Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 26

2c TIMES WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2000 PRO FOOTBALL FANFARE 3UC aroer By ERNEST HOOPER Times Staff Writer U.S. Soccer to hold Riexico fee man agreed to a one-year deal. Coleman started for most of five seasons with Jacksonville. CHIEFS: Free-agent tight end Troy Drayton signed a one-year deal, and FSU rookie tight end Melvin Pearsall was cut Drayton spent the past three seasons with Miami. DOLPHINS: Guard Kevin Donnalley, cut two weeks ago, agreed to a one-year contract.

Free-agent cornerback Terrance Shaw, released by San Diego in March, signed a one-year agreement LIONS: Cornerback Bryant Westbrook was arrested on a drunken driving charge after police said his car drifted across three lanes, then stopped in the middle of the AVbve' Cornerback Ronde Barber on Tuesday became the sixth Bucs restricted free agent to re-sign. Barber signed a one-year deal. Terms were not disclosed, but it is believed he will receive $472,000, the amount the Bucs made as a qualifying offer when the free agency period began in February. As did all free agents, Barber had until April 10 to field offers, which the Bucs had the right to match. After that date, he could negotiate only with Tampa Bay.

Ronde Barber started 15 games last season. Irritated that Mexico sent less than its best to the US. Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation plans to withhold Hie country's appearance fee. "'The move could cost the Mexican federation as much as $500,000.

U.S. officials would not disclose the SPORTS DIGEST The Mexican team that lost to the U.S. 3-0 on Sunday was compiled mostly from the club UNAM Pumas. "They didn't put forth the right effort in terms of getting a representative team out there," federation spokesman Jim Moorhouse said. MORE SOCCER: In Euro 2000, Norway beat Spain 1-0 ui, Rotterdam, Netherlands, on Steffen Iversen's goal.

Short-handed Yugoslavia rallied from a three-goal deficit to tie Slovenia 3-3 in Charleroi, Belgium. Yugoslav captain Dragan Stojkovic, 35, announced his retirement from the national team after the tournament. Also, David Beckham will not be punished by UEFA, Europe's governing body, for his obscene gesture at taunting fans after England's 3-2 loss to Portugal on Monday. Police in Eindhoven, Netherlands, said that on the night following England's loss, rtf arrests were linked to hooliganism Goalkeeper Briana Scurry, sidelined most of this year because of injuries, was picked for the U.S. roster for the first CDNCACAF Women's Gold Cup on June 23-July 3.

'2 TENNIS: Pete Sampras rallied from a set and a break down to beat Arvind Parmar 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-3 allhe Queen's Club in London. Qualifier Bob Bryan sfimned Tim Henman 7-6 (7-2), 6-4. Patrick Rafter beat Sjeng Schalken in the Gerry Weber Open at Halle, Germany. Defending champ Nicolas Kiefer and top seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov also advanced. Alexandra Stevenson lost to Shinobu Asagoe in the first round of the DFS Classic at Birmingham, England.

Top seed Nathalie Tauziat afid No. 3 Jennifer Capriati won in straight sets NBC's weekend ratings for the French Open dropped Dearly 40 percent from a year ago. Saturday's women's final earned a 2.3 overnight rating, down 39 percent, and Sunday's men's final drew a 2.5, off 38 percent. Each ratings point represents 1,008,000 households. Overnight ratings cover about 63 percent of the nation's population.

CYCLING: The Deutsche Telekom team took the first eight places in the first stage, a team time trial, at tBe Tour de Suisse at Uster, Switzerland. Steffen The 1997 third-round pick played in only one regular-season game as a rookie. But he played in the division playoff against Green Bay, and his confidence and performance grew. Since 1998 Barber has started 24 of 32 games, including 15 in 1999, when he had a career-high 74 tackles, 16 passes defensed and two interceptions. Of seven restricted free agents, only tight end Patrick Hape is unsigned.

Hape had foot surgery last week but is expected to be ready to play when training camp begins July 23 at the University of Tampa. SUES NFL: Corp. sued the NFL, saying the league is refusing to pay a $100,527.18 long-distance telephone bill from two years ago. The world's biggest long-distance phone company said in a suit filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles that NFL Properties the league's marketing and sales division, refused to pay the bill for services in June 1998.

League spokesman Chris Widmaier said the charges are for calls made by someone who broke into the telephone system at NFL Properties' Los Angeles office. The NFL hopes to resolve the dispute before it gets to court, Widmaier said. BENGALS: At least three draft picks, including former FSU receiver Ron Dugans, face stalled negotiations because the team wants a "loyalty clause" requiring repayment of a signing bonus if they criticize the club in the media. The other players are Mississippi State cornerback Robert Bean and James Madison running back Curtis Keaton. BILLS: Wide receiver Scott Pingel, who set seven Division III records, signed.

