Fisher’s Tale: Derek’s two 3-pointers lift Lakers to a 99-91 overtime win over Magic in Game 4

ORLANDO, Fla. — Kobe Bryant is one win from an NBA title to call his own.

Rashard’s riches: Despite leading Magic to finals, Lewis can’t shake talk about big contract

ORLANDO, Fla. — Rashard Lewis is an All-Star and his team is in the NBA finals.

Magic hoping to even series with Lakers, become 4th team to overcome 0-2 deficit in finals

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic, trying to become the fourth team in history to overcome an 0-2 deficit in the finals, were feeling better about their chances as they prepared for Thursday’s Game 4.

Reba McEntire meets Dog the Bounty Hunter: Fla.’s female gator trapper rescues good ol’ boys

TAMPA, Fla. — The 8-foot alligator opens its jaws wide and hisses in the dark at Julie Harter, who takes a few steps closer and dangles a lasso just like the kind rodeo cowboys use.

Rays rough up John Lackey to end 3-game losing streak with 9-5 victory over Angels

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Division winners a year ago, the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Angels are battling inconsistency this season.

Lakers, Kobe wary of Magic’s shooting ‘monster’ as they prepare for Game 4 of NBA finals

ORLANDO, Fla. — Kobe Bryant now understands how dangerous the Orlando Magic can be at home when they’re dialed in and raining down jumpers and 3-pointers from every angle.

Kobe’s misfire: Bryant looks to bounce back after failing to close out Orlando in Game 3

ORLANDO, Fla. — No athlete on the planet — well, at least on this side of the putting green from Tiger Woods — closes quite like Kobe Bryant. He’s the ice-in-his-veins killer. The Terminator. The one you call to finish the job. Mr. Clutch. He owns the fourth quarter. Most of the time.

Rays rough up Lackey, end three-game losing streak with 9-5 win over Angels

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Carlos Pena and Willy Aybar homered Wednesday night, helping the Tampa Bay Rays stop a three-game losing streak with a 9-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels and nemesis John Lackey.

Injured Rays DH Pat Burrell and SS Jason Bartlett nearing return

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Injured Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Pat Burrell could rejoin the team this weekend and shortstop Jason Bartlett may be back early next week.

Decision on Krzyzewski’s return as US national team coach expected next month

ORLANDO, Fla. — Mike Krzyzewski’s decision on his future as U.S. national team coach is expected to come next month.

NBA leads professional leagues again with race, gender in new diversity study

ORLANDO, Fla. — A new study shows that 43 percent of the professional positions in the NBA’s league offices are held by women, giving the league its highest grade for gender.

Magic Touch: Orlando shoots finals-record 63 percent in 108-104 victory over Lakers in Game 3

ORLANDO, Fla. — Rashard Lewis stood at the free-throw line with less than one second left as several workers hurriedly broomed off confetti that had fallen prematurely onto the Amway Arena floor.

Magic have ‘Skip’ in step in first finals win with Rafer Alston’s 20 points in Game 3 victory

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic skipped past their point guard controversy in style Tuesday night.

It’s Magic: Howard has 21 as Orlando gets first NBA finals win, 108-104 over Lakers in Game 3

ORLANDO, Fla. — Missing for two games, Orlando found its Magic touch. Making easy shots and tough ones from everywhere, the Magic won their first game in two visits to the NBA finals as Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis scored 21 points apiece in a 108-104 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 on Tuesday night to pull within 2-1.

Magic win Game 3 108-104, cut Lakers’ lead to 2-1 in NBA finals

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic have won Game 3 of the NBA finals, shooting a record 63 percent in a 108-104 victory over Los Angeles to cut the Lakers’ lead to 2-1.

Magic shoot finals-record 75 percent, lead Lakers 59-54 at halftime of Game 3

ORLANDO, Fla. — Rashard Lewis made two 3-pointers late in the second quarter, and the Orlando Magic shot an NBA finals-record 75 percent from the field in the first half to take a 59-54 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 on Tuesday night.

Jered Weaver wins 3rd straight start as the Angels beat Tampa Bay 4-3

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jered Weaver allowed two runs over six innings to win his third consecutive start and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Tuesday night.

