The Tampa Tribune du lieu suivant : Tampa, Florida • 25

Saturday, April 3, 1999 What: Washington Capitals at Tampa Bay Lightning Whenwhere: Palace TV: Sunshine Network Radio: WTBL-1 470 AM; WDAE-1250 AM Scouting report Page 6 Send comments and tips through e-mail to: sportstampatrib.com PAUL C. SMITH, Senior Editor lor Sports, (813) 259-7753 Sports fax, (813) 259-8148 The Tampa Tribune Demers duo attacks life it. 4. i NEW TAMPA Jacques Demers talked about survival a few weeks ago. He could have been talking about the hockey.

When the Tampa Bay Lightning play the Washington Capitals tonight at the Ice Palace, Demers will coach his NHL game. Only four other men have done that Yes, it could have been about hockey, about surviving in Tampa Bay. It could have been about the last 139 games. But Jacques Demers was at home a few weeks ago, his dream home in New Tampa, and it wasn't about hockey there. It never is.

Demers opened the front door wearing shorts, T-shirt and sandals. He could be just another plump French-Canadian tourist You'd have told him that if it wasn't for the dog. This dog's name is Tyler. He's a bullmastiff, weighs 130 pounds and has a bone structure that makes you hide your fingers. "Don't worry, he's fine," Demers said, tugging at Tyler's collar.

yellow-headed Amazon parrot. And Jacques' cat "He doesn't want you to know Susie is his baby," said the woman who cares for the pets, who likes the house full of life. Her name is Debbie. "I love my cat," Jacques Demers said. "I love her because she was going to die, but my wife saved her.

She's still small, but Debbie brought her back. Susie's a survivor." So are Debbie and Jacques. SOMETIMES IT'S JUST them. That's the best, He'll come off a long road swing how many of those in 14 NHL seasons? and they'll sneak into a restaurant, dinner and a bottle of wine, as if it's a first date, "like we're the only two people in the room," Debbie said as she sat on the patio with Odie on her lap. When Jacques coached the St Louis Blues, he wasn't making much mon- See DEMERS Page 6 MARTIN FENNELLY Columnist The patio has a view of the pool and the lake beyond.

"Water fascinates me," Demers said. "I don't know why. It calms me. When times are hard, I'll come out here." There are days when solitude is a solid underdog. Tyler is just for starters.

There's the golden retriever Stanley (for the Stanley Cup), Odie the Yorkshire terrier, two parakeets, two other birds, plus Bobby the talking MBgTirTI BRUCE HOSKINGTribune photo Lightning coach Jacques Demers and wife Debbie have experienced a multitude of highs and lows his winning and her beating cancer and they remain side by side. USF standout Injury grounds Lindros tu rns corner PHILADELPHIA A collapsed lung will sideline Philadelphia's Eric Lindros for the remainder of the NHL's regular season. A Tribune wire report Eric Lindros will miss the rest of the regular season because of a collapsed lung, an injury that apparently happened when he was checked during a game against Nashville. The Flyers said Friday their star center will stay at the hospital L-w p. i in Nashville at least another two or three days.

His status for the playoffs, if the Flyers qualify, will be determined when he returns to Philadelphia. "This is a J' i VN; 1 If. V- .1..., TAMPA USF's LaFann Williams has been pleasantly surprised with his transition from running back to cornerback. By STEVE GORTEN Tribune correspondent He's heard the question his entire football career: How about cornerback? High school coaches suggested it. His first college team tried to force it.

But LaFann Williams always resisted. They might as well have been asking him to switch to another sport He was a running back always had been and he wasn't going to budge. "I was so stuck on running back," Williams said. "That was my first love." So when USF coach Jim Leav-itt encouraged his second-leading rusher last season to move to the other side this spring, Williams was hesitant But the senior-to-be agreed on the basis he could change his mind. That wasn't the case at Pittsburgh.

