Times wires
Wednesday, August 3, 2011

The nation's top quarterback recruit has orally committed to Florida State.

Jameis Winston of Hueytown (Ala.) High, who was recruited by Alabama and LSU, made his announcement Wednesday on ESPNU. Oral commitments are not binding; signing day is Feb. 1

"It's been tough the whole time, and I feel very comfortable with my decision," Winston said. "Alabama fans are probably going to hate me, but my job right now is not to please the fans or people in general."

ESPN.com rates him as the nation's top quarterback while Rivals.com lists him as the No. 1 dual-threat QB.

Winston passed for 2,342 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior, rushing for 870 yards and 11 touchdowns. Hueytown is just southwest of Birmingham.

The multisport athlete may be a better baseball player than football player. Some believe the switch-hitter will never set foot on a college campus and will instead sign with a major-league team to play outfield after projected to be a high pick in the 2012 MLB draft.

Winston is the fourth 2012 player the Seminoles have landed from Alabama.

Irish receiver Floyd reinstated after DUI

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly reinstated Michael Floyd to the team, 4½ months after the star receiver was charged with drunken driving.

"We haven't reached a destination point," Kelly said at a news conference with Floyd. "He knows he has all eyes on him. There is an intense amount of scrutiny, cynics out there who look at this as we had this put together since Day One. We can't change what people think."

Floyd, who has caught more touchdowns than any player in Notre Dame history, said he has been to counseling, has changed his circle of friends and will stay in a residence hall instead of moving off campus.

In response to a question, he said he hadn't had a drink at a bar since his arrest in March but acknowledged he had been in a bar to socialize.

Floyd, 21, pleaded guilty in June to misdemeanor charges and was sentenced to a year of probation.

The school's disciplinary arm did not suspend Floyd, though it was his third alcohol-related brush with the law in two years. Kelly had suspended him a short time after his arrest.

"I know I let a lot of people down," Floyd said.

Ex-Gator to miss season: Former Gators receiver Javares McRoy, who transferred to Texas Tech, will sit out the upcoming season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules. McRoy, who reportedly sustained a collapsed lung during the spring, will have four years of eligibility.

Potato takeover: The Humanitarian Bowl will become the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl after the Idaho Potato Commission signed a six-year naming-rights deal to underwrite the Boise, Idaho, game through 2016.

BASKETBALL: Road games at Ohio State and Syracuse highlight Florida's 2011-12 nonconference schedule. The Gators play four in-state teams and play games in Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Sunrise. Their lone exhibition pits coach Billy Donovan against his son, Billy, a sophomore guard for Catholic University, located in Washington, D.C. Florida plays Wright State at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa on Nov. 21 (schedule, 2C).

Times staff
Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Salary cap talk

Confused about the salary cap, salary floor, free agency spending and all the rest? Let's see if we can help:

Is there or is there not a salary "floor" this season?

There is no minimum payroll. But the 32 teams combined must spend $3.8 billion in cash (salaries and bonuses) by the end of the season.

So what does that mean for the Bucs?

It means there is no set amount the Bucs must spend on their payroll this season. The only salary requirement for 2011 is that leaguewide $3.8 billion.

Well, if there's no minimum, is there a salary cap?

Yes, teams are capped at just more than $120 million. (Actually, they can borrow up to $3 million from next year's cap if they want, so it's more like $123 million.) So that's the most any team can spend in cap dollars. But be aware that "cap" dollars and "cash" dollars are not the same.

Explain.

Let's try an example. Say a player signs a five-year deal worth $20 million, which includes a signing bonus of $5 million and a base salary of $3 million this year. In cap dollars (this year's base salary plus the bonus pro-rated over the length of the contract), the player would count as $4 million toward the $120 million cap. But the player would actually get checks worth $8 million this year (base salary plus his signing bonus). So that is his "cash" number, the one applied toward the $3.8 billion that the league as a whole must spend.

So will that be the case from now on in the NFL: no cap floor, just this leaguewide total?

No. Just for the first two years of the new labor agreement. Starting in 2013, the league will return to a "cap floor," which is set at 89 percent of the cap. So if for example the cap in 2013 was still at $120 million, each team would have to spend a minimum of $106.8 million. No more leaguewide total. According to a report by profootballtalk.com, the Bucs have spent about $90 million in "cap" money so far this year. So if the "floor" existed this season, they would be required to spend another $16 million. But as we've explained, there is no "floor" this year.

What happens if the league doesn't get to that $3.8 billion?

Then the 32 teams must make up the deficit in cash, which goes into a fund and is distributed to the players.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Rays vs. Blue Jays

When/where: 12:10 today; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Starting pitchers:

Rays:

RH Wade Davis (8-7, 4.62)

Jays:

LH Brett Cecil (4-4, 4.34)

Watch for ...

Wading in: Davis settled down after a five-run first in Oakland last week to get the win, his first in his past four starts. He has allowed 15 runs in his past three outings and is 2-2 with a 2.80 ERA in five career starts vs. Jays.

Leaning left: Cecil's on a roll, having won back-to-back starts — both against the Rangers — and allowing one earned run over 16 combined innings. He's 4-2, 4.69 in eight career appearances (seven starts) vs. Rays.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Cecil

Evan Longoria 9-for-17

B.J. Upton 3-for-17

Ben Zobrist 4-for-16, HR

Jays vs. Davis

Aaron Hill 5-for-13, HR

Yunel Escobar 4-for-11

Jose Bautista 1-for-13

On deck

Friday: A's, 7:10 p.m., Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (5-4, 3.51); A's — Guillermo Moscoso (4-5, 3.41)

Saturday: A's, 7:10 p.m., Sun Sports. Rays — Alex Cobb (3-1, 2.79); A's — Brandon McCarthy (4-5, 3.58)

Sunday: A's, 1:40 p.m., Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (10-7, 3.15); A's — Trevor Cahill (9-10, 3.91)

Haircut of the day

LHP J.P. Howell decided to cut off a lot of his long locks on Monday's off day, saying he "needed a change." Howell, who entered Wednesday's game with an 8.68 ERA, originally thought of shaving it all off but instead had 4-5 inches clipped. He admitted his wife, Heather, likely would not have liked the bald look. "God, she would have freaked out," Howell said, smiling.

