Maybe it's the stadium location, maybe it's the economy, maybe it's Tropicana Field, maybe it's simply easier to stay home and watch on a nice HD television while sitting in a recliner. Maybe it's all the above.

Meantime, the numbers from this week also suggest that the majority of Lightning fans go to the games.

Finally, the numbers indicate that the Rays have a bigger local following than the Lightning.

Deal of the week

Though critics of the NHL have harped about the league not working out a television deal with ESPN, it's hard to criticize the league for signing a new deal with NBC and Versus, now part of the same company under Comcast's merger with NBC Universal. The deal is a whopper, at least for the sport in the United States: 10 years, $1.9 billion. The old deal paid about $70 million a year from Versus and no rights fee from NBC.

ESPN, Turner Sports and Fox put in bids for the contract, but Comcast wasn't going to be outbid. It sees the NHL as the main programming for its new sports channel, which is what Versus will be turned into. NBC likely will try to build up Versus more to try to give ESPN a little competition.

Name change of the day

Speaking of Versus ...

Nearly five years ago, the cable channel known as the Outdoor Life Network changed its name to Versus. Look for that name to change again in the next three months. Versus became part of the NBC Sports Group when Comcast's acquisition of a majority stake in NBC Universal was approved by the government this year. NBC Sports Group chairman Dick Ebersol said on a conference call this week that Versus' name will be changed to incorporate the NBC brand.

Versus is a pretty cool name, so it will be a little sad to see it go.

Quarterback of the day

Where will Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder go in the NFL draft? The first round seems unlikely, and the second round might be a stretch. He seems like a third-rounder, mostly because he has had trouble staying healthy. He does, however, have a fan in former Bucs coach Jon Gruden, left.

"There are a lot of guys I know that like this guy because he's got the aptitude to learn,'' Gruden said. "He's got the leadership traits that you want, and he's got a lot of playing experience. … I think he's an accurate, intermediate passer. People want to see him push the ball maybe a little more down the field, like to see a little more arm strength. But I think those things will develop and come to Ponder when he gets healthy and continues to physically get stronger. He's a very good collegian. He's got good-enough size, good-enough mobility, and he's won a lot of games and shown tremendous toughness for the Seminoles."

Meantime, in case you missed it, former Bucs QB Shaun King, left, criticized Gruden, who hosts a show on ESPN on developing young quarterbacks. King, who co-hosts an afternoon radio show on 1010-AM, said he wasn't going to watch Gruden's show because he didn't believe his former coach was good at developing young quarterbacks.

Gruden responded: "I agree with Shaun. I wasn't totally successful in developing all the young quarterbacks (he coached). Although Bobby Hoying and Ty Detmer did okay (when he was with the Eagles), and Chris Simms helped (the Bucs) win a division title. But I did fail miserably in developing Shaun King, and I'm sorry he'll miss our show.'' Whether you agree with King or not, you have to admit that was a pretty good zinger of a comeback by Gruden.

Three things that popped into my head

1. The real shame of the Lightning possibly getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs is the Eastern Conference doesn't have a dominant team and a trip to the final is ripe for the taking.

2. At what point would it be okay to suggest that the Lightning's Marty St. Louis, right, just might be the best pro athlete in the history of Tampa Bay?

3. Maybe Tampa Police should just set up a permanent DUI checkpoint outside of One Buc Place.

Check it out

The MLB Network continues to count down the 20 greatest games of the past 50 years, and at 7 p.m. Sunday it airs game No. 4 on the list. Former Braves Mark Lemke and Sid Bream and former Pirate Andy Van Slyke will be in studio to talk about Game 7 of the 1992 National League Championship Series, or, as it's known in Pittsburgh, The Worst Baseball Game of All Time! On the show, Van Slyke recalls telling leftfielder Barry Bonds to move in a few steps just before Francisco Cabrera delivered a single to left, a hit that allowed the slow-footed Bream to score from second base just ahead of Bonds' throw. Van Slyke said he motioned Bonds to move in, and Bonds responded by giving Van Slyke the finger.

Up next for the Tampa Bay Rays: at Toronto Blue Jays

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 21, 2011

.Up next

at Blue Jays

Tonight-Sunday

What's new: The Jays have shuffled their pitching staff, sending RHP Jesse Litsch (Dixie Hollins High) and LHP Brett Cecil (their top 2010 winner) to the minors. … RHP Brandon Morrow, who nearly no-hit the Rays last year, will be activated to start Saturday. Also, RHP Frank Francisco came off the disabled list and is in the bullpen. 2B Aaron Hill missed Wednesday's game with a hamstring issue and could be limited this weekend. … John Farrell is in his first season as manager.

Key stat: After stealing an AL-low 58 bases all of last season, the Jays already have swiped 23 and rank second in the league.

Connections: Rays INF Felipe Lopez came up with the Jays and played there 2001-02. … Jays OF Jose Bautista and RHP Shawn Camp are former Rays, and 3B coach Brian Butterfield is a former Eckerd College assistant.

Series history: Jays lead 111-110 overall, 65-47 in Toronto.

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

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