Florida Sentinel Bulletin

LOS ANGELES — New murder charges filed against former Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders lineman Anthony Wayne Smith claim two brothers and another man were kidnapped and robbed before they were killed.

A criminal complaint filed earlier this week in Los Angeles charges Smith with three additional counts of murder with special circumstances, making him eligible for the death penalty.

Smith is currently awaiting retrial in the 2008 murder of Maurilio Pence. A jury failed to reach a verdict in April.

Smith was charged with the November 1999 slayings of brothers Kevin and Ricky Nettles and the 2001 death of Dennis Henderson.

A phone message left for defense attorney Michael Evans was not immediately returned Friday.

Smith was a defensive end with Oakland and later the Los Angeles Raiders from 1991 to 1998.

The unprecedented Olympic team runoff between Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh is off.

Tarmoh withdrew from the scheduled two-woman race hours before it was to be aired live in primetime during NBC’s coverage of Olympic trials. The women tied for third in last week’s 100 meters and needed a runoff to determine who would represent the United States in the upcoming London Olympics.

Tarmoh wanted to concede her spot on Sunday, but was told to sleep on the decision by the USA Track and Field officials whose incompetence led to this controversial process. Her agent said Monday that she will not run.

Tarmoh thought she earned the spot immediately after last week’s race. A closer review by the photo official determined that the two had actually tied for the final spot on the team with a time of 11.068.

Because U.S. track had no contingency plan for such a tie, things quickly delved into chaos.

SAN JOSE, Calif.  — Now that she’s on her way to the Olympics, Gabby Douglas has a new goal.

“I’m hoping I can catch an accent,” she said. “I’ve always wanted an accent.”

The 16-year-old whose “Flying Squirrel” nickname might be the only thing more appealing than her personality. Douglas upset world champion Jordyn Wieber to win the Olympic trials Sunday night.

Led by the 1-2 punch of Douglas and Wieber, this will be the strongest team the Americans have had since 1996, one that will be not just favored, but is expected to bring home only the second Olympic team gold.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Eric Wright was arrested in Los Angeles on Monday for driving under the influence after police said he was involved in a crash near Staples Center.

The incident occurred several blocks away from the Staples Center when the Mercedes SLS that Wright was driving rear-ended a pickup truck. The driver of the truck had unspecified injuries.

Wright, who wasn’t injured, refused to take sobriety tests, authorities said. He was booked for investigation of felony DUI and bail was set at $100,000. It was not immediately known if he had posted bail.

NEW YORK — Deron Williams is moving to Brooklyn with the Nets, instead of back home to Dallas.

The All-Star point guard said on his Twitter page Tuesday night that he ”made a very tough decision today” and posted a picture of the Nets’ new team logo that accompanies their move from New Jersey to Brooklyn.

A person with knowledge of the decision said Williams told the team he was accepting their five-year contract worth $98 million. The person confirmed the agreement on condition of anonymity because contracts can’t be signed until July 11.

Williams, the top free agent available, chose to stay with the Nets over signing with the Mavericks, who hoped they could convince him to come back to the area where he grew up.

Magic Johnson‘s Atlanta-based cable network, “Aspire,” recently debuted.

The network, which will focus on family programming, has partnered with Atlanta-based GMC, which carries its own positive programming. Magic will be the majority owner. He also inked several advertising deals with Coca Cola, L’Oreal, Chrysler, Wal-Mart and Nationwide Insurance.

Magic said that his move to launch the network stems from sound business relationships and a commitment to projecting positive images of the Black community.

“I’m a great believer in partnerships,” Johnson said. “If I didn’t partner with GMC, I wouldn’t be in the business. We needed someone with some expertise. I thought it was a natural fit.” The name of the network, he added, is meant to reflect the positivity he hopes will come out of the programming.

Though the market is full of choices for Black audience, Magic says there is a void to be filled in regards to family-friendly African-American programming.

OMAHA, Neb. — Central Florida basketball player, Marcus Jordan, the son of former NBA great Michael Jordan, was arrested in Omaha early Sunday following a disturbance outside a downtown hotel.

According to a news release, police responding to a call at the Embassy Suites found hotel security trying to subdue Marcus Jordan, who was having an argument with two women in the hotel driveway.

The release said Jordan was ‘’very animated, intoxicated and uncooperative,’‘ and it took multiple officers to control and handcuff him.

Jordan was booked at the Douglas County Department of Corrections for resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and obstructing. He had been released by Sunday night.

Jordan, a rising senior, averaged 13.7 points for UCF last season.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson has confirmed that he and his family were the targets of an extortion scheme.

A 28-year-old former stripper possessed nude photographs of the married Warriors coach and wanted money to keep the photos from becoming public. The team confirmed two suspects were arrested earlier this week.

The Warriors said in a statement Wednesday that Jackson informed the organization of the extortion plot in April and that the team immediately contacted the FBI.

The Warriors say that “although not condoning his previous actions that led to the extortion attempt, the Warriors fully support Coach Jackson during this time.”

Jackson was hired last year. He is also an ordained minister, leading a congregation with his wife in the Los Angeles suburb of Van Nuys.

Last Thursday night with the 14th pick in the NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks selected John Henson.

Henson, who played high school basketball at Sickles High School, decided to forego his senior year at North Carolina and enter the draft.

Henson, 6’11”, has been listed as a forward/center, and has already drawn comparisons to Kevin Garnett.

Henson is a two-time ACC defensive player of the year, and joined three of his teammates in being selected in the top 20.