Tweet up

The Rays will try to unite the Twitter followers of their team — and players — in their first Tweet-Up during today's game. Fans can buy $50 tickets to be in the same Papa John's Bullpen box, a deal that includes food, drinks and a postgame Q&A with CNBC business reporter Darren Rovell. Go to raysbaseball.com/tweetup with promo code "tweet".

Number of the day

17 Times the Rays have lost a game after the Rays' starting pitcher turned in a quality start, second behind only the Angels (18).

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Wednesday, August 3, 2011

TAMPA — For now, the Buccaneers are being conservative.

(Not cheap.)

At this point, they are committed to building the right way.

(Not the expensive way.)

Today, the Bucs have a plan.

(Not overhead.)

Maybe that sounds facetious, but it really is true. The Bucs have one of the youngest, most talented and least expensive rosters in the NFL. And that's a good thing.

They have a plan moving forward that is both competitively sound and fiscally responsible. And that, too, is a good thing.

The only problem right now is perception. The NFL's most outrageous free agency period is winding down, and the Bucs chose to play it close to the vest. And truth be told, that was probably the right thing to do. It was certainly the safe way to go.

But it also fed the perception that this franchise continues to operate with greater emphasis on the checkbook than on the standings.

Which means there is one foolproof way for the Bucs to change that image:

By being right.

They better be right about Mason Foster at linebacker. They better be right about E.J. Biggers at cornerback. They better be right about Kregg Lumpkin in the backfield, and James Lee or Jeremy Trueblood on the offensive line.

Because what the Bucs are saying is they're better off using younger, hungrier and more familiar players than by spending excessive money on bigger names from elsewhere.

For the most part, I agree with them.

And deep down you probably do, too.

We have played the free agent game before in Tampa Bay. We have seen Wilson Alvarez and Pat Burrell. We lived through Todd Steussie and Derrick Ward. We remember Radim Vrbata and just about every player Brian Lawton acquired.

As much as any other market, we should understand there are no shortcuts to the postseason. The path is painful and treacherous, and you cannot buy your way past it.

Think Albert Haynesworth. Think Neil O'Donnell. Think David Boston. Even more than the NBA or Major League Baseball, free agency in the NFL is a dangerous game. Football players must fit into particular systems, and the list of miscalculations is long.

Instead, look back at the conference champions the past two seasons, and you begin to see a sound blueprint for success.

The 2009 Colts were almost entirely homegrown. The Packers and Steelers of 2010 were also built mostly from within. The 2009 Saints were a little more diverse, but the core of that team was still built through the draft.

So, yes, I'll agree Tampa Bay is doing this the right way.

My one concern is whether the Bucs are being fanatical. They seem so convinced of their own plan that they may be ignoring legitimate ways to supplement their talent.

For as well as the Saints drafted before winning the Super Bowl, they also signed Drew Brees and Jabari Greer to free agent deals, and they traded for Jonathan Vilma and Jeremy Shockey. And among the Packers holding up the Lombardi Trophy last season were free agent acquisitions Charles Woodson and Ryan Pickett.

Maybe the Bucs didn't have to chase the biggest names in free agency, but it's hard to imagine the team couldn't have been improved with a few strategic moves.

And, yes, the Bucs may have signed some deals that could conceivably be worth $100 million or more in the coming years, but they were so far behind every other team in spending that it still doesn't bring their overall payroll to the NFL's upper middle class level.

Does that mean general manager Mark Dominik screwed up this week?

Not at all. The guy has been right more than he has been wrong the past 18 months. He has found some of the best young bargains in the NFL, and so he deserves some faith.

Maybe it has nothing to do with profits. Maybe he truly believes his younger players have more upside. Maybe he understands the Bucs are still a year or two away from being legitimate Super Bowl contenders, and he's willing to wait before free agent shopping.

Okay, the plan is not flashy, and it is not a crowd-pleaser. But it does make sense. And, in some ways, it is exactly what Tampa Bay fans demanded.

The Jon Gruden era ended in disappointment because too many seasons were wasted with patchwork lineups. Dominik and Raheem Morris rose to power because the roster needed to be blown apart and rebuilt from the ground up.

Essentially, they are doing the job you asked them to do. They deserve the chance to see it through.

For now, Bucs fans should be intrigued.

(Not paranoid.)

John Romano can be reached at romano@sptimes.com.

Times wires
Wednesday, August 3, 2011

LOS ANGELES — Bubba Smith, a former All-Pro football player turned actor and commercial pitchman who delighted TV viewers by wrenching off the tops of "easy-opening cans" of beer, was found dead Wednesday at his Los Angeles home. He was 66.

The cause of death has not been determined, the Los Angeles County coroner's office said.

A caretaker found Mr. Smith at his home in Los Angeles' Baldwin Hills section, police said.

The top overall pick in 1967 after a sensational career at Michigan State, the 6-foot-7, 280-pound defensive lineman spent five seasons with the Colts — winning a Super Bowl in 1971 — and two seasons each with the Raiders and Oilers. His career was derailed by a knee injury sustained during a 1972 preseason game in Tampa.

He ended up at Michigan State after his beloved home-state Texas Longhorns turned him away because he was black. He and other prominent Southern black players who couldn't play closer to home because of racial intolerance were a big part of the Spartans' rise to power.

Mr. Smith was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988.

One of the most feared defensive players, Mr. Smith often drew two blockers yet made two Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team.

"He was simply a good guy," former Michigan State teammate Robert Viney said in a statement. "His size made him an intimidating figure, but he was a real gentle­man. He was a hell of a player."

After football, Mr. Smith joined other former pro athletes who appeared as themselves in commercials for Miller Lite beer.

As an actor his most memorable role was playing Moses Hightower, the soft-spoken officer in the Police Academy movie series. He also appeared in TV series, including Good Times, Charlie's Angels and Half Nelson.

Born Charles Aaron Smith, he played in high school for his father, Willie Ray Smith, in Beaumont, Texas.

"Bubba Smith was a great Spartan," Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis said in a statement. "As both a football player and later as an actor, Bubba was a great ambassador for the university."

