Florida Sentinel Bulletin

BOSTON — Boston Celtics center Shaquille O’Neal limped off the court 5-1/2 minutes into his first game back in more than two months with a new injury that casts new doubt on his ability to help the team in the playoffs.

After missing 27 games with a sore right leg, O’Neal entered Sunday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons with 4:43 left in the first quarter. He scored on Boston’s first two possessions and again later before grabbing a seat for the final play of the quarter.

Former Chicago Bear William “The Refrigerator” Perry claims to be in much better health after suffering a relapse of Guillain-Barre syndrome two years ago.

Perry, who says he was barely walking as recently as this January, says he is able to run at times now and is working out regularly.

“I was coming back really slowly, but it’s picking up and I’m getting around, back out in the world instead of locked up in the house,” Perry said as he signed autographs for fans at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. Perry, at times, still uses a motorized scooter to get around, but the fact that he’s walking more often is major progress.

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

Federal prosecutors trying Barry Bonds for perjury have so far presented a strong case with testimony from several witnesses that the record-setting retired baseball player did in fact use steroids. Bonds admitted to a grand jury in 2003 that he thought the cream was Flaxseed oil. The question the government needs to prove is whether or not Bonds lied about knowing the cream had steroids.

According to testimony from his former girlfriend, Kim Bell, Bonds told her he was using steroids and that he blamed the drugs for an elbow injury.

All of this makes for good drama and is great for the moronic sports analysts who are always clueless about the raw facts. The point is Bonds is not on trial for using steroids. However, the focus of the media is that he is on trial for steroid use, and they have even revealed information Bell provided to prosecutors about Bonds’ physical appearance. None of this is relevant to the fact that he is on trial for perjury, not for alleged steroid use.

The Giambi brothers, Jason and Jeremy, admitted to using steroids, and testified they received steroids from Bonds’ former trainer, Greg Anderson. By revealing that fact, we are supposed to think that Anderson also fed Bonds steroids.

Putting the cart before the horse couldn’t come close to the perception the media is laying out on Bonds.

Also keep in mind, perjury is hard to prove because one must be able to establish beyond a reasonable doubt what the defendant was thinking at the time of the alleged perjury. That means one must clearly establish an internal mind set based on external behavior.

There is also the problem of jury instruction about the legal standard needed for conviction.

The federal government has spent in excess of $6 million in their effort to not just ruin Bonds’ career, but have him sent to prison.

Bonds is Major League Baseball’s record-holder for home runs in a career (762) and a season (73), and like Henry Aaron before him, there is a segment of society that still recognizes Herman “Babe” Ruth as the king, and are not willing to relinquish that claim. Oh, letís not bring up the character of Ruth. No one ever wants to bring that up when talking about baseball’s best.

The fact is, even after Bonds has walked out of court clear of this alleged perjury, the government will continue to spend our hard earned dollars to get him behind bars, or at least disgraced and removed from any consideration of entering Cooperstown.

BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer

Congratulations go out to Donoven Hough, who on March 6th competed in the Florida Amateur Wrestling Association State competition and brought home the gold.

Hough wrestled four challenging rounds in the 98 pound Schoolboy Division as a member of the Caveman Wrestling Club. He accomplished his win in the championship match by pin in the second period.

Hough began wrestling at the age of 9, and has successfully progressed into a strong and competitive wrestler. He attributes his success to former wrestlers, his father, Don Hough, and his godfather, John Martin, in addition to the coaching staff at Caveman Wrestling Club.

Hough has had a successful year in which he has competed in the middle school nationals, the Games of Rome Nationals at Disney World, and numerous tournaments in which he has placed in the top 6.

Hough now looks forward to his upcoming year at Armwood High School. There he will be joining the wrestling team for the 2011-2012 year and will also be a part of Armwood Culinary Arts Program.

Donoven Hough expresses gratitude to his parents, Don and Justine, godfather, John Martin, grandmother, Everaleen Hough, brother, Chico, and the entire Hough family for all of their support and encouragement.

