The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 23

TBO.com THE TAMPA TRIBUNE TUESDAY, AUGUST 3. 2004 SPORTS 3 NHL icharcls Takes Stanley Cup Fishing mnvmvi BRINGS ALONG BYNG, SMYTHE TROPHIC "It will be the biggest day in the history of this area, Campbell said. "I don't know how they 11 squeeze everyone in. Lightning To Open Preseason At Montreal V. rfjTT" "Ngss: 0 INCLUDES: AC, V6, PWMIRRORS, CD PLAYER! WITH BONUS CASH! 1JJMlfs -V jf I '-rr" t.

I I teBf' The Associated Press QjMI mustang gt coupe Bolts center Brad Richards hoists the Stanley Cup as he and his family prepare to take a cruise Monday on his father's lobster boat in Murray Harbour, Prince Edward Island. Richards also brought along his Lady Byng and Conn Smythe trophies. ELUDES: 17" 1'ffiLU'C, CD, 1 PI WMKSMIRRORS! WITH BONUS CASH! By STEVE SHARRATT The Guardian MURRAY HARBOUR, Prince Edward Island There will be many drinks slurped from the Stanley Cup this day, but the real challenge is to ensure the Cup doesn't wind up in the drink. Not to mention those other two mugs of National Hockey League distinction that were loaded onto a 40-foot lobster boat and sailed away for a private family party here Monday afternoon. "Don't worry.

We've got a life jacket for it," joked Brad Richards about taking Lord Stanley's Cup for a little ride on the waves of the Northumberland Strait. Richards, 23, who led the Lightning to the Stanley Cup in June, invited about 60 family members and friends to the Cup party. Also joining the entourage were the Lady Byng and Conn Smythe trophies. It had been a lifetime dream for the Island native, who has wanted to win a Stanley Cup ever since he started playing peewee hockey just down the road at the Northumberland Arena. "On the night he won the Stanley Cup, he said we're taking it to Cohoon's," said his mother, Delite, referring to a small cove nearby that is a popular spot to anchor a boat and enjoy the breeze and the water.

"We'll be eating lobster out of the Cup." It was a moment of pure ecstasy for the Murray Harbour native who hoisted the Cup above his head from the bow of his parents' lobster boat "Brad and Paige" as father Glen spun around in the harbor for the benefit of fans and fishermen who applauded and cheered. A small group of fans who heard about the boat party turned out Monday to catch a glimpse of the Cup and weren't disappointed. A most touching moment came when Richards encouraged his grandfather, Percy, to hold the piece of 3 ffigff SUM MUSTANG STEEDA INCLUDES: LEATHER, CARBON FIBER, ABS, SUSPENSION, WHEELS! FAST CAR! BONUS CASH! I www JrV-V'- pgQCUS IX 4 DOOR PDWERTRAM WMINTT MOBE! WITH BiRlS CASH! Richards parked his Hummer and waved to the lads as he carried the big silver mug to the white lobster boat turned into a trophy trove for the afternoon. Richards, the MVP of the playoffs, also will host a special Stanley Cup day in his home village today starting at 1 1 a.m. Organizers will bus people into the village, where a small parade featuring the Stanley Cup and the hometown hero will be held.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have provided about 20 officers for Brad Richards Day to help coordinate traffic from an expected 10,000 visitors. And the local businesses also have jumped in. While there isn't an official Brad Richards combo at Brehaut's the village's most popular eatery there is the Brad Richards cookie. Amelia Campbell at Amelia's Bakery is baking up 1 ,000 of the tasty tidbits. FOOTBALL Veit also disputed a Memphis Commercial Appeal report quoting Memphis AD R.C.

Johnson that ESPN had eliminated a possible Friday, Nov. 26, telecast. USF officials did reject a Friday 9 p.m. start, but Friday remains a possibility. Veit said ESPN can move the game set for Nov.

27, 7 p.m. to another date or time as late as 14 days before kickoff. USF's other national TV games Sept. 6 vs. Pittsburgh (ESPN), Oct.

22 at Louisville (ESPN) and Nov.3atUAB(ESPN2). ODDS AND ENDS: Because of the league's reconfiguration next season, C-USA will not hold its TAMPA The Lightning will open the preseason north of the border. The defending Stanley Cup champions will travel to Mon treal for the opening of the ex hibition season with an East ern Conference semifinal rematch with the Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Sept. 23. That will be followed by two more games away from home, Sept.

25 vs. Carolina at TECO Arena in Fort Myers and Sept. 26 at Atlanta, before playing three consecutive home games: Sept. 28 vs. Carolina, a Sunday noon start against Florida Oct.

3 and Oct. 5 against Atlanta. Tampa Bay closes the preseason Oct. 8 at Florida and Oct. 10 at home against Buffalo.

The Lightning are scheduled to open training camp Sept. 16 at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon, pending a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players. The current CBA expires Sept. 15 and if a new deal is not reached, owners are expected to lock players out until a new deal is in place. ARBITRATION UPDATE: A hearing is scheduled for a Toronto courtroom this morning at 8:30 with left wing Ruslan Fedotenko, unless a deal is reached prior to the conclusion of the hearing.

The team is seeking a one-year award, believed to be more than $1.2 million, while Fedotenko is believed to be seeking a salary of $1.75 million after tying for the team lead with 12 goals in the postseason. The Lightning also are expected to learn today the ruling on the hearing for defenseman Pavel Kubina. The team was asking for a two-year deal worth around $3 million per year while Kubina was seeking a deal worth around $3.75 million. ErikErlendsson basketball media day this fall. In past years, each men's and women's coach, plus the top players, would attend a one-day event in Chicago.