Mr. Smith, whose No. 95 Spartans jersey was retired in 2006, was part of two of the most famous games ever played. In 1966, he was at Michigan State when the Spartans and Notre Dame, both undefeated, played to a 10-10 tie. Michigan State finished second behind the top-ranked Fighting Irish.

In 1969, he played for the Colts against the Jets in Super Bowl III. Led by Joe Namath, the Jets of the AFL upset the NFL champion Colts 16-7 in Miami.

"I will shed some tears tonight because I've lost a great friend," Viney said. "He never sought the spotlight. He was a humble man. As I remember him, I recall the chants of 'Kill, Bubba, kill' from the crowd in Spartan Stadium. He will be missed."

In Miller Lite TV spots, he and fellow NFL veteran Dick Butkus were cast as inept golfers and polo players. Mr. Smith was also featured solo in one commercial extolling the virtues of the beer, beaming into the camera, "I also love the easy-opening cans," while ripping off the top of the can.

Despite a lucrative contract and widespread popularity, he walked away from the job.

"I went back to Michigan State for the homecoming parade last year," Mr. Smith told the Los Angeles Times in 1986. "I was the grand marshal and I was riding in the back seat of this car. The people were yelling, but they weren't saying, 'Go, State, go!' One side of the street was yelling, 'Tastes great!' and the other side was yelling 'Less filling!'

"Then we go to the stadium. The older folks are yelling 'Kill, Bubba, kill!' But the students are yelling 'Tastes great! Less filling!' Everyone in the stands is drunk. It was like I was contributing to alcohol, and I don't drink. It made me realize I was doing something I didn't want to do."

After an Aug. 27, 1972, preseason game against the Steelers at Tampa Stadium, Mr. Smith sued the NFL, two game officials (one of whom was the down-marker holder) and the Tampa Sports Authority for $2.5 million, claiming their negligence led to his knee injury when he got tangled in a down marker and chain.

He lost the suit, which took nearly six years in Tampa federal courts. He missed the 1972 season and due to continued problems with his knee, was never the same player again. A Colts executive told Sports Illustrated at the time it was "one of the worst knee injuries our team doctor had ever seen."

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 3, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays' inexplicable disparity between their offense at home vs. the road has been a hot topic at the Trop.

So much so that, manager Joe Maddon quipped, "It proves we're not cheating."

But in the Rays' 9-1 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday — their most lopsided home victory this season — they certainly pulled out all the stops in a rare outburst, mixing small ball with the long ball. It was nearly as many runs as Tampa Bay had scored in its previous five home games combined (10).

"We played all components of the game — you play small ball, you play big ball, you pitch well, you catch it on defense," Maddon said. "From a baseball purist perspective, to see a team execute like that has to be fun to watch."

The Rays (57-52) tied a season high with three homers, including the first of catcher Robinson Chirinos' career. But their four-run second-inning rally was sparked by three consecutive bunts.

"Small ball is huge for us," outfielder Matt Joyce said. "We're going to have to utilize that the rest of the way in order to be successful. Because we're not going to hit as many homers as the Yankees, it's just not going to happen. But we can play the game the right way."

Small ball is part of the Rays' game, with players having worked on situational bunting and baserunning since spring training. But Maddon said the right opportunity has to present itself — including how the defense is positioned —and "everything just opened up."

Ben Zobrist started the second with a homer. With runners on first and third, Sean Rodriguez bunted a 3-and-1 pitch from Carlos Villanueva down the first-base line, scoring a run. Chirinos followed with another RBI bunt single toward first, and Desmond Jennings reached with a perfect bunt down the third-base line.

The Rays have bunted with runners on first and third and less than two outs 10 times this season, resulting in nine runs.

"Most of the time, they don't see it coming," Rodriguez said. "It's amazing, it worked out nice."

That was more than enough for right-hander James Shields, who bounced back nicely from his worst start of the season (10 runs, 12 hits in Oakland) by allowing a run in 71/3 innings. With a more compact delivery, Shields kept the ball down and the Jays off-balance while receiving season-high run support.

"You need but one or two runs for that guy," Rodriguez said. "He's been unbelievable this year."

Chirinos had a special night in front of 11,803 at the Trop, including his three-run shot in the third while walking twice and reaching base four times. Leftfielder Sam Fuld had joked with Chirinos a few days earlier that even he had a homer, and so did Brandon Guyer (who is in Triple-A Durham) — three of the players the Rays received from the Cubs in the Matt Garza trade.

"So I have my one tonight," Chirinos said, smiling.

It all added up to a uniquely offensive night for the Rays.

"Potentially, we're good enough to do that every night, I think," Shields said. "Today we set the tone by playing small ball early. That's the kind of team we've always been, and I think we got away from it a little bit."

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com.

Times wires
Wednesday, August 3, 2011

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Giants have changed their minds about trading disgruntled defensive end Osi Umenyiora.

The Giants ordered his agent to stop speaking to teams about a trade. Umenyiora, dissatisfied with a deal that pays him $7.1 million over the final two seasons of a six-year, $41 million extension signed in 2005, reportedly seeks a six-year deal in excess of $10 million per year.

The Broncos, Ravens, Seahawks, Rams, and Chargers showed interest in the pass rusher who finished last season with 11½ sacks. But none was willing to give up the first-rounder the Giants sought.

Unless general manager Jerry Reese changes his mind again, the team will negotiate a new deal with Umenyiora, 29, or force him to play under his current one. Despite being cleared to practice after offseason hip surgery, Umenyiora has stayed off the practice field. He has attended team meetings but missed the first day of camp and incurred a $30,000 fine.

NFL Network and Time Warner? The league is negotiating with Time Warner Cable to include the NFL Network as part of its system's programing, commissioner Roger Goodell said. "We're trying to get that done," he said.

L.A. Stadium: A Los Angeles council committee voted 4-0 to endorse a tentative framework agreement with a private developer that wants to build a 72,000-seat NFL stadium on the city's convention center campus.

Dolphins fans jeer QB

DAVIE — Fans at a Dolphins practice booed quarterback Chad Henne then chanted, "We want Orton!" in reference to the Broncos' Kyle Orton.

