Florida Sentinel Bulletin

NEW YORK  — Three days and 30 hours’ worth of talks ended on a nasty note Thursday in NBA labor negotiations. And only one thing seemed fairly certain: more games were likely to be cut. Possibly even the season.

Players insist that’s the outcome owners wanted all along – “preordained,” as union executive director Billy Hunter said.

“We’ve always felt there was still a place where they would just not go and they would lock us out as long as it would take in order to get us beyond that place.

There was never really a willingness to negotiate beyond certain points,” union president Derek Fisher of the Lakers said. “There was just a line drawn, and regardless of what’s going on, how many times we meet, `we’re not going past that.”‘

After 30 hours of negotiations before a federal mediator, the sides remained divided over two main issues – the division of revenues and the structure of the salary cap system.

Former pound-for-pound king Roy Jones Jr., who suffered a brutal knockout in his last fight and has lost three bouts in a row, is getting back into the ring.

Jones, 42, will face journeyman Max Alexander in a scheduled 10-round cruiserweight bout Dec. 10 in Atlanta, McGee Wright, Jones’ adviser, told ESPN.com.

“Roy is going to do a little tuneup fight, get back in the ring and see how he feels,” Wright said. “He’s been training for the fight for about six weeks already.”

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers arrived in London and after getting some rest, started running drills with about 200 students at Wimbley Stadium as they prepare to face the Chicago Bears.

The NFC South leading Bucs (4-2) are coming off their second NFC South victory, a 26-20 win over the New Orleans Saints. In their only other game at Wimbley Stadium in 2009, the Bucs lost to the New England Patriots.

The Buccaneer run defense will be tested again, this time with Matt Forte. Forte has gained 291 yards running to his right, which is the left side of the defensive line. The

Bucs usually start Michael Bennett and Gerald McCoy on the left side, but McCoy is out with an ankle injury, and linebacker Mason Foster is questionable with an ankle injury.

It’s been widely publicized that Saints head coach, Sean Payton, was injured  during the Buccaneer game, but few know that Buccaneer defensive backs coach, Jimmy Lake, was also injured, suffering a knee injury. He tore his patellar tendon while celebrating an interception by Tanard Jackson.

Aside from McCoy and Foster, the Bucs will enter Sunday’s contest with Luke Stocker out, Aqib Talib probable, LeGarrett Blount doubtful, and Quincy Black probable.

The Bucs will also be counting on running back Earnest Graham (pictured) to turn in another stellar performance, after rushing for 109 yards against the Saints last week.

Sunday’s game will start at 1 p. m.

EASTON, Mass. — The family of a college football player who was fatally shot by New York police has dedicated an athletic field named in his honor on the first anniversary of his death.

Danroy “D.J.” Henry, a 20-year-old Pace University student, was killed Oct. 17, 2010, outside a bar in Thornwood, N.Y., just north of New York City.

Henry was parked in a fire lane when a police officer knocked on the driver’s side window. Police say Henry sped off, but his family says he moved away at an appropriate speed, believing the officer was instructing him to move. Henry’s car hit an officer who ended up on its hood, firing through the windshield.

About three dozen relatives and friends gathered Monday outside a sports complex in his hometown of Easton to dedicate an athletic field in Henry’s name.

Bryant Gumbel invoked race in a televised editorial on the NBA’s strained labor talks, likening league Commissioner David Stern to a “plantation overseer.”

Gumbel ended Tuesday’s edition of HBO’s “Real Sports” by taking aim at Stern, who he said is to blame for the lockout that threatens the entire season. He said Stern’s “disdain for the players” is “pathetic.”

“But his efforts were typical of a commissioner, who has always seemed eager to be viewed as some kind of modern plantation overseer treating NBA men as if they were his boys,” Gumbel said. “It’s part of Stern’s M.O. Like his past self-serving edicts on dress code or the questioning of officials, his moves are intended to do little more than show how he’s the one keeping the hired hands in their place.”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Six games into his career with the New England Patriots, Chad Ochocinco has just nine catches-and one vote of confidence from his offensive coordinator.

Now comes the team’s bye week with Ochocinco’s role still evolving.

“Ocho’s progressing every week,” coordinator Bill O’Brien said Monday. “He’s done a really good job in practice and when he’s been in certain parts of games, he’s produced, two-minute drives at the end of halves and things.

“And we’re happy with where Ocho is right now.”

Since being traded by Cincinnati on July 28, Ochocinco has struggled with the complex playbook, much more complicated than the ones he had for 10 years with the Bengals.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -Denver Broncos defensive lineman Ryan McBean was arrested on suspicion of stalking.

McBean turned himself in Friday and is free after posting a $50,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 28.

A fourth-year pro out of Oklahoma State, McBean was at practice Monday as the Broncos returned from their bye week. Denver coach John Fox said the team was aware of the arrest and it was “gathering information.”

If convicted of stalking, McBean could face up to three years in prison.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -Former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard will have back surgery this week, likely preventing him from signing with another team.

Garrard’s agent, Al Irby, confirmed his client’s surgery Monday.

Garrard wanted everyone to know his situation amid reports the Oakland Raiders were considering signing Garrard to replace injured starter Jason Campbell.

Garrard wrote on his Twitter page that he will have surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers put behind them the 48-3 disaster they suffered a week ago against the San Francisco 49ers, and now have sole possession of first place in the NFC South.

Although the Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints have identical 4-2 records, the Bucs have a half-game lead after their thrilling 26-20 win Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

Josh Freeman (pictured) threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns, and Earnest Graham, subbing for the injured LeGarertt Blount rushed for 109 yards.

The Buc defense picked off Saints quarterback Drew Brees three times, and Tanard Jackson made sure everyone knew he was back with a 16-yard interception return.

The Bucs drew first blood when Da’Quan Bowers recovered a fumble that led to a Connor Barth 48-yard field goal. The Saints answered with Brees tossing a 38-yard touchdown strike to Marques Colston putting them up 7-3.

In the second quarter, Freeman unleashed a 65-yard strike to Arrelious Benn for a touchdown and the Bucs took the lead back, 10-7. In the fourth quarter, the Saints went for a 4th and 2 with 3:16 left in the game. That play blew up when Brees was picked off by Quincy Black in the end zone.

The major injury of the game occurred to Saints head coach, Sean Payton, who sustained a leg injury when he was rolled up on while standing on the sideline.

Before the Bucs had time to rest, they were boarding a plane and heading for London, England where they will face the Chicago Bears this Sunday at Wimbley Stadium. The game has been sold out.