Florida Sentinel Bulletin

A Chinese sports company finds themselves in hot water after using the namesake of one of the most recognized athletes in the world. Retired NBA legend, and current Charlotte Bobcats boss, Michael Jordan has caught wind that the Qiaodan (cheow-DEN) Sports Company has been using Jordan’s trademark number 23 and jerseys bearing his name in Chinese for years.

In a statement, Jordan put the sportswear chain on notice after filing a lawsuit on Tuesday.

“It is deeply disappointing to see a company build a business off my Chinese name without my permission, use the number 23 and even attempt to use the names of my children,” Jordan said. “This complaint is not about money. It’s about principle and protecting my name.”

Jordan further said that any damages won would be directly reinvested in promoting basketball in China. His Airness faces an uphill battle, so says the Wall Street Journal. The WSJ grabbed a quote from attorney Dan Harris, who said, “Chinese judges are not looking to shut a business down and lay off thousands of workers.” Harris said Jordan could possibly manage a settlement with the company to allow Qiaodan to use his name by way of a licensing fee. According to Jordan’s attorneys, the Hall of Famer may be open to such a deal.

On Saturday, February 18, 2012, players were greeted by high energy coaches and staff members from the NFL Regional Combine team. This life-changing event for 142 players from around the country was held at One Buc Place.

Emotions were high, but the morning fog hovered low, covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneer practice field as high tech cameras and drill equipment moved about the facility. Stephen Austin, founder of Elite Regional Scouting Combine, is the Director of NFL Regional Combines. He let the players know what was expected of them and their responsibilities while participating in the Combine.

Many of the players on the roster were from Florida colleges, including: James Brandon, Jacques Garcon and Pierre-Louis Wondy (pictured, right), from the University of Florida; Bernard Mauricette and Sharly Azard (pictured, right), University of South Florida; Alexander Ajayi, FAMU;  and Terrance Parks, Jarvis Harris and Kendall Smith, from Florida State University.

Former LSU safety and Team Captain Harry Coleman was on the roster. He trained in Sarasota before the regional combine with trainer and former Washington Redskin CB, Alvoid Mays.

For $190, each player is filmed and documented by a series of cameras, stop watches and personnel. Once the data is collected, it is uploaded into a database that NFL coaches and scouts access to find their next top player. Austin commented that any player who believes he has what it takes to play in the NFL should invest in himself through the Combine.

The players pushed themselves to the brink, hoping to receive a golden ticket to the Ford Field in Detroit for the invitation-only Super Regional Combine in March.

By Victor Young
Of Media & Management Global

The son of  former Tampa Bay Buccaneer running back, James Wilder, is reportedly facing two felony charges following an incident that occurred early Wednesday afternoon.

James Wilder, Jr., a former Plant High School star now playing for Florida State University, was arrested following an incident when a Leon County Sheriff’s deputy was trying to arrest his girlfriend.

An attorney for Wilder reported that he has been suspended from the team because of team rules dealing with felony arrests.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Earvin “Magic” Johnson is launching a basic cable television network targeting black viewers with positive, uplifting images of African Americans.

The former Los Angeles Lakers star said that his 24-hour Aspire channel will also offer opportunities for Blacks who have struggled to find work in mainstream Hollywood.

Aspire’s mix will include film, TV, music, comedy, performing arts and shows about faith.

The 52-year-old Johnson, who was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002, says he’s wanted a vehicle to showcase positive images of African Americans with stories written, produced and directed by Blacks.

Comcast Corp. reached an agreement with the FCC and Department of Justice to diversify.

Johnson’s channel will launch on June 30.

Tampa Police report that former Major league Baseball star, Elijah Dukes, was arrested Thursday morning on drug charges.

According to the report, officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle at Nebraska and Sligh Avenues at 1:08 a. m. They made contact with Dukes and one of the officers reported seeing marijuana flakes on Dukes’ shirt. He also reported that he noticed Dukes trying to eat a small baggie of marijuana.

The officers were able to get the marijuana, and Dukes was arrested.

Dukes was reported to be in jail with his bail set at $4,750 on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, an destruction of evidence. He also  had an outstanding warrant.

The Buccaneers announced Friday the hiring Bill Sheridan as defensive coordinator. Sheridan would leave his post as the Buckeyes’ defensive backs coach to take on the new role in Tampa.

Most of the children probably didn’t realize Tampa has hosted four Super Bowls. On Friday, though, all they needed to know was that a nice man brought them presents.

The man with the gifts was former Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy, who visited St. Joseph Children’s Hospital as part of Super Baskets of Hope.

In the weeks before and after each Super Bowl, the program delivers hundreds of gift baskets to hospitalized children in each of the 32 cities that host an NFL team.

LAS VEGAS — President Barack Obama lauded Muhammad Ali Saturday as he joined some of the country’s most famous people in offering birthday wishes to the boxer known simply as “The Greatest.”

“Happy birthday, champ,” Pres. Obama told Ali through a video message, saying he wished he could have attended a swanky dinner gala in Las Vegas featuring some of the biggest names in sports, film, television and music.

“As a fighter, you were something spectacular,” Pres. Obama told Ali, who turned 70 last month. “You shocked the world, and you inspired it, too. And even after all the titles and legendary bouts, you’re still doing it.”

The gala’s 2,000 attendees were there to celebrate Ali’s life and generate millions of dollars for brain research, a mission Ali’s family says is important to him in part because of his nearly 30-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.

A set of gloves Ali used to defeat Floyd Patterson in 1965 in Las Vegas — the first heavyweight title fight in Sin City — sold for $1.1 million. It came with one of the original posters used to promote the fight, which had Muhammad Ali’s chosen name as a subscript to Cassius Clay, the name he was born with. When Ali converted to Islam, many people resisted calling him by his new name.

Ali entered the room and sat at a table with his family before bidding began on the gloves.

PHOENIX — Kobe Bryant lashed out at Los Angeles Lakers management Sunday night for leaving teammate Pau Gasol wondering whether he’s about to be traded.

In a postgame monologue punctuated by a couple of profanities, Bryant said the Lakers either need to trade Gasol or come out and say it won’t happen.

Bryant’s comments came in the aftermath of a 102-90 loss at Phoenix on Sunday night. He said he doesn’t want Gasol to be traded, but it’s unfair for his teammate to try to play when he doesn’t know if he’ll be somewhere else the following day.

As Bryant put it: “If they’re going to do something, I wish they would just … do it.”