Orton is battling Tim Tebow for the starting job and is the subject of trade rumors.

"It really makes me sick," Miami coach Tony Sparano said. "When people come to the stadium like that in one of those kind of events to support the Miami Dolphins, that's what we should be thinking about."

Chiefs: Tamba Hali, whose 141/2 sacks last season were second in the league, agreed to a five-year deal worth $60 million ($35 million guaranteed), ESPN.com reported. The salary would be the second highest among outside linebackers behind Dallas' DeMarcus Ware, who had 151/2 sacks. Also, linebacker Brandon Siler signed. The former Gator spent the past four seasons with the Chargers.

Cowboys: Cornerback Terence Newman left practice after sustaining an apparent groin injury. The team did not comment on the injury or his status.

Eagles: Defensive tackle Mike Patterson was hospitalized after suffering a seizure at practice. He dropped to the ground between plays and began violently shaking. The team said he was having tests to determine a cause. His agent said he is "in no pain and doing well."

Lions: Rookie defensive tackle Nick Fairley had surgery on his left foot. The team did not give details, saying only he will miss a "significant portion" of camp.

Raiders: Free agent tight end Kevin Boss worked out a day after the team lost Pro Bowl tight end Zach Miller to Seattle.

Ravens: Center Matt Birk will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in the next few days but should be back in time for the regular season, his agent said.

Bulger retires: Quarterback Marc Bulger is retiring after 11 seasons. In 10 with the Rams, he passed for 22,814 yards and 122 touchdowns. Bulger, 34, spent last season with the Ravens but did not take a snap.

Times wires
Thursday, August 4, 2011

Yankees 18, White Sox 7

CHICAGO — Derek Jeter had five hits, Curtis Granderson had five RBIs and New York pounded Gavin Floyd and Chicago in its highest-scoring game this season. Robinson Cano and Eric Chavez had three hits and four RBIs each for the Yankees, who have won six straight and nine of 11.

Times wires
Thursday, August 4, 2011

Twins 11, Angels 4

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Michael Cuddyer and Delmon Young each homered twice for Minnesota. Cuddyer's grand slam in the fifth broke a tie at 4 and Jason Kubel also homered to give the Twins a season-high five home runs. Peter Bourjos homered for the Angels, who missed a chance to tie Texas for the AL West lead for the first time since July 5. Manager Mike Scioscia returned from a one-game suspension.

Times wires
Thursday, August 4, 2011

Padres 3, Dodgers 0

SAN DIEGO — Tim Stauffer shut down Los Angeles for 6 1/3 innings, former Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett homered and San Diego averted a three-game sweep. Bartlett broke a scoreless tie with a leadoff home run in the sixth against Ted Lilly. The Padres stopped their five-game losing streak against the Dodgers, with Heath Bell posting his 31st save of the season.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, August 4, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — For a rookie, catcher Robinson Chirinos sure acted like he had been there before when he delivered his first big-league walkoff hit Thursday, a two-out bases-loaded single in the 12th that lifted the Rays to a 7-6 victory over the Blue Jays.

Chirinos, 27, who tied the score with a two-out pinch-hit single in the previous inning, tossed his helmet in the air after rounding first base, preparing to be in the middle of a celebratory mob.

"It's great when you win and see those smiles and everybody," Chirinos said, with a smile of his own. "That's where you want to be."

In a wild and entertaining victory in front of a camp-day crowd of 29,941 at Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay (58-52) — which led by a run entering the eighth inning — overcame two extra-inning deficits for the first time in club history thanks to scoring in three separate extra innings.

"It was a crazy game," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "To grasp victory from the jaws of defeat right there was kind of neat."

Fittingly, on kids day at the Trop, it was the Rays' rookies who stole the show, from leftfielder Desmond Jennings keeping them alive with a tying solo homer in the 10th to reliever Brandon Gomes picking up his first win. And, of course, there was Chirinos, who became the first rookie to have a tying and a winning hit in extra innings since the Braves' Nick Green on July 2, 2004.

"These guys are definitely showing us that they want to be big-leaguers, that they belong," Rays veteran Johnny Damon said, "and that they can help this team win right now."

Right-hander Wade Davis gave the Rays a chance, once again overcoming a rocky first inning before settling in, allowing three runs over 7⅔ innings. His big mistake was his 108th and final pitch, a hanging breaking ball with two outs in the eighth that Jose Bautista hit into the stands for his majors-high 33rd homer that tied the score at 3. Evan Longoria had put the Rays on top with a three-run homer in the fifth.

The score stayed tied until the 10th, when recently acquired Jays outfielder Colby Rasmus ripped an elevated Jake McGee fastball for a run-scoring double.

"Right pitch," McGee said, "bad location."

The Rays battled back with Jennings continuing his sparkling play by leading off the bottom half with a solo homer to left, his third of the season and one of his three hits in the game. It was the first extra-inning homer by a Rays rookie since Longoria on May 19, 2008, and gave Jennings multiple hits in seven of his 12 games.

"We're seeing Desmond grow up right before our eyes," Damon said.

But the fight was far from over as Jays catcher Jose Molina hit a two-run triple in the top of the 11th — the third triple of his 12-year big-league career — to put Toronto up 6-4.

B.J. Upton, whose leadoff double sparked the two-run 11th, sliced another extra-base hit in the 12th, a one-out triple. Former Rays reliever Shawn Camp loaded the bases with two intentional walks but struck out Elliot Johnson, leaving it up to Chirinos.

Chirinos, who has felt his confidence grow since his first homer Wednesday, drew a 2-and-1 count and knew Camp "was the one in trouble — he had to throw strikes."

And when Camp left a fastball over the middle, Chirinos smacked it into the hole at short, pumping his fist as he jogged to first.

Said Chirinos: "A great feeling."

By Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Thursday, August 4, 2011

Before Mike Williams II won the 23rd annual Professional Bowling Association Spring Hill Open at Spring Hill Lanes last weekend, 211 house regulars competed with the professionals in the annual pro-am.

