Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 42

4C I Sunday, December 16, 2007 St. Petersburg Times Sports: (727) 893-8123 or at sptsnewstampabay.com Tom Jones: (727) 893-8544 or tjonessptimes.com Cool deal of the day Because East Carolina knows it wont use up its allotment of 5,000 tickets for the Dec. 23 Hawaii Bowl, its fans are buying tickets and donating them to military personnel who will be in Hawaii at the time. The five branches of the military have 45,564 active, reserve and National Guard troops and sailors stationed at13 installations throughout the islands. Of course, those who go to the game should root for the Pirates.

It would only be right, don't you think? He said it "I know that our sport is clean, butthe perception is that certain athletes in every sport are trying to push the envelope illegally" Golfer Tiger Woods, right, to Yahoo on his support of drug testing on the PGA Tour, which Fake headline of the day Patriots Proud Of defeating Whoever That Last Team Was The Onion will begin in June A 1 vfi r' .1 Sports on TVRadio H.zir: Bowling PBA: Spartanburg Classic 1p.m, ESPN (bop scsmndL BY TOM JONES Times Staff Writer Last week, baseball was rocked by the Mitchell report, which detailed the problem of steroids and performance-enhancing drugs in the sport. So where does this particular scandal rank in baseball history? Oh, it's bad. But still not the worst There was one we believe was worse, I Iere are eight baseball scandals. All of them bad but some worse than others. ESPN (HD) Sun Spcrtc Sun Sports FSN ESPNU Golf Ch.8(HD) 1.

Black Sox scandal Men's college basketball North Carolina at Rutgers 8 p.m. Women's college basketball TCU at Florida 2 p.m. Baylor at Stanford 5 p.m. Ohio State at Washington 7 p.m. College hockey Maine at New Hampshire 4 p.m.

Golf Europe: South African Open 9:30 a.m. (taped) Target World Challenge 3 p.m. NFL Falcons at Bucs 1 p.m. Colts at Raiders 4 p.m. Eagles at Cowboys 4:15 p.m.

Redskins at Giants 8:15 p.m. Soccer Italian: Roma at Torino 9 a.m. EPL- Chelsea at Arsenal 11a.m. Italian: Inter Milan at Cagliari 2:30 p.m. Men's College Cup final: 3 p.m..

Wake Forest vs. Ohio State Ch.13 (HD); 620-AM, 103.5-FM Ch.10(HD) Ch.13 (HD); 1010-AM Ch.8(HD); 1010-AM 6. The first scandal Baseball's very first scandal happened way back in 1877, when four players from the Louisville Grays were accused of throwing games for bribes. Three were banned for life for losing games on purpose. It was never proved that the fourth actually threw games, but he was banned for refusing to cooperate.

The Grays and St. Louis Brown Stockings, who had signed two of the players before the investigation, ended up dropping out of the league partly, if not totally, because of the scandal. Why it's No. 6 on our list: The scandal might have done more good than harm because it did send a message to all players that cheating would not be tolerated. That message was heard loud and clear.

Or at least we thought until 1919. 1 mftmmmmmmmmmm mxf i i t. i "T'H i '''I'll FSC FSC FSC ESPN2 TV: Golf: Golf Channel; FSN: Fox Sports Net; FSC: Fox Soccer Channel In 1919, eight members of the Chicago White Sox either accepted money or knew of those who accepted money to throw the World Series. The mighty White Sox did, indeed, lose the series to the Reds. Even though several players appeared to have played well and had no part in throwing games (most notably "Shoeless" Joe Jackson), all eight were thrown out of baseball for good.

Why it's No. 1 on our The scandal proved how much gambling was a part of the sports culture in the early 20th century. It's hard to believe this was the only time baseball was affected by gambling and the criminal element. Simply put, the Black Sox cast an ominous shadow over baseball, from its beginnings all the way to modern day with the likes of Pete Rose. 2.

The Mitchell report Baseball players use steroids. And here, supposedly, is the smoking gun. The 311-page report details what the investigation called "pervasive use" of performance-enhancing drugs and named 80-some players, including stars such as Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield and Miguel Tejada. 7. Pete Rose It-i gambling 1t'A I WIS ZW7 Dr.

Remote I Check it out today Sunday NFL Countdown: 11 a.m. on ESPN. Features include how Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Jets coach Eric Mangini went from close friends to bitter rivals, Cleveland quarterback Derek Anderson and the bad week of the Falcons. Fox NFL Sunday: Noon on Ch.13. One of fhe features is Pam Oliver talking with Cowboys tight end Jason Witten.