Playing for Westminster College in Missouri, Pingel, a three-time Ail-American, was Division III player of the year in 1999. His 436 career receptions eclipsed Jerry Rice's mark of 301. CARDINALS: Defensive tackle Mark Smith agreed to a one-year deal for just over $l-million, which is expected to clear the way for the release of defensive tackle Erick Swann to gain salary-cap room. COWBOYS: Fullback Daiyl Johnston, whose rugged blocking helped Dallas win three Super Bowls in the 1990s yet led to neck problems, was scheduled to announce his retirement today. CHARGERS: Free-agent offensive tackle Ben Cole- road early Monday in suburban Detroit.

A preliminary breath test showed Westbrook's blood-alcohol level was 0.15, above the legal limit of 0.10, police said. He was polite and cooperative, police said. Quarterback Charlie Batch had surgery to repair a fractured knee bone and is expected to resume workouts in 8-9 weeks. Free agent Stoney Case signed a one-year deal. NINERS: Quarterback Rick Mirer signed a one-year deal for $440,000 and will back up Jeff Garcia.

Steve Young, who retired Monday, was named to the board of Flexpoint Sensors Systems based in Salt Lake City. RAMS: Free-agent center Steve Everitt signed a two-year deal, and starting cornerback Dexter McCleon re-signed for one year. Everitt, a three-starter for Philadelphia, likely will start. REDSKINS: Guard Jay Leeuwenburg signed a one-year deal for $440,000, and defensive end Nolan Harrison signed a two-year deal. TITANS: Coach Jeff Fisher agreed to a deal that will keep him with the team through the 2003 season.

Fisher reportedly will be in the salary class of Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher, Jacksonville coach Tom Coughlin and Carolina coach George Seifert, who earn between and $2.5 million a season. Seattle's Mike Holmgren makes $4-million a year. PHILLIPS TO STAND TRIAL Superior Court Judge Linda Lefkowitz ruled there was enough evidence to require former NFL running back Lawrence Phillips to stand trial in Beverly Hills, on felony counts of corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant making a terrorist threat, conspiring to dissuade a witness and false imprisonment. Phillips was arrested May 27 at his home after police responded to a domestic violence call. His girlfriend was treated for injuries.

XFL The new pro league owned by the World Wrestling Federation and NBC picked Chicago as one of eight cities to get a team. Although still without a name or coaching staff, the franchise has a five-game contract to play home games at Soldier Field. Memphis apparently will fill the final vacancy. Information from Times wires was used in this report. Wesemann was the individual leader.

CRICKET: Three men were arrested in London after a nearly yearlong investigation into match-fixing. The men were not identified, but they were not players or officials, a police spokeswoman said. BASKETBALL: Russia defeated Australia 75-68 in a tournament at the Olympic Superdome in Sydney, Australia. Canada beat New Zealand 72-66. AUTO RACING: Ray Evernham and driver Casey Atwood tested a prototype of the Dodge Intrepid they plan to race in Winston Cup next season at Greenville-Pickens (S.C.) Speedway.

DRUGS: Boxer Jonathan Thaxton was cleared of knowingly taking the steroid nandrolone, a ruling that could help some prominent British athletes such as Linford Christie embroiled in similar drug cases Cuba's Olympic committee reiterated its support of Javier Sotomayor; a panel decides today whether to let stand the world high-jump champion's two-year suspension for drug use. BOXING: Felix Trinidad will make the first defense of his WBA super-welterweight title against No. 1-ranked challenger Mamadou Thiam on July 22 in Miami. Compiled from Times wires. CAPTAIN'S CORNER A daily guide to fishing in the Tampa Bay area Draft not coking blue for Jackets Whinham's new role still up in air Tlm ave Whinham had been in the Storm offices for 30 minutes when he was The heat of summer is here, and with it comes hot night fishing.

One way to have good night fishing is to target catch-and-release snook along beaches. The best time to target these snook is a few hours before dawn. Artificials, topwaters baits, jigs and a variety of soft plastics will do the trick. Live bait fishermen also do extremely well. The top bait on my list is the scaled sardine; pigfish and grunts are equally productive L-m.

Zl CAPT. BROCK BLACKM0RE J. it i I JOHN C. COTEY STORM at times. The key to catching beach snook is to understand where they are.

Almost all snook along the beach will roam the water between shore and the first sandbar. Because the fish are so close to shore, try making casts that parallel the shore. I prefer tackle in the 8-pound range with a test leader. Just about all lighted docks adjacent to Gulf Passes also are loaded with snook. The keys to success include strong tidal flow and paying close attention to what the snook are feeding on.

Being quiet also is key because the water normally is calm. Late at night, remember that you are fishing in someone's backyard. Be quiet and respectful while fishing someone else's dock; if you are, he probably will leave the light on for you next time. When the sun comes up, remember to keep a close eye on the water. Many times these snook can be sight-fished in clear water because of their proximity to shore.

Snook season is closed, so release these spawning fish as quickly as possible. Brock Blackmore charters out of Tampa. Call (813) 837-8698. The Storm has added Rich McGeorge, assistant offensive line coach for Miami since 1993. McGeorge was fired by new coach DaveWannstedton Jan.