With four divisions, including Senior (55 and older), Junior A & B (18 and under) and Regular, the tournament was a success. PBA Southern Region director Harry O'Neale said Spring Hill is one of the most popular of the 26 stops on the tour.

Lawrence Walsh won the Regular Division with a pin total of 1,631, earning $180 for his effort. He beat out runner-up Jim Ziants (1,497) for the top spot. Ziants earned $130.

Walsh is from the Chicago area and has two perfect games and two 800 series on his U.S. Bowling Congress record. Ziants, a regular on the lanes in north Pinellas County, maintains a 166 average in two leagues.

In the Senior Division, Carlton Jones won $100 with a 1,504 pin total. His score was just two pins better than runner-up Patricia Cameron (1,502). Cameron, a house bowler at Spring Hill Lanes, won $65. Jones, who also competes at Spring Hill in the Tuesday Night Mixed League, has a 181 average.

The junior divisions did not provide cash rewards, but the Junior A (13 and under) and Junior B (12 and under) winners did take home trophies. In the Junior A Division, Kyle Keelan (1,482) edged out Madison Slayton (1,456). The Junior B title went to Zach Tresize (1,546) with a one-pin win over Brennan Hopkins (1,545).

CREWS LAKE FOOTBALL: The Crews Lake Cowboys Football and Cheerleading program is looking for new players for the upcoming season.

Crews Lake is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting leadership, skills, teamwork and discipline. The club is one of several Pasco Police Athletic League teams. The league is open to youths ages 5 to 14.

The 2011 season will start shortly, and the Cowboys are looking for new or experienced players for football and cheerleading. The team is also looking for more coaches and volunteers. The cost is $180 for cheerleading and $160 for football. The team practices at 15480 Green Glen Lane, Spring Hill.

For information, call Brad Surrency at (352) 556-8380.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES GOLF: Brooksville Country Club at Majestic Oaks will play host to the seventh annual Catholic Charities Golf Tournament on Oct. 28.

The event will benefit the building of the Arnold Andrews Northern Counties Service Center, which will serve residents of Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.

Registration is scheduled for 7 a.m., when coffee and doughnuts will be served. The shotgun start will be at 8 a.m., with a buffet lunch at the conclusion of play.

There will be prizes awarded for holes-in-one, including a 2011 Buick-GMC courtesy of Rick Matthews, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle courtesy of Crystal River Harley-Davidson and a golf cart courtesy of Country Club Cars of Brooksville.

The registration fee is $60 per player. Sponsorship opportunities are available until Oct. 20.

For information, call Abby Evert at (352) 686-9897, ext. 25.

SENIOR SOFTBALL: The West Hernando Softball Club for Seniors League is looking for new members for the season that starts in September.

The league is open to players 55 and older. Games are played on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at Veterans Memorial Park in Spring Hill.

For information, call Tony Passanesi at (352) 686-6812.

MORE SENIOR SOFTBALL: The Senior Softball Invitational League will start its season in September and is looking for new players.

The league meets at 9:30 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at Veterans Memorial Park in Spring Hill. The fee is $60 for approximately 40 games, and a player must be 50 or older.

For information, call Sal Ficarra at (352) 688-1605.

ACE PERFORMANCE TENNIS: Ace Performance Tennis is hosting two events this summer.

QuickStart Drills will be offered from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Delta Woods Park in Spring Hill. The cost is $10 per class. There will be drills and games designed for beginning players, using USTA-approved strategies for 60-foot court players. Participants will learn to play tennis quickly with age- and size-appropriate equipment and modified courts.

Ladies Night Out will be offered from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays at Delta Woods Park. The cost is $10 per class. Women of beginning and intermediate skill levels will learn to play in a social setting.

For information, call John or Louise Downey at (352) 666-0658 or visit louisedowney.usptapro.com.

BROOKSVILLE BULLDOGS: The Brooksville Bulldogs are seeking players for the coming baseball season, which runs from September through February.

The team plays doubleheaders in Brooksville and tournaments in the Central Florida region. The two age divisions are 13-and-under and 14-and-under.

For information, call Bruce Price at (813) 714-1054 or send e-mail to bruce67price@hotmail.com.

UMPIRE CLINICS: The Hernando-Sumter Umpires Association has scheduled its annual baseball/softball umpires clinics.

The clinics are designed to train anyone who wants to become an umpire, and the sessions also can help seasoned umpires improve. Local clinics will take place at the Anderson Snow Sports Complex in Spring Hill on Aug. 21 and 28.

The sessions are open to men and women age 16 and older. Registration will begin at 12:30 p.m. each day, with the clinics starting at 1 p.m. There is a $20 charge for each participant, and everyone will receive a Major League Baseball rule book, along with other handouts.

Visit hernandosumterumpire.com to register. For information, call (352) 593-6998 or send e-mail to clinics@hernandosumterumpire.com.

ADULT BASKETBALL LEAGUE: The Brooksville Parks and Recreation Department is playing host to an Adult Basketball League at the Jerome Brown Community Center in Brooksville, beginning Aug. 23.

The league is open to participants 18 and older. Games will take place at 6:30, 7:45 and 9 p.m. on Tuesdays. The registration deadline is Aug. 12, and players will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost is $400 per team, with an eight-player minimum.

For information, call (352) 540-3835.

To notify us of community sports achievements or coming events, contact Derek J. LaRiviere at derekjlariviere@gmail.com or (352) 584-6337.

Times Staff
Thursday, August 4, 2011

Florida State ranks fifth in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll announced Thursday behind No. 1 Oklahoma, Alabama, Oregon and LSU.

Florida is 23rd. Miami, UCF and USF all received votes.

Oklahoma will play at Florida State on Sept. 17.

The No. 5 preseason ranking is the Seminoles' highest since 2002, when they started the season No. 4.

"I know expectations are high this year and we embrace those," FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said in a news release. "It's great to see that the country is seeing Florida State's program is heading in the right direction and getting back to the top. But, we also realize that these preseason rankings don't win you a championship. We have to go out there and live up to them. We have to embrace them. I'd much rather start up high than start down low."

Miami had 49 votes, UCF 22 and USF nine.