Lakers’ Phil Jackson says Gasol should have been called for goaltending at end of regulation

ORLANDO, Fla. — Two days later, Phil Jackson called goaltending on his own center.

Kobe makes a promise as Lakers await Magic in Game 3 of finals: ‘We’re about to kick it up’

ORLANDO, Fla. — The NBA finals move to Orlando tonight with the Los Angeles Lakers holding a two games to none lead.

Upton hits 2-run homer and Shields allows 2 runs in 8 innings as Tampa Bay beats Kansas City

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — B.J. Upton hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth and James Shields allowed two runs over eight innings as Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game sweep by beating the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Thursday.

NASCAR implements double-file restarts starting this week at Pocono

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — In a midseason attempt to add some excitement to Cup racing, NASCAR has moved to double-file restarts beginning with this weekend’s race at Pocono Raceway.

Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria should be back in the starting lineup for series against Yankees

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria is likely to return to the starting lineup by Saturday.

Royals activate OF Coco Crisp from bereavement list and option INF Tug Hulett to Triple-A

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Royals have activated outfielder Coco Crisp from the bereavement list and optioned infielder Tug Hulett to Triple-A Omaha.

Jeff Niemann throws two-hitter and Ben Zobrist hits grand slam as Rays beat Royals

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jeff Niemann took a perfect game into the fifth inning and wound up with a two-hitter, and Ben Zobrist hit a grand slam to help lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 9-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.

4 Florida teens charged as adults with sex assault on middle-school flag-football teammate

TAMPA, Fla. — Four middle-school students in the Tampa, Fla., area have been charged as adults with sexually assaulting a younger flag-football teammate in a locker room.

Joyce has tiebreaking hit and Sonnanstine pitches into the 7th as Tampa Bay beats Kansas City

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Matt Joyce hit a tiebreaking two-run double and added a two-run homer, and Andy Sonnanstine allowed two runs in 6 2-3 innings to lead the Tampa Bay Rays past the Kansas City Royals 6-2 on Tuesday night.

Magistrate in Fla. throws out 4 traffic tickets against former NY Giants star Plaxico Burris

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Former New York Giants star receiver Plaxico Burress can toss four traffic tickets he received in suburban Fort Lauderdale. A magistrate has dismissed them.

Royals reinstate closer Joakim Soria and INF Tony Pena Jr. from DL

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Kansas City Royals reinstated closer Joakim Soria and shortstop Tony Pena Jr. from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday.

NCAA panel says only the lawyers can see its response to Fla. State appeal in cheating scandal

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The NCAA’s Committee on Infractions responded Tuesday to Florida State’s appeal of sanctions from an academic cheating scandal, but kept its answer secret and gave the school 15 days to respond.

Magic players: Jameer Nelson will play in NBA finals against Lakers despite shoulder injury

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando Magic players say Jameer Nelson will play in the NBA finals, even though the All-Star point guard and his coach remain publicly pessimistic.

Fla. State coach says 38 hits, 37 runs a ‘fluke,’ team needs to focus on Super Regional

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Veteran Florida State coach Mike Martin thought he’d just about seen it all during his long baseball career.

Orlando Magic considering possible return of All-Star Jameer Nelson for NBA finals

ORLANDO, Fla. — Jameer Nelson wants to play in the NBA finals. Whether the Orlando Magic will let him remains a mystery.

Gators football player arrested, shot with Taser after fight; charged with resisting arrest

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — An attorney for a University of Florida cornerback charged with punching another man in the head during a fight said his client acted in self-defense.

Authorities: Fla. man who says he dealt steroids to professional athlets faces federal charge

TAMPA, Fla. — Federal charges have been filed against a Florida man who authorities say boasted of selling steroids to professional athletes, including players on the Washington Nationals and Capitals.

Brendan Harris homers, Twins beat Rays 3-2 to snap 3-game losing streak

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Brendan Harris homered and Justin Morneau and Carlos Gomez also drove in runs Sunday to help the Minnesota Twins avoid a weekend sweep with a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.