Florida Sentinel Bulletin

BAKERSFIELD, CA — Life in Bakersfield after a brief NFL stint had not been kind to running back David Lee “Deacon” Turner.

After at least two dozen run-ins with the law, Turner, 56, was shot and killed in front of a convenience store Sunday by a Kern County deputy after he allegedly hit an officer with a bag holding two cans of beer.

As a student-athlete, Turner thrived, shredding defenses at Shafter High School, Bakersfield College and San Diego State University. But as an adult, after playing in the NFL from 1978 to 1980, he had trouble finding his place in civilian life.

The deputies detained Turner while they investigated adults buying alcohol for teens. According to reports from the sheriff’s office, Turner initially complied with deputies, but then decided to leave.

Deputies said a scuffle occurred when they tried to stop Turner. Deputy Aaron Nadal was hit on the back of the head with a bag holding two, 24-ounce cans of beer before Deputy Wesley Kraft drew his handgun and fired twice at Turner, authorities said.

Retired NBA star Shaquille O’Neal is reportedly taking his talents to TNT sports.

Reports state that the recently retired O’Neal will join Ernie Johnson, Kenny “The Jet” Smith and Charles Barkley as the newest member of TNT’s show Inside The NBA.

No one should expect to see O’Neal’s broadcasting debut anytime soon.

Much like the National Football League, in late June, the NBA began a lockout of it’s players, and many insiders believe the 2011-2012 NBA season could be in jeopardy.

A trial date has been set for the mother of Heat star LeBron James, who faces battery and disorderly intoxication charges related to an alleged argument with a valet at a South Beach hotel.

Gloria James will head to trial on August 8 for the alleged altercation outside the Fontainebleau hotel on April 7, the Miami State Attorney’s Office said Monday.

The 43-year-old is accused of slapping around valet Rock Feller Sorel after she allegedly became upset over the time it took to retrieve her car.

It started early Saturday when Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward was arrested in Georgia on drunk driving charges. Later that day, Ward’s manager said that not only did Ward “cooperate fully with the police and truthfully answered all of their questions … From our preliminary investigation we can tell you that we are confident that the facts will show that Hines was NOT impaired by alcohol while driving.”

Whatever legal fate awaits Ward, it didn’t take long for Ravens running back Ray Rice to share his thoughts on the matter, tweeting Saturday: “Well it looks like Hines Ward will miss week 1 when the lockout ends DUI charge not a good look.”

As it turns out, the Steelers face the Ravens in Baltimore in Week 1.

Looks like someone was paying attention when Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade tweeted “Any1 hiring?” at the start of the NBA lockout earlier this month.

Besides Turkish basketball teams and balloon artist booking agents, fried chicken chain KFC has inquired about the Heat guard’s services should the NBA lockout cut into the 2011-2012 regular season.

KFC U.S. General Manager John Cywinski sent Wade an open letter Monday, offering him to return to the chicken chain where he worked before he became an NBA star.

LAS VEGAS — NFL football player Adam “Pacman” Jones might face up to a year in jail in Nevada for violating a probation stay-out-of-trouble order following his weekend arrest in Cincinnati, the top prosecutor in Las Vegas said Monday.

Clark County District Attorney David Roger said that before he takes the case to a Nevada judge, he’ll review police accounts of the arrest of the 27-year-old Cincinnati Bengals cornerback on resisting arrest and misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges at an Ohio bar.

Jones was sentenced to one year of probation in February for his role in a 2007 Las Vegas strip club melee that left three people shot.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A lawyer says NFL star Terrell Owens has paid the child support he owes, so the mother of the child is dropping her attempt to hold him in contempt of court.

Melanie Paige Smith had filed court papers on June 20 in Atlanta, saying the wide receiver had refused to pay the full $5,000 a month he owes.

Her lawyer, Randall Kessler, has now filed court papers to dismiss the request that Owens be held in contempt. The court documents state that Owens has paid child support for June and July. Kessler said Monday that’s he’s glad the matter has been resolved.

Owens, from Alexander City, Ala., is a free agent and can’t sign with a team until the NFL lockout is resolved.

Ronde Barber’s twin, former Giants RB Tiki Barber, told USA Today the Bucs and Steelers are on his “short list” of teams for which he wants to play as he returns from retirement.

How realistic is it that the Barbers could be reunited in Tampa Bay? “It was an entertaining thought four or five years ago,” Ronde said. “I don’t know how realistic it is now. I’ve not had a chance to talk to (GM) Mark (Dominik) or Raheem about it.

Maybe the situation would be a little different under different circumstances. But I know he wants to go somewhere where he feels like he’s wanted.

When the 49ers hired Jim Harbaugh as head coach, there was plenty of talk that the 49ers would look to acquire Buccaneers quarterback Josh Johnson, who had played for Harbaugh at the University of San Diego.

With his path in Tampa Bay blocked by 2009 first-round pick Josh Freeman, Johnson, an Oakland native, would welcome a return to both Harbaugh and his native Bay Area.

“I’d get to go home, be with my family, play for a coach that changed my life and play for a team that I grew up loving,” Johnson said on Thursday. “But reality of the situation is this is a business and we’re all seeing it with this lockout. So I’m a part of the Buccaneers and I have one year left.”

Johnson is scheduled to earn $596,833 in base salary in the final season on his four-year, $1.877 million rookie contract.

After sitting his rookie season, Johnson started four games in 2009, completing 63-of-125 pass attempts for 685 yards with four touchdowns and eight interceptions. As the No. 2 quarterback behind Freeman in 2010, Johnson completed 14-of-16 attempts for 111 yards, and has added 187 yards on 26 attempts over the 2009 and 2010 seasons.