Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Tiger Woods has committed to play in the BMW Championship next week at Conway Farms Golf Club near Chicago.

The tournament is the third in the PGA TOUR’s four-event FedExCup Playoffs and will consist of the top 70 players on the points list. Henrik Stenson of Sweden moved into first place Monday after his victory at the Deutsche Bank Championship. He has accumulated 4,051 points, while Woods has 4,037 (-14).

Rounding out the top five are Adam Scott with 3,917 (-134), Matt Kuchar with 3,103 (-948) and Graham DeLaet with 2,806 (-1,245). The winner of the BMW Championship receives 2,500 points, and there is no cut. The top 30 on the points list advance to the TOUR Championship, Sept. 19-22, at East Lake Golf Course in Atlanta, where the FedExCup winner receives $10 million.

Any player in the top five on the points list entering the TOUR Championship who wins at East Lake will clinch the FedExCup title. Woods is a two-time winner of the BMW Championship (2007, 2009).

He also won when the tournament was called the Western Open in 1997, 1999 and 2000. All five of his victories were recorded at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Lemont, Ill.

BY TED TAYLOR

Florida A & M University propelled a dominating first half into a 27-10, victory on Sunday afternoon in Orlando over Mississippi Valley State University of Itta Bena, Mississippi. This was the 9th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge, a battle between the two major Historically Black Colleges and Universities athletic conferences, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Southwestern Athletic Conference.

The was a two-fold celebration as it also heralded the return of the famed Marching 100 band from a 21-month suspension resulting from the hazing death of a drum major following the Florida Classic in Orlando in 2011.

FAMU jumped to an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 6-yard run by quarterback Damien Fleming. The second quarter began with a 1-yard run by reserve runningback Omari Albert, culminating a 16-play, 96-yard drive, using 8:07. The Rattlers made it a 20-0 halftime lead on field goals of 27 and 23 yards by Chase Varnadore. The Delta Devils’ offense was held to 86 yards in the half.

MVSU finally got on the board late in the third quarter on a 21-yard field goal by Cherchen Galon. Early in the fourth, backup quarterback Jeremy Collins scored on a 2-yard run to cut the score in half. Late in the game, FAMU added an insurance touchdown on a 15-yard scamper by backup tailback Al-Terek McBurse. The drive covered 75 yards in 12 plays, all running plays, consuming 6:40.

FAMU will entertain the Tennessee State Tigers in a non-conference home opener in Bragg Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The 0-1 Tigers of the Ohio Valley Conference lost a defensive battle to Bethune-Cookman University 12-9, on last Sunday night in Nashville.

To the delight of National Football League fans all over the world, and especially in the inner-city, there will be 9 African American quarterbacks starting for their teams on opening day for the NFL.

Starting Sunday will be Robert Griffin, III,  (Redskins) (pictured, l), Michael Vick (Philadelphia Eagles) (pictured, r), Terrelle Pryor (Oakland Raiders), Josh Freeman (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Geno Smith (New York Jets), Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers), Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks), E.J. Manuel (Buffalo Bills), and Colin Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers.

RGIII will be starting for his second season, and trying to get through uninjured. Mike Vick had stiff competition in Philadelphia, but prevailed.

Terrelle Pryor finally won the job with the Oakland Raiders.

Josh Freeman is under a lot of pressure this season with the Buccaneers.

Geno Smith beat out Mark Sanchez for the starting job with the Jets.

Cam Newton will again lead the Panthers.

Russell Wilson will try to take the Seahawks all the way this season.

E. J. Manuel was the first quarterback selected (15th overall pick) and will be trying to turn things around in Buffalo.

Colin Kaepernick will be trying to get the 49ers to the Super Bowl again with hopes of coming out the winner.

Darrelle Revis spent six seasons with the New York Jets, so he of all people should know about coach Rex Ryan’s tendencies.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers said he has no problem giving his new coaches tips on his former team’s tendencies. “I’ll spill the beans and let him know what we used to run,” Revis said. “What things coach Ryan might do. It’s almost like stealing a little bit. That’s what you’ve got to do.”

Revis also told said he has the inside scoop on the Jets’ receiving corps. “I know these guys…I got a bunch of tips on these guys and the good thing about it, I’ve been sharing them,” he said. Revis isn’t making any bold predictions about his debut with his new team.

The star cornerback’s return from knee surgery that has sidelined him nearly a year is set for Sunday, when Buccaneers open the season against the Jets.

