Florida Sentinel Bulletin

NEW YORK  — Tiki Barber says his attempt to return to the NFL after four years in retirement is not about money.

The 36-year-old former New York Giants’ running back has asked the team to take him off the reserve-retirement list in March. The Giants say they will release him once the league allows it. Teams have not been allowed to make roster moves because of the labor fight.

Last year, it was reported Barber was broke and couldn’t pay his divorce settlement.

Barber said Thursday that he made “a lot of money” when he was playing and working in television. He insists he now needs a goal, “something to focus on and be excited about.”

The 2011 first-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DE Adrian Clayborn, said he grew up cheering for the St. Louis Rams, but he grew into becoming a Tampa Bay Bucs fan during the draft process.

That process culminated in Clayborn being selected in the first-round (20th overall).

Clayborn said he had a few very anxious moments where he felt like his heart was going to beat out of his chest, first when the Browns traded up to No. 21 in an effort to draft him, and then as he waited for the Bucs to make their pick.

Clayborn said a text from his agent telling him the Bucs were going to draft him didn’t ease his tension. It wasn’t until he got a call from general manager Mark Dominik that he believed he was coming to Tampa Bay.

Clayborn said he was too excited to remember much about the phone call, and that he really wanted to be a Buc, although he also knew other teams wanted him.

NEW YORK — It wasn’t long after the Saints traded back into the first round that they drafted Mark Ingram. And it wasn’t long after the Saints drafting Mark Ingram that Reggie Bush let the world know about his future.

In a not-so-cryptic tweet, Bush seemed to say peace out — literally — to the Big Easy.

“It’s been fun New Orleans,” Bush tweeted shortly before midnight EST on Thursday.

To sum up: it seems like the Saints and Bush will be parting ways before the 2012 season. That seemed inevitable, barring Bush taking less money, but perhaps the ability to acquire Mark Ingram meant that New Orleans won’t have to even worry about paying Bush’s potentially exorbitant salary.

The odd thing, though, is that Mark Ingram isn’t a replacement for Reggie Bush.

MIAMI — The facts of postseason life were turned inside-out by the Heat Sunday. One team lacked cohesion and trust, and it wasn’t Miami.

Was it arrogance or uncertainty that undid the Celtics throughout their 99-90 Game 1 loss?

All they knew was that Paul Pierce (19 points and four turnovers) had himself thrown out the game after being outsmarted by Dwyane Wade with seven minutes remaining in the game.

Pierce made two mistakes uncharacteristic of a future Hall-of-Famer who should know better. Just 59 seconds before his ejection.

Wade and Jones (25 efficient points) had dumped the Celtics in a deep 87-74 hole at the time of Pierce’s ensuing run-in with Wade, which makes Pierce’s ejection less the cause and more a symptom of Boston’s opening-game downfall. Wade was running the baseline defensively when he bore through a Pierce screen. Referee Ed Malloy instantly called double technicals on both stars, and then pointed Pierce to the locker room.

“I was trying to get through a screen,’’ said Wade. “I ran through it. He (Pierce) followed me. Paul had some words for me and the referee thought it was a little too much.’’

Rick Ross and Manny Pacquiao were both involved in the Nike “Boom” commercial and now the two stars are merging lanes as Manny will bring out ‘The Bawse’ during his fight with Shane Mosley.

This seems like a direct move against the combo of Floyd Mayweather and 50 Cent since they are rivals with Manny and Ricky.

The bout takes place May 7th and this is the first time Pacquiao is walking out with a rapper.

Last week, Pacquiao’s lifelong friend and assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez endorsed Ross’ Maybach Music Group rocking the label’s shirt in this Youtube video.

Tiger Woods announced Tuesday that he will miss the Wells Fargo Championship because of a minor injury.

Woods suffered a Grade 1 mild medial collateral ligament sprain to his left knee and a mild strain to his left Achilles tendon while hitting a difficult and awkward second shot from the pine straw under the Eisenhower tree left of the fairway at No. 17 during the third round of the Masters. Woods was able to continue playing at Augusta and then later decided to seek a medical evaluation.

Doctors have advised rest and cold-water therapy, and soft tissue treatment will also occur later this week. There is no definitive time frame for healing, but Woods hopes to be back in a few weeks.

