Florida Sentinel Bulletin

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge has granted prosecutors’ request to dismiss one of the charges against Barry Bonds in his federal trial for allegedly lying to a grand jury.

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston approved the request Wednesday morning, which prosecutors made after it became clear the judge was going to rule that they failed to prove a count that charged the home run king with lying when he denied his personal trainer, Greg Anderson, induced him “to take anything before the 2003 season.”

Prosecutors argued that charge meant that Bonds would be guilty to have knowingly taken any steroid prior to 2003. But the judge disagreed, ruling that the charge alleged Bonds willfully used designer steroids dubbed “the cream” or “the clear” before the 2003.

Bonds admitted inadvertently taking designer steroids in 2003, but denied any use before then.

The jury will now consider four charges against Bonds. Two accuse him of lying about knowingly taking performance-enhancing drugs, a third charges him with lying about being injected by anyone, but his doctors and the last is a catchall obstruction charge.

The owner of the major league mark for home runs in a season and a career has pleaded not guilty to three charges of lying to a grand jury in 2003, when he denied knowingly using steroids and human growth hormone. He’s also charged with one count of lying to the grand jury when he told it no one other than his doctor ever injected him with anything and another catchall charge of obstruction.

INDIANAPOLIS — Texas A&M overcame a lot on Tuesday night. Its own gender-biased history. A hostile Indiana crowd. The hand-wringing over a national championship game without UConn.

The Aggies went to a place they’d never been, the national title game, and made it their own.

In the 30th anniversary of the women’s NCAA championship, Texas A&M — which didn’t even admit women a half-century ago — beat Notre Dame 76-70, setting off an exuberant, joyful and unexpected celebration.

The game was everything that the men’s championship — played 24 hours earlier — was not: riveting, well-played, high-scoring, star-driven.

Pictured: Danielle Adams scored 30 points with nine rebounds, earning Most Outstanding Player.

On March 26th, a home in Port Charlotte rented by Tampa Bay Ray players Evan Longoria (right), David Price (left), and Reid Bragnac was burglarized.

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office reports that among the items stolen from the home was Longoria’s AK-47 assault rifle. It was part of nearly $56,000 in property stolen from the house the players rented for spring training.

Deputies said entry into the house was made through an unlocked window between 9 a. m. and 3 p. m. while the players were at a game.

Along with the assault rifle, jewelry, cash, computer equipment, and electronics were taken.

Deputies are still investigating the burglary and have not identified any suspects at this time.

LeBron James’ mother, Gloria James, was arrested in Miami Beach on April 7 2011, allegedly for assaulting a parking valet.

Gloria James was reportedly taken into custody and later released after an incident at the famous Fontaineblueau Hotel.

Lebron was also in Miami for a game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

MIAMI — LeBron James speaks often of his appreciation for NBA history.

On Wednesday, he’ll likely make some history.

James needs only two points to reach 2,000 for the season, which would put him on another list alongside some of the game’s greatest players.

The NBA’s two-time reigning MVP will become the eighth player to score 2,000 points seven times – and at 26, he will be the youngest member of that elite club.

“It means a lot,” James said. “It means I’ve stayed healthy over the years. It also means the teammates and coaching staffs that I’ve had have given me the leeway to go out there and score. I’ve just tried to take full advantage of it. There’s a lot of hard work that goes into it and I just try to go out on the court and be the best player I can every night.”

Every other player with seven seasons of scoring 2,000 points – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Alex English, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Oscar Robertson and Dominique Wilkins – is in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

James will be the eighth person in that seven-timers club, and Kobe Bryant needs only 85 points in the Lakers’ final six games to get to 2,000 again and join as well.

DURHAM, NC — Point guard Kyrie Irving is leaving Duke after one season to enter the NBA draft.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski said in a statement issued Wednesday by the school that Irving plans to hire an agent, ending his college career.

Irving played only 11 games and missed roughly two-thirds of the season with an injured big toe on his right foot. The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 17.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists for top-seeded Duke, which was upset by Arizona in the West regional semifinals.

When Irving was healthy, he was electrifying. His 31-point performance against then-No. 6 Michigan State marked just the fourth time in school history that a freshman scored 30 points in a game. He was the MVP of the CBE Classic after averaging 14.5 points and six assists.

STORRS, Conn. — Kemba Walker powered Connecti-cut to a third national title and in return, the school put the star guard’s name and number on the wall of Gampel Pavilion.

It was a surprise moment during Tuesday’s victory rally before about 7,500 rabid UConn fans who came to the arena to celebrate Monday night’s 53-41 win over Butler, and chanted “Kemba Walker,” and “One more year.”

The junior playmaker, who averaged 23.7 points during the NCAA tournament, cried and pulled his championship hat over his eyes as a drape that covered his banner was pulled away. He became the 14th Connecticut player to join the “Huskies of Honor” wall – the first to receive the honor while he was still in school.

“It’s like a dream come true,” Walker said. “Every kid wants his jersey or his number to be retired and this is pretty special.”

MIAMI — The accused shooter in the 2007 killing of former Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor wants the media barred from a key hearing.

A Miami-Dade County judge set a hearing Wednesday on the request from 20-year-old Eric Rivera, Jr. His attorney contends that an upcoming hearing on what evidence will be allowed could jeopardize Rivera’s chances for a fair trial.

Attorneys for The Miami Herald oppose closing the hearing, arguing there’s no evidence media coverage will automatically taint a potential jury pool.

Rivera is one of five people accused in the killing of Taylor during a botched robbery at his Miami-area home.

Taylor was an All-Pro safety with the Redskins who starred in college at the University of Miami.

A trial in the case is expected later this year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive lineman Arron Sears was released from jail on Tuesday and will enter an 18-month mental health pretrial intervention program.

Sears, 26, was held in custody for 62 days on a charge of battery on a law enforcement officer. The incident occurred in June at Tampa General Hospital, where Sears was hospitalized under the Baker Act.

After Sears failed to appear for a court hearing, he was found wandering on a busy road in November and arrested on an outstanding warrant. He was released on $2,000 bail.

When Sears missed another court appearance in December, Circuit Judge Kimberly Fernandez issued another warrant. Sears was arrested on Feb. 2 and held without bond until he was released on Tuesday.