Is it in Oliver's contract that she can do interviews with only NFC East teams? Every time Emm babMAk. i itM 2 Getty Images (1990) Associated Press file Despite playing well, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson was among eight White Sox players banned for life for throwing the 1919 World Series. 4. Danny Almonte 5. Juiced baseballs you turn around, she's talking to a Cowboy or a Giant Falcons at Bucs: 1p.m.

on Ch.13. MattVasgersian and J.C. Pearson will call the game that the Bucs better win or things are going to get dicey in Pewter Land. Why it's No. 2 on our list: So the report told us that players use steroids.

Really, didn't we already know that? And while there were some big names, the list was more smoke than fire, doesn't it seem? Baseball does seem to be getting a handle on the problem. And there's a good chance that decades from now, we'll say the use of steroids affected baseball for a short span in its long, long history. 3. Pittsburgh drug A)' The Rolando Paulino All-Stars from the Bronx, N.Y., finished third at the 2001 Little League World Series behind a dominating, 70-mph-throwing lefty named Danny Almonte, who looked like a man pitching against boys. That's because he was closer to a man than anyone else.

He wasn't the age limit of 12. He was 14. The team was stripped of its wins, and the boy's father was banned for life from Little League. Why it's No. 4 on our list First, there's no way to go back and fix Next five games Home I Away Buccaneers (8B) 870-2700, fcuccaneers.com, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa trials rV" Dec.

30; End of Jan. 5-6: regular NFL playoffs 1 fsrn ia Today; Atlanta, Ch.13 1, Ch.13 season first round LXf-J More than anything, this 1985 scandal rocked baseball's image you know, good-ol' summertime, hot dogs and apple pie and Major League Baseball will deny it until the end of days, but players swear that baseballs were juiced during certain periods in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Take, for example, comments in USA Today by Angels players at the 2002 World Series: "These balls are juiced, no doubt about it," shortstop David Eckstein said. "They're hard as a rock. They are tight.

They are small, and they're hard," closer Troy Percival said. These balls are way harder than anything we've played with," pitcher Jarrod Washburn said. Why ifs No. 5 on our list Well, maybe a few power and run records fell in the process, but no one was really at a disadvantage from a competitive standpoint because everyone was playing with the same baseballs. And we're not even sure the baseballs were juiced.

But it does make you wonder what else baseball might do behind the scenes to affect the game. Lightning (813 301-6SOO, lightning.nhl.com, St. Pete Times Forum, lampa "1 Dec.27: Thursday: 1 Tnmntn Saturday: Carolina, 7:30, Sun I Montreal, Htm'. 1 1.3(1 7:30, Sun 111 Hi 1 ltr the problem entirely. All of the teams beaten or eliminated by Almonte's team lost out on their chance at glory.

And this scandal only raises the question we never wanted to consider: Do all of that stuff. Cocaine doesn't exactly fit into that picture. Many high-profile players such as Dave Parker, Dale Berra (son of Florida men's basketball (352)384-3261, gatorzone.com r7 1 1 1, Yogi), Keith Wednesday: Charleston Southern, 7, FSN HighPo 8, FSN a iiiyii run 1 Pete Rose, the all-time hits leader, was banned for life for betting on baseball games. Baseball's all-time hits leader was banned from the game (and, apparently, the Hall of Fame) when it was discovered he bet on sports, including baseball, while managing the Reds. Nowit's believed Rose bet only on the Reds to win, so he wasn't throwing games.

Managing every regular-season game like it's the seventh game of the World Series, however, cannot be good for a team in the long run. Why it's No. 7 on our list: Ultimately, the only one truly hurt by this was Rose himself. And, if anything, it further proved baseball doesn't mess around with gambling. Rose is a cautionary tale for anyone in baseball considering betting on a game.

8. 1908 bribery attempt The night before a makeup game between the Cubs and Giants that would decide the National League pennant, there was an attempt to bribe umpire Bill Hem. It was believed the Giants' team doctor tried to make sure Klem helped the Giants win, and ultimately, the doctor was banned from baseball for life. Klem refused to take the bribe. The Cubs, which boasted the famous infield of Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers and Frank Chance, went on to win.

Why it's No. 8 on our list: It could've been higher if some rumors were actually true. Many thought the doctor was the fall guy for the scandal and it was actually Giants Hall of Fame manager John McGraw behind the bribe attempt. That was never proved, but had it been, it would've been awful for not only McGraw, but all of baseball as McGraw was one of the game's legends. you really think in the long history of Little League this is the first and only time someone has tried to sneak in an over-aged player? 5 FSU men's basketball Hernandez (above), Tim Raines (left) and Lonnie Smith were summoned to testify before a grand (850) 644-1830, seminoles.com Tuesday: Fh Jan.