Brandon Marshall And Wife Have History

Brandon Marshall, the star wide receiver of the Miami Dolphins was recently stabbed by his wife. Many are not really surprised by the event. I spoke with one of Marshall’s classmates at the University of Central Florida who said Marshall and his wife have a long history of domestic violence.

They were always at each other’s throats and they constantly argued and fought. Many were surprised when they got married.

Ray’s Longoria Set To Return

The Tampa Bay Rays will be a much better baseball team come Tuesday night. That is the time when slugging All-Star third baseman, Evan Longoria is expected to come off of the injury list and return to the Ray’s lineup.

Longoria has missed most of this season. Longoria is currently undergoing rehab. He will rejoin the Rays on Tuesday. The Rays can surely use Longoria.

Gators Release Jenkins

The Florida Gators released cornerback Janoris Jenkins because he just can’t stop smoking and going to jail. The junior who was projected as a first-round draft choice was recently arrested for the third time. The reason! Marijuana.

Jenkins and new Gator head football coach, Will Muschamp mutually decided that the team and Jenkins should part ways. Janoris can enter this year’s draft, but his value will fall.

BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer
(An Analysis)

It doesn’t take much these days to get the media wires burning. What really makes things bad is when these media sources give credence to comments made by one NFL athlete against another.

In this case, former Tampa Bay Buccaneer defensive tackle, Chris Hovan.

Chris Hovan

Hovan got on a radio show last week, and said that the Bucs have given Aqib Talib too many chances, and blames head coach Raheem Morris.

First of all, who cares what Hovan has to say? He wasn’1t even good enough to keep a spot on the Buccaneer roster, and now he thinks he has the expertise to tell the Buccaneer organization what they should do about disciplining a player. And, he couldn’t resist taking a poke at Coach Morris.

Hovan said in his opinion, Raheem Morris has shown favoritism towards Talib. I guess in hindsight, Raheem should have shown favoritism to Hovan and kept him on the team.

With all the talk on sports radio, sports television, the tabloids, and even by some washed up NFL athletes, they all seem to forget two very important words: DUE PROCESS.

Last time I checked, the authorities in Texas haven’t convicted Talib of anything, and until the case has gone through our judicial system, Talib is innocent until proven guilty. It should also be pointed out that the NFL has taken no action, and with no Collective Bargaining Agreement, they can’t.

So, why the rush to judgment on a young man who has had some problems in the past? Should he always be judged by past mistakes, or like most people, doesn’t he deserve the benefit of the doubt? Even more critical, doesn’t he deserve to be tried and convicted before he is punished?

I know I’ll be hearing about Hovan’s remarks all week, because some media outlets just love this kind of stuff.

On a personal level, you can take Hovan’s comments, and fertilize an entire valley with it, because that’s all it’s worth.

Hovan is a disgruntled football player who was cut by the Bucs because he wasn’t good enough, and now he wants to strike back at Talib and Coach Morris. This shows what a complete loser Hovan really is.

This also shows to what extent the media will go to paint an African American athlete as being trouble and not worth having around.

The Bucs need to keep Talib and Tanard Jackson. WE ARE FAMILY!

St. Petersburg, FL   ——- The St. Petersburg Chapter of The Links, Incorporated will host its inaugural Kentucky Derby: Run for the Roses Gala on Saturday, May 7th at the beautiful Farley Estate (5030 Sunrise Dr. South) in St. Petersburg.

The fundraiser will bring the essence of the Kentucky Derby right here to Tampa Bay.  The event will feature many aspects of a true Louisville, Kentucky derby event including a red carpet, cigar lounge (sponsored by Thompson Cigars), mint julep bar, derby cuisine, Millionaire’s Row, silent auction, live music and betting station.

The highly-anticipated two minute race will be shown on the big screen and guests will have a chance to win raffle prizes if their horse wins.  Ladies are encouraged to wear their best hats and spring dresses; and men should wear linen or spring time suits.

The gala will also feature a style du jour, a fashion showcase for the best hat (ladies) and suit (men).  Proceeds from the gala will benefit several community programs and students in the Bay Area.

For more information and tickets, please visit www.stpetelinks.org.