16. McGeorge, 51, was a tight end for the Green Bay Packers from 1970-78, a college assistant coach at Duke (1981-82, 1987-89) and Florida (1990-92), and an assistant with the USFL's Birmingham Stallions (1983-84) and Tampa Bay Bandits (1985). DULICK IN, WILSON OUT: Receiverdefensive back Jason Dulick has been cleared by team doctors and could start Saturday against Nashville. Dulick hurt his neck against New Jersey and was feared lost for the season. But an MRI exam was negative, and he has been practicing with the team.

Offensive specialist Charles Wilson, who has been bothered all year by hamstring and back injuries, is hurt again. It's a hamstring. HUT HUT HIKE: Terry Beauford has been cut, and Curtis Whitley is looking great in practice. Whitley (6 feet 1, 295 pounds) a seven-year NFL veteran who signed last week, is expected to bolster the shoddy offensive line. "I like him; the guy is a solid sucker, boy," Marcum said.

"He's for real." first asked: What are you doing back? His answer: Well, I don't know yet. Whinham will help with the coaching, and that's about the extent of his knowledge at this point "I'm just here to help out in any way I can," he said. "Whether that has to do with player personnel, helping the offensive and defensive coaches, anything." Chances are Whinham will end up where he started with the Storm: as an assistant in charge of the defense. As the assistant head coach, director of player personnel and defensive coordinator from 1995-97, he helped build the league's best defenses as the Storm won championships in 1995 and '96. He also coached on Tim Marcum's staff in Detroit, helping win two championships.

But as a head coach, Whinham has had little success. He left the Storm in 1997 and went 1-17 in over season with the expansion Buffalo Destroyers. He was fired after the team started 0-4. "I think with the perspective of several weeks, the fact of the matter is Arena Football is competitive now, and if you look at expansion teams the last several years, there have been some doggone good coaches that didn't have success in their first year or two," Whinham said. "Certainly I don't think any of us forgot how to coach.

We went in there with personally having been a part of four championship teams, so we had a pretty reasonble idea what it takes to be successful. We went about it in a sound way; it was just going to take more time than we were going to get We ran out of time." Whinham, also Cleveland's head coach from 1991-93, is 7-44 in his career. Since being fired, he has mulled his options. 'Tim just called and asked me if I would come down and see if there was anything I could do to help," Whinham said. Can he do anything to help? "We'll see," he said.

WATER TEMPERATURE AND TIDES 8 no Tuesday at Egmont Key, southwest of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. SUN AND MOON Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset S0LUNARS Minor Major 11:15 a.m. 11:40 p.m. 6:10 a.m. 6:25 p.m.

NEW YORK Doug MacLean was not surprised by the players nlade available for the expansion draft. That did not make Tuesday any less exciting for the NHL general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The NHL released the list cf unprotected players available to be taken by Columbus or the Minnesota Wild, the league's latest additions, in the June 23 draft. The teams will select 26 players each, up to two from each existing team. Columbus has the first pick.

"I was sitting at a Tim Horton's at 4:30 this morning, looking at the list," MacLean said. "Either I'm going goofy or I can't wait." 'v Mark Messier, Claude Lem-ieux and Rick Tocchet are among the players made available. Lemieux, who helped New Jersey win the Stanley Cup this season, was among 22 Devils left unprotected. Tocchet, who helped Philadelphia to the Eastern Conference final, was one of 26 Flyers made available. Other players made available include: defensemen Marty McSorley (Boston) and Paul Coffey (Carolina); forwards Doug Gil-mour (Buffalo), Bob Probert (Chicago), Guy Carbonneau (Dallas), Joe Kocur and Igor Larionov (Detroit); and goalies Grant Fuhr (Calgary) and Tom Barrasso (Ottawa).

Nashville and Atlanta, the newest teams to play, are exempt from making players available. 5 Teams were able to protect either up to five defensemen, nine forwards and one goaltender, or up to three defensemen, seven forwards and two goaltenders. COYOTES: Phoenix right wing Mikail Renberg, obtained in the trade that sent Tocchet to Philadelphia, is leaving the team to return to his native Sweden. Renberg agreed to a five-year contract with Lulea in the Swedish Elite League. CAPITALS: Peter Bondra, the second-highest goal scorer in Washington history, confirmed that he and the team have agreed that he should be traded.

AVALANCHE: Defenseman Ray Bourque is undecided if he will become an unrestricted free agent hen his contract expires July 1, his agent said. STANLEY CUP RATINGS: The Devils' 2-1 victory over the Stars in double overtime of Game 6 to win the Cup drew a 4.2 national rating. That matches the Game 5 rating, the highest Cup ratings since 1980. Each ratings point represents 1,008,000 households. High Low High low High Withlacoochee River Ent Cedar Key Bayport Tarpon, Anclote Rivet St.

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