Florida and Ohio State (16) are the only two schools that have appeared in every USA Today preseason poll dating to 1991. The Big East did not have any teams in the top 25.

Times staff writer Antonya English contributed to this report, which includes information from the Orlando Sentinel.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Thursday, August 4, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — The season swirls around the drain, and still, he will not give up on it.

There are vultures circling the bat rack, and still, he will not surrender.

There is a priest standing by, and a mortician and an undertaker, and still, he believes.

That's the thing about Joe Maddon. His crystal ball has rainbows and parades inside it, and he is not going to give up on his Rays season until the doctors call out the time of death. Maybe not even then.

On a day such as Thursday, perhaps you can understand why.

This was one of the good days. It took 12 innings and three comebacks and 20 players, but the Rays finally won a 7-6 decision to further stave off fourth place. For a team with a faint pulse, in a season that has been lost, it was a fun way to spend an afternoon.

Also, there was this to consider: A game such as this whispers nice things about the future.

In other words, even if this season turns out to be less than many people expected, Thursday's game was an example of why next year doesn't necessarily have to hold the same disappointment.

Because of Desmond Jennings.

Because of Robinson Chirinos (maybe).

Because of Brandon Gomes (maybe).

We have reached August, and the Rays are still 10 games out of first place in the AL East and 10 out of the wild card, and it is fair to say a good many fans have given up on this year. Some of them may have given up on next year, too, just to be first in line.

By now, we know how 2012 will look. The Rays will still have a small payroll next year, and they will still play in the AL East, and they will still play at Tropicana Field, where they have been miserable for much of the year. They will still have to bargain shop for players, and they will still have to piece together their bullpen, and they will still be the average age of a college fraternity. They probably won't have enough power then, either. And, alas, the Red Sox and Yankees aren't going anywhere.

So, as reluctant as some people may be to talk about next year, how do the Rays get better for 2012?

By looking to the kids who won Thursday's game, that's how.

Start with Jennings, 24, who is playing as if he is terrified of ever seeing a Triple-A clubhouse again. He hit his third homer in two weeks of being a Ray to tie the score in the 10th. He also doubled in the 11th.

In other words, Jennings has been everything he was expected to be. He has shown discipline at the plate and instincts on the bases and power the scouting reports did not suggest. Instead of a number, the kid should wear "Next Big Thing" on the back of his jersey.

Then there was Chirinos, 27, who tied the score with a single in the 11th, then won it with another in the 12th.

Could Chirinos finally be the catcher the Rays have been seeking? It's too early to tell. He hasn't thrown out enough runners, and no one knows if his bat will be quick enough over the long haul. But so far, he has earned a further look.

Then there was Gomes, 27, who was the Rays' last chance as a pitcher on Thursday. Maddon couldn't say enough about how impressed he was with Gomes.

For the Rays, this is the advantage of being so darned young. You don't have to bench the regulars to play the kids. Around here, they're the same guys who provide the team's only chance, small as it may be, at making you pay attention.

In other words, this season is going to be hard to salvage. Next year? As of now, the Rays are right in the middle of the 2012 race. Yippee.

Maddon, of course, won't hear of such talk. He was a coach with the Angels back in '95, when they held an 11-game lead in their division on Aug. 9. That was before their season fell down an elevator shaft, and the next thing you know, they were losing a playoff game to Seattle.

"I know it doesn't look rosy for us," Maddon said. "But I've seen it happen. We are still capable of getting on a hot streak."

In some ways, this has been a difficult season to watch. The Rays struggle mightily at home, and the bats disappear far too often. The stars — Evan Longoria and David Price — have struggled. Even Maddon admits he expected more out of this season. Before Thursday's game, the manager suggested his team should be 10 games above .500 instead of five.

The thing is, 10 games over .500 would still have the Rays in third place. And third place, even though that's where most people picked the Rays to finish, seems to make a lot of locals grumpy.

Could this team have done more? Absolutely. But worse than underachievement is the impression a team is doomed to repeat it.

This team still has some flaws. It needs to solve the six-pitcher rotation with a trade. It needs to make a decision on B.J. Upton. It needs to fix Longoria and Price. It needs to make its bullpen better. It needs to find a shortstop. It needs a catcher. It needs more pop in the lineup.

Most of all, it needs to be in a pennant race.

Maddon will tell you it has a chance. From time to time, when Jennings is at the plate, I think I agree with him.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, August 4, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Now if only RHP Wade Davis could figure out the first inning.

For the second consecutive start, the Rays pitcher settled in Thursday following a rocky opening inning, allowing three runs over 7⅔, tying his longest outing of the season.

"I just kept attacking," he said.

It certainly didn't look good when Davis walked two of his first three hitters and loaded the bases with no outs. But after allowing just two runs, including inducing a double play, he retired the next 12 hitters. That set the stage for a quality start while helping enable the Rays' come-from-behind 7-6 victory in 12 innings.

"I thought Wade Davis had great stuff," manager Joe Maddon said. "Even after those two runs in the first inning, he looked really good to me, and I was really hoping he could pitch eight innings. It looked like he definitely had it in him."

It was similar to Davis' last start, July 28 in Oakland, when he gave up five first-inning runs before throwing five shutout innings in picking up the win. His ERA in the first inning is 7.65, 3.96 in the others.

"I just kept going," Davis said. "Kept doing what I was doing and kept executing."

GO GOMES: RHP Brandon Gomes will likely always remember his first big-league win. He pitched a scoreless 12th Thursday, including striking out Jays slugger Jose Bautista.

Gomes, who was the last reliever left, threw a career-high three innings in the Rays' 16-inning loss to the Red Sox on July 17.

"You've always got to be ready," Gomes said. "You never know what can happen."

Said Maddon: "This kid has been fantastic in literally dire moments where there's nothing left behind him. He goes out there, maybe has his best stuff all year to get through that inning, picks up the win."

IN THE SWING: 3B Evan Longoria had been hitting balls hard the past few games with little reward, which made it feel good to connect on a three-run homer in the fifth.

Maddon said while Longoria is hitting. 224, he's "smart enough to know he's on the right track and is making hard contact."