In the summer of 2004 when any suggestion of Butler University playing for a national championship might have drawn laughter, an unknown assistant coach made a cost efficient, wide ranging recruiting trip to Florida. He squeezed in one more stop, wandering over to Wharton High School’s gymnasium to watch their workouts.

Butler head coach, Brad Stevens, checked out Shawn Vanzant and liked what he saw. He saw a defensive-minded, versatile player that fit their system. Vanzant became a recruiting priority.

It may have seemed unusual when Vanzant signed to play at Butler, a 4,200 student, mid-major school. But, the 6-foot guard said it was perfect for him.

After four consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament – and two straight trips to the Final Four – Vanzant will conclude his college career with a chance to win a national championship this weekend at Houston’s Reliant Stadium.

The 8th-seeded Bulldogs (27-9) will meet the 11th seeded Virginia Commonwealth Rams (28-11) in Saturday’s national semi-final contest.

Vanzant averages 8.1 points and 3.2 rebounds, and had his greatest moment in the Horizon League tournament semi-finals. Vanzant scored 18 points in the final 13 minutes of the game as his team defeated Cleveland State 76-68.

In last Saturday’s 74-71 region final victory over the Florida Gators, Vanzant directed a floating pass toward the rim where his teammate, Khyle Marshall, grabbed it and slammed it home.

GARLAND, Texas – According to police in the Dallas suburb of Garland, Texas, Tampa Bay Buccaneer cornerback Aqib Talib turned himself in on a warrant accusing him of firing a gun at his sister’s boyfriend.

Police said Talib was released Wednesday after posting a $25,000 bond.

According to police reports, Talib and his mother, Okolo Talib, shot at the man March 21st. The man was not injured.

Authorities issued arrest warrants for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for Talib and his mother.

Talib’s mother turned herself in on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and bonded out Tuesday.

DALLAS — Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant is facing two lawsuits seeking more than $850,000 for unpaid jewelry bills, NFL and NBA tickets and loans.

A Tarrant County man is suing Bryant for $588,500 worth of watches, earrings, bracelets, rings and other jewelry, plus $15,850 worth of tickets and $11,000 in unpaid loans. All the transactions were between June 2009 and June 2010.

Receipts signed by Bryant show that they were supposed to be paid by July 30, 2010, “or when he signs his first Marketing or Sports Contract, which ever happens first,” the lawsuit said. The suit was filed in September and amended last week, before Bryant allegedly unleashed a tirade at a mall security officer concerned about his drooping pants.

Another lawsuit filed last week says Bryant owes a New York company $246,000 for jewelry purchases made between January and May 2010.

RICHMOND, VA. — A co-defendant in the Michael Vick dogfighting case on Monday was sent back to prison for 11 months for violating terms of his supervised release, including talking to the NFL star at a Virginia Beach nightclub last summer and then lying to his probation officer about it.

U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson told Quanis Phillips he had “failed miserably” during the past year, citing a list of transgressions: failing to report run-ins with police, failing a drug test, refusing to attend a mandatory mental health appointment and being convicted of reckless driving and driving on a suspended license.

NEW YORK — A man who arranged for a 16-year-old girl to meet former NFL star Lawrence Taylor for sex in a hotel room pleaded guilty Tuesday, agreeing to serve more than seven years in prison.

Rasheed Davis, 37, entered the plea in U.S. District Court in Manhattan to one count of inducing the interstate travel of another for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct for financial gain. Sentencing was set for Aug. 10, when Davis faces a prison term that the government has recommended should fall between seven years and nine years.

Davis was arrested after the May 6 meeting between Taylor and the girl at a Holiday Inn in Ramapo, about 30 miles northwest of the Bronx.

Taylor subsequently pleaded guilty in state court to sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute, admitting that he paid a 16-year-old runaway $300 for sex. Taylor said the girl told him she was 19. Prosecutors say the girl turned the money over to Davis.