The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 29

Nashville at Florida When: Thigpen revisiting Steelers, no deal on horizon as of yet Kats look to stretch streak vs. Florida to seven in row Tomorrow, 6:30 p.m. Radio: 99.7-FM By PAUL KUHARSKY Staff Writer ByCHIPCIRILLO Staff Writer It would be safe to say the Nashville Kats expect to win tomorrow night. The Kats (1-1) enter the 630 p.m. Arena Football League game at Florida (1-1) with a 6-0 series lead vs.

the Bobcats. "Most people say we've got their number or if just luck," Kats lineman William Gaines said. "It just so happens that when we play Florida we click well, but they've upgraded on the offensive and defensive line so we're going to have to be really prepared this year." The Bobcats are coming off their first-ever win over Orlando, a 38-25 decision over the defending AFL champion last week. Bobcats quarterback Rickey Foggie passed for 254 yards and four touchdowns. "We have defensive packages to take care of that or at least to limit that," Kats linebacker Rupert Grant said.

"We know he's a veteran in this game and bounced around the league, but he's always been a good quarterback wherever he's been. If we have to contain him, we'll do that; if we have to sit on routes, we'll do that" On Wednesday, the Kats signed quarterback Tim Lester, who started the first four games of the XFL season with the Chicago Enforcers, for whom he threw for 581 yards and four TDs. The 6-foot, 200-pounder passed for 3,639 yards and 34 touch- downs during his senior year at Western Michigan in 1999. "I noticed him at Western Michigan, where I thought he was a great quarterback," Kats Coach Pat Sperduto said. "In case you haven't noticed, we've had a rash of injuries.

Tim is another guy we need in here in case something were to happen." Lester is the third quarterback on Nashville's roster behind starter Andy Kelly and James Brown. Former Tennessee Titans receiver Yancey Thigpen was in Pittsburgh yesterday for a physical with the Steelers, though no deal with his former team appeared imminent Thigpen was one of several veterans the Titans released at the start of March as they worked to get below the salary cap. Signed to a five-year, $21 million deal in 1998, he never became the go-to receiver Tennessee needed. Thigpen missed 18 games in three seasons, including Super Bowl XXXIV, with a variety of knee, ankle and hamstring injuries. While Thigpen was scheduled to count $65 million against the Titans' salary cap this sea-soa Tennessee saved only $L5 million when it let him go.

The remaining pro-rated pieces of his original $525 million signing bonus and additional up-front money he received as his contract was restructured added up to a $5 million charge on this season's books. Thigpen played for the Steelers for six seasons, from 1992 through 1997, earning two Pro Bowl invitations. He had visited Indianapolis before the draft, but the Colts selected Reggie Wayne out of Miami with the 30th pick of the first round. Tennessee drafted two wide receivers and signed six more as undrafted rookies as it reloaded the positioa $WQ0 "BckTlw Kentucky dm Simpson making most of comeback with a 66 Wmmr Contest' begins tJm week at Kemt UCKY OWNS Each racing day from now through May 5, Kentucky Derby Day, you can pick your favorite Derby horse for the chance to win the $1000 grUtld pfizc. The more you enter, the better chance you have of being selected following the running of the Derby (one entry per day).

onship in Austin, Texas. Tm kind of sick of the talk, being a proud American," said Barrett, who had five birdies in her opening round And right behind the leaders was a pack of international players aiming to make it 11 in a row. England's Johanna Head, who flew to Texas last Sunday to play in her first LPGA tournament this year, and unheralded American Lisa DePaulo, who qualified for the tournament just last month, joined three others at 67. Canada's Lorie Kane, Scotland's Mhairi McKay and American Leta Lindley also were in the group one shot off the lead. Plus daily cash and prize giveaways, each day leading up to Derby Day.

Friday is closing day at Keeneldtld (12:10 first-post) Don't forget, Churchill Downs opens this Saturday (11:40 am first-post) 25 minutes North of Nashville, Exit 2, off 1-65 North, Franklin, KY For more information (270) 586-7778 Tennessean Nem Senices A lot has changed since Scott Simpson won 14 years ago at Forest Oaks Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. His jet-black hair has turned gray, he has shaved his trademark mustache, put on a few pounds, and the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic now has a $35 million purse. The 45-year-old Simpson is also attempting an unlikely comeback on the PGA Tour with seven screws and a plate in his right ankle following a December 1999 skiing accident in Utah. Simpson shot a 6-under-par 66 yesterday in one of his best rounds since picking his clubs back up and grabbed a one-stroke lead over seven golfers after the first round. Aaron Baddeley, a 20-year-old rising star from Australia, Jerry Kelly, Dudley Hart, Robert Dam-ron, Shaun Micheel, Spike McRoy and sectional qualifier Jeffrey Lankford were in the group at 67.

"There is a picture of me in the locker room and everybody says, "Who is that guy? Simpson said in reference to his different appearance since winning here in 1987 when first place was worth $108,000. This year's winner gets $630,000. Jones, Barrett tied at 66: Americans Rosie Jones and Tina Barrett have heard just about enough about foreign domination on the LPGA Tour. With American players winless in the first 10 tournaments this year, Jones and Barrett shot 4-under-par 66s to share the first-round lead with Sweden's Carin Koch at the Kathy Ireland Champi- Talk about having more time on your hands. Now get 3,000 minutes for $40 a month! SUPERSUNRATEPLAN Co ahead, talk all you want.

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"We're not going to relax," the US. coach promised. His players remind anyone who asks that seven of the 10 qualifying matches have yet to be played. "You don't know what's going to happen with other teams, with injuries, with who people will bring," said forward Clint Mathis, whose assist on an uncalled handball set up Josh Wolffs goal that beat Costa Rica 1-0 on Wednesday night. They smiled when they said those things, though, and who wouldn't smile in their situation? Their win over Costa Rica gave the Americans a 3-0 record, nine points in the standings and a commanding five-point lead over three teams Costa Rica, Mexico and Jamaica all with 1-1-1 records.

"The coaches have it drilled into our heads that we can win games, that we have to win these games," midfielder and team captain Clau-dio Reyna said. Mexico played a 1-1 tie Wednesday at Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica tied Honduras 1-1 at home. "The big picture is that we are still not qualified for the World Cup, but I don't think we could have laid out a better picture than the one we have, with nine points after three games," Arena said. The three second-place teams, along with Honduras, were expected to provide tough competition for the region's three slots at World Cup 2002 in Japan and South Korea The Americans already have defeated all but one of those four, opening regional qualifying with a 2-1 win over Mexico 2-0 on Feb. 28 and beating Honduras 2-1 March 28.

Their next qualifying match is June 16 in SunCom Member of the Wireless Network The Bright Idea in Wireless 1-800-SunCom-1 www.suncom1.com Also available at: Offic DEPOT SunCom Stores: Nashville Bivergate McHenrv Shopping Ctr. 615-865-5353 Green Hills (next to Kinko's) 615-463-9411 METBOCALL CIRCUIT CITY. Ttetetouch Cellular Concepts Murfreesboro Clarksville Cross Country Wireless, Inc. Nashville Dickson Digital Nashville Cool Springs Kroger Shopping Ctr. 615-771-8880 Murfreesboro 1810 Old Fort (near Home Depot) 615-890-6122 Columbia 618 S.

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