Florida Sentinel Bulletin

SAN ANTONIO — Tim Duncan is on crutches and the San Antonio Spurs don’t know when he’ll be back.

Duncan passed an MRI test Tuesday with no signs of structural damage in his sprained left ankle. The Spurs won’t know how long the 34-year-old might be out until later this week, but Duncan will miss at least the next three games as the NBA’s winningest team tries to clinch the West’s No. 1 seed.

Duncan sprained the ankle Monday night in a win over Golden State. Four minutes had barely passed in the game when Duncan, after making a short jumper, landed awkwardly on his left foot and collapsed beneath the basket.

The two-time MVP lay clutching the foot for more than a minute in the scariest moment for the Spurs all season. San Antonio has reclaimed its place atop the NBA behind the durability of Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili after injuries derailed the four-time champions the last few years.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay needs surgery on his injured left shoulder and will miss the rest of the season.

The Grizzlies announced Tuesday the team’s physician Fred Azar and orthopedic surgeon James Andrews have recommended surgery for Gay’s partially dislocated shoulder.

Gay has missed the past 14 games since suffering the injury on Feb. 15 against Philadelphia. The Grizzlies are 8-6 in his absence and remain in contention for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Memphis is trying to reach the postseason for the first time since the 2005-2006 season.

NEW ORLEANS — The NFL will move kickoffs up 5 yards to the 35-yard line, keep touchbacks coming out to the 20 and allow the number of players in a blocking wedge to remain at two.
Kick coverage players now will be limited to lining up 5 yards or fewer from the spot of the kickoff.

Team owners also voted Tuesday to make all scoring plays reviewable by the replay official and referee. But they tabled a proposal to ban players launching themselves to make a tackle, and will reconsider it in May.

The league’s competition committee proposed placing the ball at the 25 after touchbacks on kickoffs and banning the wedge altogether. Several coaches expressed concern about making too many changes to kickoffs, also saying bringing touchbacks out 5 more yards would affect field position too much. Coaches worried about an increase in touchbacks from the 16 percent of kickoffs last season.

NEW CITY, NY — Former football star Lawrence Taylor was sentenced Tuesday to six years on probation for an encounter with an underage prostitute.

The New York Giants ex-linebacker pleaded guilty in January to sexual misconduct and having sex with the underage prostitute.

The girl, now 17, appeared in court with well-known attorney Gloria Allred and said afterward that Taylor should have gone to jail. The girl has been identified in court and by Allred only by her initials, C.F.

The teen denied she is a prostitute and said another man forced her to go to Taylor’s hotel room in May 2010. She believes Taylor could tell that she had been beaten and that she was underage. She said Taylor took “something precious” from her and should be behind bars.

Allred said the girl had wanted to read a victim-impact statement in court. The judge, however, said victims are entitled to speak only at felony sentencings. Taylor had pleaded guilty to misdemeanors.

Taylor was arrested May 6 at a Holiday Inn in Montebello, N.Y., after the girl’s uncle contacted New York City police. The ex-athlete was charged with third-degree rape because she was underage.

Gerald McCoy has been very busy this offseason. First he was rehabbing his torn biceps, which he has finished now. He’s also been out in San Diego working out for the upcoming season, focusing on improving his upper-body strength. Besides that he’s also been expanding his off-field activities, including acting as a reporter for the ‘Ochocinco News Network’(OCNN).

McCoy has also been involved with Pros for Africa, a charitable organization focused on providing aid for children in need in Africa.

Right now the Bucs’ 3-technique is in Rwanda, after spending the past days in Uganda along with some other NFL players including Larry Fitzgerald and Tommie Harris.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the leading candidate to be the next team featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” series this summer.

The hugely popular show has shown NFL teams during training camp over the last six summers. The New York Jets and gregarious coach Rex Ryan were featured last summer.

The sources said the Buccaneers, HBO officials and officials from NFL Films, which produces the series, have had talks about this season’s version. However, no deal has been finalized and players are currently locked out in a labor dispute.

A league source said that the New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders and four other teams also are in consideration for the show. An official decision is not expected until later in the spring.

The Bucs are seeking attention after a surprising 10-6 year, and hoping to sell tickets after a season in which they did not sell out for a single game.

Coach Raheem Morris is known for his outgoing personality and could be a natural fit. Appearing on the show could also help the Bucs market young players like quarterback Josh Freeman, receiver Mike Williams and running back LeGarrette Blount.

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.