Florida Sentinel Bulletin

DALLAS — Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant was ejected from an upscale Dallas shopping mall after a dispute over the sagging pants worn by him and some companions.

A police statement says officers working off-duty Saturday as security at NorthPark Center encountered Bryant and three companions wearing the drooping pants.

According to the statement, when the officers asked the four to pull up their trousers, Bryant launched into a profanity-laced tirade that prompted the officers to escort the four from the mall.

Police say Bryant refused to leave, however, until his “representative” could arrive and he parked in a fire lane until a friend arrived and persuaded him to leave.

No charge was filed. Bryant’s agent, Eugene Parker, declined to comment. The Dallas Cowboys did not respond to requests for comment.

TAMPA — Tough enough? The University of Florida Gators certainly were. They also displayed high levels of shot-making, guile and experience, which could project into a deep run through the NCAA tournament.

Make no mistake, though. UF’s 73-65 third-round victory against the No. 7-seeded UCLA Bruins was tough as nails.

The No. 2-seeded Gators earned the program’s seventh Sweet 16 appearance, fifth under Donovan. They will face in Thursday night’s Southeast Regional semifinal at New Orleans.

They are two victories away from the program’s fifth Final Four trip.

*Alex Tyus (right) celebrates late in the Gators’ victory over UCLA Saturday at the Forum to reach the Sweet Sixteen.

LOS ANGELES — Lakers coach Phil Jackson has no idea how the NBA did the math that resulted in Andrew Bynum receiving a two-game suspension for his flagrant foul on Minnesota’s Michael Beasley.

Jackson just knows the absence of the shotblocking center is a big negative in the middle of the two-time champions’ defense.

Bynum, who has little prior history of hard fouls, missed Sunday’s game against Portland and will sit out Tuesday’s meeting with Phoenix under the suspension announced Sunday morning by the NBA.

Jackson said he agreed with the flagrant foul and Bynum’s ejection last Friday, but thought the resulting penalty was “excessive.” Bynum will lose roughly $250,000 during his suspension without pay.

MIAMI — Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers is expected to miss up to two weeks after spraining his right knee.

Chalmers was injured against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. Tests performed on his knee Sunday confirmed the original diagnosis.

It’s a blow for the Heat, with the playoffs opening in less than a month, though not as severe as it could have been. The only other true point guard Miami has on the roster is Mike Bibby, who has been with the Heat for only 10 games.

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — Venus Williams withdrew from the upcoming Sony Ericsson Open on Thursday, citing an abdominal injury that has sidelined her for nearly two months.

Williams is a three-time champion at the tournament, which begins Tuesday. She hasn’t played since retiring because of the injury in the third round of the Australian Open on Jan. 21.

LOS ANGELES — Serena Williams tells USA Today that she’s “at the end of (her) rope’’ after several physical setbacks that have kept her off the court since July.

In an interview published in Wednesday’s edition, Williams says it has been a “tough year.’’

Shortly after her fourth Wimbledon title, Williams cut her foot on some broken glass at a restaurant – resulting in a pair of surgeries. Then last month, she suffered a pulmonary embolism and was hospitalized to remove a grapefruit-sized hemotoma from her stomach.

The 29-year-old says she was “definitely depressed’’ after the second foot surgery: “I cried all the time. I was miserable to be around.’’

The former No. 1 player in the world insists she’s determined to return to the dominant form that led her to 13 Grand Slam singles titles.

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge on Thursday barred the jury at Barry Bonds’ perjury trial from hearing angry voicemails the home run king left with his mistress during a stormy nine-year relationship.

Prosecutors wanted to introduce the voicemails to show that Bonds was experiencing so-called “roid rage” when he left the messages demanding to know the whereabouts of Kimberly Bell.

But U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston said Thursday that the voicemails had little relevance to proving Bonds lied when he denied knowingly taking steroids. Illston said she believed prosecutors were trying to get the voicemails into the trial for the sole reason of denigrating Bonds in front of the jury.

ATLANTA, Ga. — Former NFL wide receiver Drew Hill, a two-time Pro Bowler who was a key part of the Houston Oilers’ famed “Run and Shoot” offense of the 1980s, died at an Atlanta hospital late Friday after suffering two massive strokes, according to his agent.

Piedmont Hospital spokesman Jim Taylor on Saturday confirmed the 54-year-old Hill’s death.

Hill fell ill on a golf course on Thursday and died late Friday after suffering the strokes, said his agent, Jay Mathis of Next Level Management.

A 12th round pick from Georgia Tech in 1979, Hill played for the Los Angeles Rams from 1979 to 1984, for the Oilers from 1985 to 1991, and for the Atlanta Falcons for the 1992 and 1993 seasons.

“I’m shocked,” former Oilers quarterback Warren Moon told the Houston Chronicle. “I can’t believe it. Drew meant so much to us as a player and as a person. I counted on him so much. He was the consummate professional. It’s just so sad.”

Hill had 634 receptions for 9,831 yards and 60 touchdowns, averaging 15.5 yards per catch.

MOBILE, Ala. — Alabama safety Mark Barron was arrested on charges of hindering prosecution, a misdemeanor charge.

The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday on its website that Barron was booked on the charge. His bond was listed at $500.

No additional details were available, and it could not immediately be determined if Barron had an attorney.

Alabama coach Nick Saban was still gathering information and had no immediate comment, spokesman Jeff Purinton said.

The arrest comes as the football team is set to begin spring practice Monday.

Barron led the team with 75 tackles last season. He has been rehabilitating from a torn pectoral muscle he suffered in November.