Florida Sentinel Bulletin

BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor A Riverview High School 2012 graduate, in her freshman year at Hampton University, was named the Most Outstanding Player for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) softball championship. The championship game was played at May 9-11, 2013 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Ormond Beach.

Taylor McCoy (#7, average .404) of Riverview is a pitcher and first baseman. The Hampton Pirates (16-2, 34-24) defeated the Norfolk State Spartans 7-3 to advance to the Gainesville Regional NCAA Division I Softball Championship, May 17-19 against the University of Florida (52-7). This is Hampton’s second appearance in the NCAA Division I Tournament. The first was in 1996. Hampton has won 15 of its last 18 games, while the University of Florida (#2) has won 12 of its last 14 games.

As a high schooler, McCoy, who celebrated her 19th birthday on Wednesday, earned several titles. As a freshman at Riverview High, she led the team to a 6A title. She was also won All-County, All-Western Conference and All-Conference honors while in high school. In addition to be named the Most Outstanding Performer for the MEAC, she also made the All-Tournament Team for MEAC. She also earned Rookie of the Week honors this season. Her coach, Trena Peel, in her third year, was named Most Outstanding Coach of the MEAC.

Taylor (5’11”) is the daughter of police officers Anthony McCoy (St. Petersburg), and Connie McCoy (TPD). Her grandparents are Izell and Hazel Denson, Tampa.

Former NFL running back Chuck Muncie has died of a heart attack at the age of 60, the New Orleans Saints confirmed Tuesday.

Muncie, who also played for the San Diego Chargers, was a three-time Pro Bowler who rushed for 6,702 yards and 71 touchdowns in 110 career games.

Muncie was an excellent college running back at Cal and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1975. The Saints drafted him with the third overall pick in 1976, and he spent four full seasons in New Orleans before being traded to the Chargers in 1980 after requesting a trade following the 1979 season.

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are at the center of a debate that will determine the future of the Celtics. If one leaves Boston, the other is expected to follow, and Pierce believes that will happen sooner than later.

Of course, the Celtics’ “Big Three” that won a title in 2008 and reached the finals in 2010 was officially broken up when Ray Allen went to the Miami Heat this offseason. Pierce, who has a $5 million buyout of his contract, could be next. If he were to stay on with the Celtics, Pierce is slotted to make $15.3 million for 2013-14. And, with Pierce is the fold, Garnett is likely to hold on to his no-trade clause and play out another season in Boston.

Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy and his bodyguard are being sued by a woman who claims to have been assaulted and dropped off on the New Jersey Turnpike after a night of partying in Dec. 2012.

According to the report, McCoy, bodyguard “Big John” and a few friends started to badger the plaintiff and 14 other women who were accompanying them on a bus trip from Philadelphia to New York City and back, apparently for a night on the town.

McCoy and some of the male guests began to spray the female guests, including the plaintiff, with water. When the plaintiff protested, McCoy directed Big John to “get her.” McCoy allegedly ordered the driver to stop on the side of the highway, and after the driver did so, both Big John and McCoy then forcibly ejected the plaintiff from the bus.

BY TED TAYLOR

After being selected as the head coach for Florida A&M University in January of this year and proceeding through the spring football season, Earl Holmes is ready to hit the public relations circuit. He is sche-duled to appear at the Dr. Walter L. Smith Library in Tampa, on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at 5 p. m., for a “Chalk Talk” with his constituents.

Coach Holmes is a product of FAMU Developmental Research School and a 1995 graduate of the University. He had a stellar NFL career spanning 10 years, most of the time with the champion, Pittsburgh Steelers. Coach Holmes played for former coaches Ken Riley and Billy Joe, and coached under legendary coach Joe Taylor.

Coach Riley is a FAMU graduate who was an All-Pro cornerback with the Cincinnati Bengals. Coach Joe and Coach Taylor are both in the top-5 of winningest coaches in college football. The “Chalk Talk” event provides an opportunity for the FAMU community and general public to meet-and-greet as well as to discuss the program.

Coach Holmes will bring along offensive coordinator Quinn Gray, former Rattler and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback, and defensive coordinator, Lavon Kirkland, former teammate of Holmes with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau‘s wallet is officially $35,000 lighter.

The NBA has fined Coach Thibs $35,000 for his postgame comments about the officials following a Game 3 loss to the Miami Heat. Game 3 saw three technical fouls called between the Heat and Bulls.

Referees also ejected Nazr Mohammed, who shoved LeBron James to the floor after LeBron received a technical for sending Mohammed to the hardwood.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have given up on Brandon Roy as a reclamation project, according to the team’s public relations Twitter account. It is a logical move for the organization as it is saving $5.3 million by cutting ties with the five-year veteran.

Roy’s career was once very promising. As a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, he averaged 16.8 points per game as a rookie, which spurred him to the NBA Rookie of the Year award.  He followed that up with scoring averages of 19.1, 22.6 and 21.5 the following seasons. In the 2010-11 season, durability became a major issue. His scoring average dropped to just 12.5 points per game and he played in only 47 games.

Roy retired in December 2011 while still a member of the Blazers. He claimed it was never his decision to retire, and some speculated that he may have walked away to avoid being amnestied.

Linebacker Aaron Curry, who was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft, signed a deal with the New York Giants on Friday. As far as his outlook in the Big Apple is concerned, there should actually be at least somewhat of a chance for Curry to be a prominent contributor to the Giants’ defense.

The starting strong-side linebacker spot is ironically occupied by Keith Rivers. Rivers was the ninth overall pick out of Southern California, but never panned out with the Cincinnati Bengals.

After 16 NFL seasons, five Pro Bowl selections, a Super Bowl title and 47 career interceptions, Ronde Barber has decided to call it a career.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback-turned-safety will retire Wednesday, according to his broadcast and marketing agent, Mark Lepselter, president of Maxx Sports and Entertainment. Lepselter added that Ronde “is at peace with his decision.” “I’ve had a better run than I ever could’ve dreamed of having,” Barber said earlier in the day.

It’s an end to what many think will wind up being a Hall of Fame career that began when he was drafted in the third round in 1997 — one round later than his twin brother Tiki, who was selected by the New York Giants. Barber is the only player in league history with 40 or more interceptions and 20 or more sacks. Barber’s 14 non-offensive touchdowns rank him fourth on the all-time list behind Deion Sanders (19), Devin Hester (18) and Rod Woodson (17).

Barber, 38, is walking away despite the Bucs’ being open to his return in 2013. The team signed safety Dashon Goldson as a free agent and acquired cornerback Darrelle Revis in a trade with the New York Jets. Barber officially made the move from corner to safety before last season and had four interceptions, including one he returned 78 yards for a touchdown in a blowout victory against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Barber’s most famous interception return for a touchdown, though, was his 92-yarder to seal the NFC Championship Game victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in January 2003. The Bucs went on to beat the Oakland Raiders 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII.