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Sports
Hometown Bulls Send Derrick Rose
Dwight Howard Opts Out Despite Rockets' Efforts To Keep Him
DWIGHT HOWARD
Before Dwight Howard decided to decline his $23.2 million player option, Hous- ton Rockets officials tried to convince him to remain with the team, according to a source.
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey spoke with Howard's agent Perry Rogers, and team CEO Tad Brown talked to Howard himself in expressing his sup- port as well.
The team values Howard's defensive abilities and his potential on the offen- sive end in a new scheme under recently hired coach Mike D'Antoni.
However, at $23.2 million, it would seem that salary is too much for the Rockets to pay Howard to be the third or fourth option on offense. A reduced salary is a possibility for Howard should he re- turn. But given the increase in the NBA salary cap, Howard could command a max con- tract in excess of $30 million per season.
Howard didn't return a text message from ESPN seek- ing comment.
The 30-year-old center now will become a free agent on July 1 after averaging 13.7 points and attempting 8.5 field goals per game in 2015- 16, his lowest output since his rookie season with Orlando in 2004-05.
Louisiana D.A. Won’t Charge ‘Bama Football Players
To Knicks In Multiplayer Swap
The New York Knicks ac- quired Derrick Rose from the Bulls on Wednesday, hop- ing the former NBA MVP can be their answer at point guard.
New York traded center Robin Lopez, guard Jose Calderon and guard Jerian Grant to Chicago, which shipped guard Justin Holi- day, Rose and a 2017 second- round pick back to the Knicks.
A Chicago native, Rose was drafted by the Bulls with the No. 1 overall pick out of Mem- phis in 2008. A source close to Rose said he was very emo- tional about leaving Chicago because of all his great memo- ries there but that he wanted the big stage of New York.
DERRICK ROSE
Once Rose got word the Bulls were looking to trade him, the source said, he hoped it would be to the Knicks.
"His first choice was New York," the source said. "He wants the spotlight."
Louisiana district attorney, Jerry Jones, has declined to bring charges against two University of Alabama foot- ball players, citing insuffi- cient evidence to prosecute the case.
Athlete Cam Robinson had been facing charges of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and ille- gal possession of a stolen firearm, while Laurence “Hootie” Jones was facing charges of possession of a controlled dangerous sub- stance, both stemming from an arrest in mid-May in their hometown of Monroe, La.
However, Jones said that there was not enough evi- dence to prove who had the
Univerity of Alabama football players, Cam Robinson and Laurence ‘Hootie Jones.
gun and the drugs. Jones also said he did not want to “ruin the lives” of the young men.
“I want to emphasize once again that the main reason I’m doing this is that I refuse to ruin the lives of two young men who have spent their adolescence and teenage years, working and sweating, while we were all in the air conditioning,” he said.
Cavaliers Gear A Hit Among Fans Post-NBA Title
Joseph Randle Charged For Allegedly Threatening Deputy In Jail
The Cleveland Cavaliers winning the NBA title not only ended the city's long major sports championship drought, it also led to a historic amount of merchandise sales in the days that followed.
Officials with Fanatics, the nation's largest online seller of sports merchandise that also runs the NBA Store in Manhat- tan and the league's official shop online, say Cavaliers fans bought twice as much champi- onship gear in the 24 hours after winning the title than Golden State Warriors fans purchased in the same post- championship period when they beat Cleveland last year.
In fact, Fanatics sales num- bers indicate that Cavaliers fans purchased more gear less than two days after winning the title than Warriors fans did in a full week's time in 2015.
"The response to the Cava- liers winning their first NBA title, and the city taking home
their first championship in 52 years, has been overwhelming, both inside of Ohio and around the entire country," said Jack Boyle, president of merchandising for Fanatics. "When you combine the global star power of LeBron and what he has meant to his city with the thrilling 3-1 [series] comeback, the nation was glued to this series and they are responding by purchasing more championship gear than any other NBA Finals in his- tory."
Cleveland-based T-shirt company Fresh Brewed Tees set an all-time sales record for all vendors at Cleveland Hop- kins Airport, according to company founder Tony Mad- alone.
"We've done six figures in sales since the game ended," Madalone said. "We saw sim- ilar demand to when LeBron came home. But this will be much longer and sustainable."
Former Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Ran- dle has been charged with threatening a deputy while jailed on other charges in Kansas.
Randle, 24, was charged in Sedgwick County on a felony count of criminal threat. He said he planned to hire a lawyer to represent him during a first appearance Tuesday via a video link from the jail.
Lin Dehn-
ing said in
an email that
Randle is
accused of
threatening a
deputy who
was "enforc-
ing the rules"
last month at
the jail. No other details were immediately provided.
A judge set Randle's bond at $5,000. He is due back in court July 6.
Sheriff's spokesman Lt.
Robert Griffin III Looked Shaky In Practice
JOSEPH RANDLE
Robert Griffin III may still be the favorite to win the Browns’ quarterback competi- tion, but he hasn’t earned the job yet. And in the Browns’ off- season program, he didn’t in- spire a lot of confidence that he’s going to be a great player in coach Hue Jackson’s of- fense. In the six practices open to the media, Griffin had as many bad throws as good ones, passes that were tipped, intercepted or should have been intercepted.
Griffin also showed poor footwork and seemed eager to throw safe, checkdown passes,
and he didn’t make a lot of big plays or do the things that would show off the great athleti- cism he dis- played as a rookie.
ROBERT GRIFFIN III
Ex-Dolphin WR Faces Felony Charges After Standoff With Police
This is, of course, just prac- tice, and for Griffin it’s prac- tice in a new offense. On the other hand, in practice the quarterback doesn’t get hit, and Griffin’s biggest problem has been an inability to recog- nize and react to the pass rush.
Former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Davone Bess is facing charges after al- legedly getting into a standoff with police at his suburban Phoenix home.
A judge ordered Bess re- leased on $2,500 bond Mon- day night after his arrest on one felony count each of en- dangerment, unlawful flight and failure to stop for a police officer.
According to charging documents, Bess was stopped in Gilbert late Sunday for driv- ing without his headlights on.
The documents say he pointed his finger like a gun at officers and moved it up and down, mimicking firing a gun. Police say Bess then fled to his home, where he waved a knife while still in his car.
Documents say he refused
DAVONE BESS
police commands and walked into his home.
Police Sgt. Jesse Sanger says a SWAT team entered after getting a search warrant and Bess was taken into cus- tody.
A Maricopa County public defender will be assigned to his case.
While out on bond, Bess cannot possess any weapons or drugs without a valid pre- scription.
FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 15-A