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SPORTS PHOTO OF THE DAY..
Wednesday
Chicago Cubs' Derrek Lee, right, steals second base ahead of the tag by Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Tuesday
Dodger's Jeff Kent goes under Chase Utley during Monday's Phils win to sweep the Dodgers.
Monday
Hawaii's Christian Donahue celebrates after reaching base on a error in the sixth inning against Louisiana in the United States final of the Little League Baseball World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer
Thursday
Timo Boll of Germany serves during his men's singles third round table tennis match against Kim Hyok-Bong of North Korea at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Wednesday
The National Sports Aerobics Group of China performs during a gala show at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008 (AP)
------------------ More About Tom... Tom Morgan has been 540 WFLA’s sports guy the station first went on the air (1/27/01). Since 1994, he's been apart of the play-by-play team of the Arena League's Orlando Predators. Tom also has been the studio host on UF football and basketball games. He did the play by play of the Gator basketball games in Las Vegas, including the top five matchup with Kansas, in 2006. Tom is also does play-by-play on the High School Football Game of the Week on Brighthouse TV each fall.
ACROSS FLORIDA -- The Tampa Bay Rays returned home last night to host Toronto, but it wasn't a welcome return.
Toronto held the Rays offense in check as Tampa Bay saw their lead in the A-L East decrease to three-and-a-half games thanks to Boston's 7-3 win in New York.
Roy Halliday pitched six innings to get the win
James Shields got the loss for the Rays as their offense sputtered, managing only to score on Eric Hinske's RBI single while leaving 11 runners on base.
In other state sports news...
--- The Florida Marlins had plenty of offense on Tuesday - they just couldn't get the Braves out when they needed to. Atlanta rallied to score six runs in the last two innings, including four in the ninth as the Braves rallied to beat Florida 10-to-9. Kevin Gregg got the loss, his seventh of the season and eighth blown save. Florida now sits six games behind Philadelphia, who took over first place in the N-L East with a come-from-behind 8-to-7 win over the New York Mets. [ More.. ]
--- Percy Harvin returned to practice on Tuesday for the Florida Gators. The speedy receiver has been out with a heel injury that required surgery this past offseason. Despite participating in 7-on-7 drills, it is unclear if he'll be ready to play Saturday for the Gators against Hawaii.
--- Evan Longoria is expected to resume hitting this week. The rookie third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays has been out since August 8 after breaking a bone in his right wrist. One of the best rookies this season - Longoria has hit 22 homers and driven in 71 RBIs in 104 games. In other Rays news, closer Troy Percival threw off a mound on Tuesday. The first time for the 39 year old since August 15. [ More... ]
--- Carnell "Cadillac" Williams won't be starting the season for the Tampa Bay Bucs. The running back was placed on the physically unable to perform list. This means the former Auburn star won't be back until after the sixth week at the earliest. Williams is still recovering from a knee injury suffered last September.
--- In other moves by Tampa Bay, cornerback Sammy Davis was placed on I-R, and receiver Paris Warren, linebacker Antoine Cash and safety Dante Nicholson were all released. Cash and Nicholson will be placed on I-R if they clear waivers.
--- The list of players missing the opening game for the University of Miami has lengthened with defensive ends Eric Moncur and Allen Bailey both being declared unavailable. Other players not ready to play are offensive linemen Chris Barney and Ben Jones, defensive lineman Josh Holmes and wide receiver Kris Kimball. The 'Canes already have seven players missing the game against Charleston Southern due to suspension, including starting quarterback Robert Marve.
--- Florida State released their basketball schedule for the upcoming season and it includes a visit by Florida. The Seminoles, who haven't made the N-C-A-A tournament in ten years will host Pitt and Western Kentucky along with A-C-C foes that include Duke and North Carolina. F-S-U will head out on the road to Cincinnati and Northwestern.
--- Jacksonville released five players on Tuesday as they trimmed their roster to the 75-man limit. Released were wide receivers John Broussard, Clyde Edwards and Jeron Harvey, tight end Isaac Smolko and defensive end Alex Boston.
--- The Budweiser Shootout will look a little different next year at Daytona. The season-opening event will have a field of cars representing the four manufacturers in the Sprint Cup Series. 24 cars will line up with the top six teams from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota on February 7. Starting positions will be determined by a blind draw two days ahead of the race.
Tuesday 08-26-2008 6:38am ET
Dolphins Name Starter
ACROSS FLORIDA -- The Miami Dolphins have named Chad Pennington as their starting quarterback for the upcoming season.
The former New York Jets quarterback beat out three other signal caller for the position just weeks after arriving from the Dolphins rival in the AFC East.
Pennington came to Miami after the Jets signed Brett Favre, ending a stay that began when he was drafted out of Marshall in 2000. [ More... ]
--- The division leading Tampa Bay Rays will return to action Tuesday night at home against Toronto. The Rays, who lead Boston by four-and-a-half games, are at home for the next nine games. No American League team has won more games at home this season than Tampa Bay. The Red Sox and New York Yankees begin a series on tonight in the Bronx. [ More.. ]
--- According to the Jaguars website, Jacksonville will likely be without Jerry Porter for their season opener in Tennessee. The wide receiver is nursing a hamstring injury.
--- Percy Harvin and Brandon Spikes could both miss the Gators' season opener Saturday against Hawaii. The speedy Harvin is still suffering from a heel injury that forced him to have offseason surgery. Spikes hurt his right foot in practice last week. [ More.. ]
Monday 08-25-2008 6:39am ET
'Canes Name Starter
ACROSS FLORIDA -- University of Miami head coach Randy Shannon has named Robert Marve his starting quarterback heading into the season.
The redshirt freshman was named the starter after Sunday's practice, but he'll miss the season opener on Thursday.
Marve is one of seven Hurricane players that will miss that game due to suspension.
The other suspended players are running backs Damien Berry and Eric Houston, defensive end Adewale Ojomo, defensive back Randy Phillips, wide receiver Kayne Farquaharson and long snapper Chris Ivory.
In other state sports news...
--- The Rays finished the weekend with a four-and-a-half game lead over Boston in the A-L East, but it came after a controversial call in Chicago. A.J. Pierzynski was called safe due to interference following a tag out and went on to score the game-winning run in the tenth as the White Sox avoided a three-game sweep with a 6-5 win over Tampa Bay. [ More ]
--- There was nothing controversial in Florida's 5-2 win over Arizona on Sunday. The Fish got a homer from Josh Willingham and a quality start from Ricky Nolasco to take the weekend series against the N-L West leaders. Nolasco improved to 3-and-oh against the D'backs this season and held Arizona's number 4-5-and-6 batters hitless. [ More ]
--- The U.S. men's basketball team won Olympic gold on Sunday with a 118-to-107 win over Spain. It was a much closer game than when they played in the preliminary round - a game won by 37 points. The Miami Heat's Wade scored 27 while Orlando's Dwight Howard collected eight points. [ More ]
--- Former Miami Dolphins star Jason Taylor will be out at least two weeks after spraining his right knee. The defensive end is unlikely to be available for Washington's opener against the New York Giants a week from Thursday.
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