"My swing feels good, and that's kind of what I'm trying to take out of it," Longoria said. "One positive is the fact I feel good in the box and am making good contact. I've just got to keep hoping that they fall."

Longoria nearly won it in the 11th, hitting a grounder off the leg of RHP Shawn Camp with the bases loaded and two outs. But the ball bounced right to Bautista at third, and his throw barely beat Longoria's headfirst slide.

"Just one of those weird plays in a game like that," Longoria said.

STANDING TALL: RHP Jeff Niemann will have a tough time topping his July, when he went 3-0 with a club-record 1.06 ERA.

But as Niemann enters tonight's start, he said he's feeling as good as he did early in the 2010 season, when he was, arguably, the team's most consistent starter. Niemann said a factor in his recent success is being able to locate his fastball, getting it down in the zone, while being able to throw his offspeed pitches (including a curveball) for strikes early in count.

"It's always good to get back to having success because you know you can do it, have done it before," he said. "It's good to be able to go out and do it on a consistent basis again."

GOOD DEED: The Rays wives and Waste Management Co. are teaming up for a backpack and school supplies drive during this weekend's series to support the PACE Center for Girls. Fans can bring new or used backpacks or school supplies to Gates 1 and 5.

MISCELLANY: Thursday was the Rays' sixth walkoff win this season and first since June 28 against the Reds. … Ten of the 11 games between the Rays and Jays this season have been decided by two or fewer runs.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com.

Times wires
Thursday, August 4, 2011

Sprint Cup

What: Good Sam 500

When/where: Today, practice (Speed, noon and 4 p.m.); Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 10:30 a.m.); Sunday, race (ESPN, 1 p.m.); Long Pond, Pa.

Fast facts: Jeff Gordon won at Pocono on June 12 to match Bill Elliott for the victory lead at the track with five. … Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch share the series victory lead this season with three. Gordon and Matt Kenseth are two-time winners.

Standings: 1. Carl Edwards, 682; 2. Jimmie Johnson, 671; 3. Harvick, 670; 4. Kyle Busch and Kenseth, 666; 6. Kurt Busch, 664; 7. Gordon, 630; 8. Ryan Newman, 618; 9. Tony Stewart, 609; 10. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 606

Nationwide

What: U.S. Cellular 250

When/where: Today, practice; Saturday, qualifying, race, (ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.); Newton, Iowa.

Fast facts: Brad Keselowski won't run in Saturday's race due to his head-on crash into a wall at Road Atlanta on Wednesday. Penske Racing said that Parker Kligerman will drive the No. 22 Dodge in today's practice sessions, but Sam Hornish will run both qualifying and the race. Keselowski crashed during a testing run in Atlanta. He walked from the car and was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons. … Michael McDowell is driving Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 18 Toyota in place of Kyle Busch, a six-time winner this year.

Standings: 1. Ricky Stenhouse, 740; 2. Reed Sorenson, 737; 3. Elliott Sadler, 716; 4. Justin Allgaier, 689; 5. Aric Almirola, 671

Trucks

What: Good Sam 125

When/where: Today, practice (Speed, 2 p.m.); Saturday, qualifying (Speed, 9:30 a.m.), race (Speed, 1 p.m.); Long Pond, Pa.

Fast facts: Kyle Busch is making his first series start since racing to his fifth victory of the year, July 7 at Kentucky Speedway. His Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 18 Toyota leads the owners' standings, 33 points ahead of Kevin Harvick Inc.'s No. 2 Chevrolet. Harvick also is racing. … Mark Martin is driving Turner Motorsports' No. 32 Chevrolet.

Standings: 1. Johnny Sauter, 453; 2. Austin Dillon, 449; 3. James Buescher, 433; 4. Timothy Peters, 431; 5. Cole Whitt, 424

IndyCar

What: Indy 200

When/where: Today, practice; Saturday, practice, qualifying (Versus, 6 p.m.); Sunday, race (Versus, 2:50 p.m.); Lexington, Ohio.

Fast facts: Scott Dixon won at the track in 2007 and 2009. … Mike Conway, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Alex Tagliani are on probation through Dec. 31 for multiple instances of initiating avoidable contact.

Standings: 1. Dario Franchitti, 388; 2. Will Power, 350; 3. Dixon, 282; 4. Tony Kanaan, 253; 5. Oriol Servia, 244

NHRA

What: Northwest Nationals

When/where: Today, qualifying; Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 6 p.m.); Sunday, final eliminations (ESPN2, 7 p.m.); Kent, Wash.

Standings: Top Fuel — 1. Del Worsham, 1,133; 2. Spencer Massey, 1,051. Funny Car — 1. Mike Neff, 1,094; 2. Robert Hight, 931. Pro Stock — 1. Mike Edwards, 1,000; 2. Jason Line, 985. Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Karen Stoffer, 653; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 648

Formula One

Next: Belgian Grand Prix, Aug. 28, Spa-Francorchamps

Standings: 1. Sebastian Vettel, 234; 2. Mark Webber, 149; 3. Lewis Hamilton, 146; 4. Fernando Alonso, 145; 5. Jenson Button, 134

Times staff, wires
Thursday, August 4, 2011

Show of the day

Gator fans, check out ESPN and its sister stations on Monday. The Florida football program will be in the spotlight all day on Inside the Program: Live With the Gators. Former Gators QB Jesse Palmer will provide live behind-the-scenes updates all day and ESPN's College Football Live at 3:30 p.m. will televise a practice drill live. ESPN.com also will provide live blogging all day from Gainesville.

Analyst of the day

Eric Mangini, the former coach of the Browns and Jets, is joining ESPN as an NFL studio analyst. He will appear on shows such as NFL Live, SportsCenter and First Take. He is set to make his on-air debut Aug. 17.

He said it

"He closes deals. So do I. I think we're one in the same. I'm just saying."

