STORM DUO SUSPENDED AFTER TESTING POSITIVE

TAMPA - The Storm's Wayne Walker and Cedrick McKinnon were suspended for
one year by the Arena League on Wednesday for violating the league's drug
policy.

According to two league sources who requested anonymity, Walker and
McKinnon were victims of the league's one-strike-and-you're-out policy for
recently testing positive for marijuana. All Arena League players are
randomly tested for illegal drugs throughout the season.

League spokesman David Cooper said it was policy ``not to comment on team
and league suspensions in any case.'' But Cooper said both players can
appeal their suspensions.

Storm coach Tim Marcum also declined to comment on the suspensions. But
Marcum said it was a tough time to lose two players, especially the
game-breaking Walker, with Tampa Bay (10-2) needing one more victory to
clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Storm host Iowa
(5-7) Saturday night at the Ice Palace in their final regular-season home
game.

``We just have to have faith in the other guys, and hopefully someone will
step up and take their place,'' Marcum said. ``We've won games without
Wayne. When you have a loss like this, you close the circle, hold hands and
pray for the best.''

Walker, a wide receiver/defensive back, is the Storm's fourth leading
receiver with 27 catches for 448 yards and eight touchdowns. He missed four
games after suffering a groin injury the second week of the season - but
the Storm won all four.

Still, the loss of Walker, Tampa Bay's sixth leading scorer with 48 points,
will put more pressure on receivers George LaFrance and Stevie Thomas.

McKinnon, a fullback/linebacker, entered 1998 as the third-leading rusher
in Arena history with 747 yards.

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)