Then a sophomore, Williams was shocked to find the Panthers' new coaching staff shuffling players wholesale from offense to defense. After the first three days of practice, most returned to their former positions. Williams didn't "I was shocked about it I felt they would talk to me about it first," said Williams, who carried 20 times for 103 yards in 10 games at Pitt. "Little did I know their intentions were to keep me at corner without even giving me a shot at running back. That's Lindros CLIFF McBRIDETribune file photo Running back was Williams' "first love." It was the enly position he ever played.

one of the reasons I left I never played corner and I was kind of scared. I really didn't understand what they were doing." This spring practice which concludes with today's 3 p.m. scrimmage at the USF soccer stadium Williams voluntarily took the field at cornerback. He had seen limited action there last fall, but this wasn't just a cameo appearance. "I was nervous for being there serious injury, team president and general manager Bobby Clarke said.

The team is unsure precisely when Lindros was hurt Thursday night The Flyers said nearly three quarts of blood filled the space where the right lung collapsed, and doctors at Baptist Hospital in Nashville are draining blood with a chest tube. Lindros spoke with reporters in the locker room for several minutes following the Flyers' 2-1 victory against the Predators and did not appear in pain. However, he awakened Friday with chest pains and went to the hospital. The hospital referred all questions to the team. The 26-year-old remained in Nashville while the rest of the team flew to Boston.

CLIFF McBRIDETribune photo See USF, Page 3 USF cornerback LaFann Williams has a receiver in sight as well as a spot in the starting lineup. John may seize overseas chance Catcher Oliver: Rays 'hung me out to dry' "TTTt. What: Pirates at Devil Rays Where: Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg When: 1:05 p.m. TV: SportsChannel Radio: WFLA (970-AM) Reekie ign Kelly Page 4 Irabu sent to bullpen Page 4 Oliver Charlton i 1' It's probably only a matter of time before Columbus Crew forward Stem John leaves the MLS for big money in the overseas leagues.

By BILL WARD of The Tampa Tribune Get a good look at him tonight when he plays the Tampa Bay Mutiny at Raymond James Stadium. If Columbus Crew forward Stern John performs anything like he did last year when he led Major League Soccer in scoring the 23-year-old from Trinidad probably won't be around for long. By this time next year, he easily could be playing for some rich European club. The MLS doesn't have the kind of cash to hold onto its stars once they become viable commodities on the world market "Unfortunately, goal scorers like him are hard to come by," Crew coach Tom Fitzgerald said. "He's a natural goal scorer and that's what every team in the world is looking for." Not long ago, John could've been picked up at a bargain rate.

Although a member of his native Trinidad and Tobago team since he was 17 and a standout for Mercer County (NJ.) Corn-See MUTINY, Page 7 ORLANDO The Rays get within three of the 25-man roster limit by reassigning catcher Joe Oliver and reliever Norm Charlton. By JOE HENDERSON of The Tampa Tribune The Devil Rays' Opening Day makeup became a little clearer Friday and a little more muddled at the same time. Catcher Joe Oliver was sent to Triple-A Durham following Friday's exhibition game against the Rays' Double-A Orlando team, bit said he will not report in an attempt to force the Rays to release him. Left-handed pitcher Norm Charlton, meantime, accepted assignment to the Rays' extended spring camp. Another lefty reliever, Scott Aldred, sprained his right ankle when his foot landed in a hole on the mound after throwing a pitch "We're not going to know what we'll do until we know how Scott is," Manager Larry Rothschild said.

"Obviously we have to make some tentative plans." Oliver said he was expecting the bad news on his situation, but has nothing left to prove. "I'm not a Triple-A catcher," he said. "I could see it going to the minors if I came in here and struggled, but I had the best spring I've ever had. Even better than some years when I had a def- See RAYS, Page 4 in the eighth inning. He fell in a heap and had to be helped off the field, but afterward said he felt fine.

Trainer Jamie Reed said this morning will be key, however. "We have to wait to see if there's any swelling," he said. If there is no swelling, Aldred should be fine for Opening Day. If the ankle is worse, it could force Aldred to the disabled list and open another bullpen spot Aldred is the lone left-hander in the AP photo Columbus forward Stern John, right, led the MLS In scoring last year as a rookie..