5: La Salle, 7 tonegeor 1 Charleston, 1 I USF men's basketball xmmiwM. com Saturday: Dec. 29: Jan. 2: 1 3 St. Francis, Winston- Rutgers, r4' 7 Salem 7, Catch 47 USF women's basketball 1-8OM2 -5557, gousMs jury about drug use at Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium.

That led to something known as the "Pittsburgh Drug Trials," which resulted in seven drug dealers pleading guilty or being convicted on various charges. Even the Pirate Parrot (the Pirates' mascot, for gocxlness' sake) bought coke. Wiiy it's No. 3 on our list: The most harmful effect for baseball was the testimony about its little drug secret, which included amphetamines as they were called) and marijuana use. The widespread use of "greenies" seemed to take some of the charm out of America's pastime.

The trial forced us to lose a little of our innocence and grow up when it came to baseball. Jan. 5: West Virginia, 7 hmm- Ya'le, I A I in jm I uoueqe rooirjaii dowi games nt-'f i r1 "5 rm. Dec. 31: Music City vs.

Kentucky, 4, ESPN Ok. 31 Sun Jan. 1: vs. Oregon, Capital One vs. Michigan, Uh.28 Dec.

29: Liberty vs. Mississippi State, 4:30, ESPN Associated Press (2000) Jim Sherwood, left, a mechanical engineering professor, and Patrick Drane, a student, try to determine if a baseball is juiced. Captain's Corner BOWL GAMES Sure USF vs. Oregon. p.m.

Dec. 31, El Paso, Tenas. Go to USF's Bowl Central page at gousltiulls.com for ticket information. Musk City: FSU vs. Kentuckv, 4 p.m.

Dec. 31, fgashviile FSU boosters and season-ticket holders can buv tickets at 1-38S-378-6653 Outbade Wisconsin vs Tennessee, 11 a Jan 1, Tamca IWaHabir- at TtcMmastw outlets or at ticket mastwfom Capital 0t: Fionda vs Michigan. 1 Jan 1, Onando Sold out COLLEGE HOCKEY Tamw Ba Lhtninj Colof Hodier Classic (j ft-id. St Me Tws Forum Hrt'v FMme UVass Pnser Pciiytertimr In- Co'orc, Co Ticket window TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING Season tickets (including 10- and 20-game packages) on sale at the St. Pete Times Forum box office in Tampa, all Ticketmasler outlets and tampabaylightning.com.

Call (813) 301-6600 for information. GRAND PRIX Of ST. PETERSBURG April 4-6, downtown St, Petersburg Tickets can be bought at (727) 824-7223. ert 225, by visiting the event's Wet site at gpstppte.com or through ticketmaster com, TAMPA BAY RAYS Home opwer tirkets or sale- at ravsbasebaM com and at boi office kKattons 'fropi'ana field downtown Call 7297 for information Spring tritKng ti'kt packagr-s are on ship at raystmttali com or rwbrr.bol com mrtnrioual game kMs go on saie Jat 11 (online and Jan, 12 phone person and Ticket master tr i Tips: Amberjack is excellent in 80-140 feet Live blue runners, good drags, fighting belts and 50- to 60-pound class tackle will help land them. Bleed the amberjack and ice them well.

They are great when smoked. Larry "Huffy" Hoffman charters out of John's Pass, Treasure Inland. Call (727) 709-9396 or e-mail him at huffyl(a tampabay.rr.com. Hot spots: We fished over a spring and found plenty of fish stacked through the entire water column. Numerous times, sharks cut off our fish while we tried to bring them up.

Live bait worked best But dead bait produced a few mangrove snapper. Near-shore grouper and kingfishing action are still good. With a cold front approaching, we might see water temperatures drop, which will start the migration of gags to deeper water. As long as there are bait schools, the fish will remain around them. What's hot Offshore fishing has found grouper, snapper, amberjack and kingfish.

Last week, we fished with Randy Comans on his 34 footer, the Double Our plan was to fish close to shore then move offshore. We missed the bite due to leaving late and had no luck tn the shallow water. Comans convinced us to head 50 miles offshore, where he assured us there would be plenty of fish. Well, he was right We caught Amencan red snapper, mangrove snapper and nee-sized amborjfiick Larry Hoffman For today's tides chart, see the weather package on 2A. or online at outdoors.tampabay.com..