League officials felt too much emphasis would be put on the teams leaving and not on the overall league. Instead C-USA will make the coaches available via conference call from their respective cities. Leavitt is one of five C-USA coaches voting in the ESPNUSA Today coaches poll. The others: Southern Miss' Jeff Bower, UAB's Watson Brown, TCU's Gary Patterson and Louisville's Bobby Petrino. Brett McMurphy pated in an ride-along with Miami-Dade County police "during active nightlife hours," gaining an appreciation for officers' work, Grieco said.

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes will release former Parade All-American running back Bobby Washington from his scholarship, Coker said. Washington, who ran for 5,695 rushing yards and 61 touchdowns in his career at Miami Killian High, was ranked by Rivals.com as the nation's third-best prep running back following his senior season. Coker's statement did not specify why Washington asked for his release. Washington was one of three backs Miami signed as part of this year's incoming freshman class. Chance Gets Probation But No Suspension hockey heritage with him for the benefit of picture takers and a Tampa Bay hockey team film crew.

"No, I don't plan to be going out on the boat today," said a smiling Percy Richards, who fished his entire life here despite having a stomach that never quite agreed with the rolling of the sea. "That's too much sun for me." Even the official NHL cup keeper was aboard the boat Glen Richards uses to haul his lobsters every spring off the waters of Prince Edward Island. And the cup keeper needed help on this outing. With Richards winning both the Conn Smythe and the Lady Byng, the NHL dispatched two keepers to watch over the coveted hardware. It was especially exciting for 4-year-old Ross and 7-year-old Isaac Power, who are second cousins to Richards.

"Is that the Cup?" Ross inquired of his mother, Annette. COLLEGE USA NOTEBOOK sues are resolved" concerning delinquent child support payments. STILL ON THE TUBE: Although Conference USA's and ESPN's national television schedule re-leased last week does not include USF's home game against Memphis, USF associate AD Tom Veit said the Nov. 27 game still will be on ESPN. "As of our last discussion with ESPN, we haven't determined the date and time of the game," Veit said.

were the only coaches who attended Sunday's reception, said no one is looking past this season. "We have a large senior group," Dantonio said. "So it's very important how we play in Conference USA because we're not a part of the Big East yet." USF senior defensive tackle Lee Roy Selmon Jr. said the Bulls are only focused on winning C-USA. "I know in my mind-set we're playing for Conference USA," Selmon said.

"It's my last year along with the other seniors and we have a great opportunity to win a Conference USA championship. That's what I've kept my mind on." Memphis coach Tommy West said the conference restructure next year won't affect his friendships. "It doesn't bother he said. "I don't have a lot of friends in coaching. You're either on our side or you're not.

A lot of leagues are going to change in future years, so we better get used to it." mm LLU SE 4 DOOR BUY FOR UVINLCKSMIRRORS, WiTH EOHUS CASH! State Drops Charges Against Miami's Rolle OCUS INCLUDES: V6, AUTO, LOADED! WITH KME INCLUDES: MHO, JlC, POWER MHIIH WHEEIi! ir In -r ii i TAURUS LK MEMPHIS, Tenn. South Florida freshman DL Curtis Chance, of Dixie Hollins, pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana Monday and received 12 months probation. Because the charge is a misdemeanor, Chance will not be suspended from the team. Chance, along with MLB Devon Davis and DL Dorrean James, were arrested July 8 in Ybor City. Davis has not yet been arraigned and James left the program last week.

Chance will participate when USF begins practice Monday, but USF coach Jim Leavitt reiterated that senior WR Brian Fisher will not take part "until his legal is- CONFERENCE TURMOIL Continued From Page 1 "I hope our fans are pretty hostile," East Carolina football coach John Thompson said, "but I don't think there will be that much more hostility to those teams leaving. We're just looking to this year." USF coach Jim Leavitt said his only concern is his team. "The truth of the matter is no one will think of the games any differently," Leavitt said. "You'll try to win football games, that's it. Right now I don't think about the Big East at all." Added Louisville coach Bobby Petrino: "When we get started Sunday we won't talk about the Big East until after the season.

Our seniors won't play in the Big East, so it's up to us to have tie type of season they should have in their final year in Conference USA." Cincinnati coach Mark Dan-tonio, who along with Leavitt AIR CONDITIONING, BONUS CASH! IH1AQKE HUE, IS Miydl: Al KTOiUniTS TU. IK, Hi I IM DU1SI FS. UL tfTES Wl REMUS. P-MEKTS BD MWl.TMBf EQLITI, 70 KAiOt W1T AUSH FHICE). UL OFFEflS flOS TH.

TU, HUE WD S3 FS, Mffl OTMIVHI The Associated Press MIAMI Miami corner-back Antrel Rolle won't be tried for allegedly striking a police officer, and was reinstated to the team. Coach Larry Coker had indefinitely suspended Rolle after his arrest. "I am extremely pleased that there has been a positive resolution to the issue," Coker sai4 in a statement Monday. Assistant State Attorney Michael Grieco said that while the arrest was "valid," Rolle's "post-arrest contrition and lack of criminal history" led to the decision to drop the case. The physical contact between Rolle and the officer was "merely incidental," Grieco said.

Rolle whose father is chief of police in nearby Homestead also partici 813-933-6571 9545 NORTH FLORIDA AVE. MON-FRI 8:30 PM SAT 8:30 PM SUM 11:00 AM- 6:00 PM 'Ul lEtlt HINEKTS USED OH S3D DUE UT MCEPTHIII, tWONIK CLOSED EIK linEHEST WHS 1 LIEU Of REBIE, DFHBS WTIK MWOKD CREDIT. "Jat FfllEES KONTHS IT I.K APR RNMCIHe. tOHUS USK NUST HNJWCED 1HRDUGH FMCC.