Brian Wilson, the outlandish Giants closer on the Showtime show The Franchise, after meeting President Obama along with the rest of the 2010 World Series champs

By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors Editor
Thursday, August 4, 2011

trailmix

{outdoors-related bits and bites}





St. Petersburg sailors win silver

J en French and J.P. Creignou captured the silver medal in the 21-boat SKUD-18 fleet at the International Association of Disabled Sailing World last month in England. The local sailors finished behind Great Britain's Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell. French and Creignou delivered a consistent performance by finishing at the top of the fleet in at least half of the 10-race series. "We are pretty excited with the silver," Creignou told US Sailing. "We started sailing together a year-and-a-half ago, and we are also dealing with new equipment; a new mast and new sails. "We weren't sure what to expect. We hoped to do well, of course, but we didn't know where we'd stack up."

In other action, the Sonar team of Floridians Paul Callahan (Cape Coral) and Brad Johnson (Pompano Beach) and Tom Brown (Castine, Maine) finished at the top of the American teams and fifth overall, which was good enough to qualify the United States for the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Finishing in sixth place was 2008 Paralympian Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.) and Clearwater's Brad Kendell.

Great Bay Scallop Search

Scallopers in Homosassa, Crystal River and Steinhatchee are gathering their share of these tasty shellfish. On Aug. 27, bay area residents can join the hunt. But this game is strictly catch and release.

The Great Bay Scallop Search is a resource-monitoring program in which volunteers snorkel in lower Tampa Bay to count scallops. It has been conducted since 1993 with support from the Tampa Bay National Estuary Program. For more information, go to tampabaywatch.org.

Bay scallops grow to about 2 inches and are found in sea grass beds and shallow waters of estuaries throughout Florida's west coast and as far north as West Palm Beach on the east coast. Unlike other bivalves such as clams that can live up to 40 years, the life span of a bay scallop is just 12-18 months.

An adult bay scallop can filter about 15 liters of water per hour, taking both food and oxygen and expelling cleansed water along with waste products. Extremely sensitive to water pollution, bay scallops are considered the proverbial canary in a coal mine for the marine environment.

Poor water quality wiped out Tampa Bay's scallops during the mid 1960s. But with the implementation of the Clean Water Act in 1970, conditions gradually improved enough for scallops to regain a foothold. Stocking efforts by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have helped boost local scallop populations.

The year's scallop season runs through Sept. 25 in the waters north of the Pasco-Hernando county line (near Aripeka) to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County.

You can land up to 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1 pint of scallop meat each day. Recreational scallopers may not possess more than 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or a half-gallon of meat aboard a boat. For regulations, go to myfwc.com.

Florida sailors race in England

Nearly half of the 16-sailor U.S. team competing in England this month, the last major international competition before next year's Olympics, hail from Florida. The Weymouth and Portland International Regatta runs through Aug. 13 at the Portland National Sailing Academy in Weymouth, the venue for the 2012 Games.

Designed to be a dry run for Olympic competition, the regatta has drawn 460 sailors from 66 nations. The athletes representing the United States in the nine classes were selected at June's Sail for Gold regatta, the sixth event on the International Sailing Federation World Cup circuit.

The Florida sailors: Clearwater's Paige Railey in the Laser Radial (one-person dinghy); brother Zach Railey in the Finn (one-person dinghy heavy); St. Petersburg's Mark Mendelblatt and Miami's Brian Fatih in the Star (keelboat); Plantation's Brad Funk in the Laser Radial; Miami Beach's Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham in the Elliott 6-meter (three-person keelboat match racing); and Naples' Trevor Moore in the 49er (two-person dinghy high performance).

Information from US Sailing contributed to this report.

By Doug Hemmer, Times Correspondent
Thursday, August 4, 2011

What's hot: Redfish in lower Tampa Bay are schooling in large numbers. The past month had schools of 20-50 fish. Some days, we can find 200-300. Most are 26-32 inches. The smaller reds are hanging in the mullet schools. If you can move close to the school without spooking it, it will stay and feed. Redfish on the move will seldom feed.

Baits: The redfish are feeding best on live and cut pinfish. Free-line the cut bait and rig the live ones under a cork. Try to work the edge of the school. A bait cast into the middle can spook the fish.

The spawn of baitfish has grown large enough to snag in a quarter-inch net. Throw the net as soon as you see the pinfish. If you chum too long, the spawn will show and snag in the mesh. This is why they call the small spawn "net wreckers."

Most large threadfins have been hanging in 20 feet off St. Pete beach. A Sabiki rig worked through the school will catch all the threadfins you'll need. If you want pinfish, work the bottom under the threadfin school.

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

Times staff
Thursday, August 4, 2011

Animals

Balloons can have unintended consequences

Having balloons at a party seems like a good idea, right? Not always. There is actually a law prohibiting the release of more than nine within a 24-hour period. Violators face up to a $250 fine. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is reminding people that released balloons generally wind up in the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean. Wildlife, especially sea turtles, can mistake the balloons for food and ingest them, making them sick. Not to be a party pooper, but keep an eye on those balloons at the next birthday party or picnic.

Dead black bear found in Naples

FWC officials in Naples got a surprise last week when they discovered a dead black bear wrapped in a blue tarp and dumped in a housing complex. Deputies who found the bear told FWC officials the stench was overwhelming. They figured it to be about 200 pounds, but the gender was undetermined because its bottom area was so soupy. Officials expect foul play. Killing or harming a black bear in Florida is a felony.

Seasons

Amberjack open; spiny lobster soon

A reminder of two seasonal openings. Greater amberjack season in the Gulf of Mexico opened Monday. Amberjack must have a 30-inch fork, and anglers are allowed to keep one per day. Spiny lobster recreation and commercial season opens Saturday. For regulations, go to myfwc.com.

Paddleboard races

Treasure Island events in October

The Treasure Island Classic paddleboard races are Oct. 22-23 on Treasure Island. Early registration begins Sept. 1. The OC 6 race is Oct. 22, all others Oct. 23. Cost for paddling on both days is $35. For information, contact Rea Sieber at (727) 641-8012 or canoerea@gmail.com.

Times staff, wires

Solunar table

AM PM major minor major minor

8/5 11:10 5:00 11:45 5:30

8/6 0 6:00 12:10 6:30

8/7 12:50 6:50 1:00 7:20

8/8 1:35 7:45 1:55 8:15

8/9 2:30 8:35 2:45 9:05

8/10 3:20 9:30 3:40 9:55

8/11 4:10 10:20 4:30 10:45