The sum of money Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is making for merely appearing in the ring reportedly reached a new record high, according to news that broke Wednesday.

According to Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, and Golden Boy Promotions head Richard Schaefer, Mayweather will receive a $41.5 million guarantee for his impending Sept. 14 fight against Canelo Alvarez.

Mayweather has shattered his own record in guarantees for this latest bout, which will be held at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. In each of his previous two showdowns against Miguel Cotto and most recently Robert Guerrero, Mayweather received a guaranteed $32 million, according to Forbes’ Kurt Badenhausen.

The 36-year-old boasts a perfect 44-0 record in his illustrious pro career, but faces a formidable foe in Alvarez who himself has never lost as a professional, with a 42-0-1 record.

Warren Sapp was inducting into the NFL Hall of Fame this year, but it doesn’t mean his financial difficulties have gone away.

Sapp filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in April 2012, and part of the deal was the sale of his assets, including a massive sneaker collection. Someone came up on 213 pairs of Nike kicks for a cool $6,390.

Now, as part of the deal Warren struck with his creditors, some of his items were sold at a bankruptcy auction … including 213 pairs of Nikes, which sold to a guy from Connecticut for a whopping $6,390.

For the record, that breaks down to $30 a pair.

If the pre-season play of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is an indication of how the re-gular season will go, it looks like the NFC South will be a three-team race.

With starter Robert Griffin, III watching from the sidelines, the Redskins had no trouble beating the Bucs 30-12 at Raymond James Stadium, and going 4-0 for the pre-season. Redskin fourth-string quarterback, Pat White, threw for 181 yards, ran for a touchdown, and set up another touchdown with a 66-yard completion to Dezmon Briscoe.

The performance by the Buccaneers was a repeat of their other pre-season games, sloppy, including their lone victory against the Miami Dolphins by one point. Third-round draft pick, Mike Glennon, played like a rookie for the Bucs, completing 7 of 16 passes for 63 yards and one interception. He also lost a fumble when the ball appeared to just slip out of his hand before his arm moved forward to throw.

The lone Buccaneer touchdown came on a interception by linebacker Najee Goode, who returned the ball 37-yards for the score. The extra point was missed. The Bucs will open their regular season on the road against the New York Jets.

Underwood, Goode Among Buc Final Roster Cuts

Getting their roster down to the final 53 players, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced wide receiver Tiquan Underwood (pictured) and linebacker Najee Goode were being released.

Both players were replaced by wide receiver Russell Shepard and defensive tackle Chris Jones. Shephard, out of LSU, went undrafted in April, and Jones, out of Bowling Green, was grabbed off waivers.

Goode had been the 2012 5th-round pick of the Bucs and played in three games as a rookie. Underwood, who failed to survive the initial cut to 53 players a year ago returned to the team later and played in 14 games.

It’s beginning to look more and more like a certainty that former University of South Florida quarterback, B. J. Daniels, has won a spot with the San Francisco 49ers.

In Thursday night’s win against the San Diego Chargers, Daniels completed 5 of 9 passes for 76 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also ran for 54 yards, including a 36-yard scramble reminiscent of starter, Colin Kaepernick.

With Seneca Wallace announcing his retirement after 7 seasons, may believe he reached that decision after he was told Daniels had made the team. Daniels was selected in the 7th round by the 49ers, and head coach Jim Harbaugh is known to keep three quarterbacks on his roster.

Daniels will be behind Kaepernick and Colt McCoy.

Helping Daniels is the fact that all of his pre-season performances have been strong.

No. 1 Serena Williams sealed her place in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open with a straight-sets victory over Sloane Stephens on Sunday.

Williams, the grand slam’s defending champion, was given a fright by her fellow American at Flushing Meadows, but her experience and quality shone through in the second set. Williams emerged a 6-4, 6-1 victor in 89 minutes.

Stephens defeated Williams in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in January, and they have become rivals as the two best women in American tennis; Serena the powerful veteran, Sloane the rising challenger.

Williams, 31, looked to be on her way to the first set when she broke in the sixth game with a forehand winner. However, Stephens, 20, the world No. 16, refused to lie down and broke back immediately before holding serve to level matters at 4-4.

Still, despite her best efforts, Stephens was overpowered by Williams, who clinched the opening set in the 10th game as Stephens sprayed a forehand wide.