Page 32 - 7-1-16 Friday's Edition

Sports
LeBron James Elects To Opt
Carlos Ortiz Changes Plea To Guilty To Accessory After The Fact
CARLOS ORTIZ
A friend of former New Eng- land Patriots player Aaron Hernandez has pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact for his part in a 2013 shooting death of semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd.
Carlos Ortiz changed his plea to guilty on Monday. In re- turn, prosecutors dropped mur- der charges against him. He was sentenced to 41⁄2 to 7 years in prison.
Hernandez, Ortiz and Ernest Wallace -- all friends from Bristol, Connecticut -- were all initially charged with murder.
Hernandez was convicted of Lloyd's murder last year and sentenced to life in prison with- out the possibility of parole. Wallace was acquitted of mur- der earlier this year but sen- tenced to seven years in prison for being an accessory after the killing.
Lloyd was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancée.
During Monday's hearing, Superior Court Judge Susan Garsh led Ortiz through a se- ries of questions asking whether he understood the changes and understood the consequences of a guilty plea.
She explained that prosecu- tors would have had to prove that Ortiz knew Hernandez killed Lloyd, and she asked him how he knew that.
"When we got to the spot, the only two people that got out of the car was Aaron Hernan- dez and Odin Lloyd,'' Ortiz told her.
He said when he heard the gunshot, he turned around to look.
"The only one person that came in was Aaron Hernan- dez,'' he said.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.: 'For The Right Price, I May Come Back'
FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR.
Out Of $24M Player Option
Finals MVP LeBron James will not exercise his player option with the Cleve- land Cavaliers for the 2016-17 season, according to his agent, Rich Paul.
James, who had to inform the Cavs of his decision by Wednesday at midnight, will become a free agent July 1 for the third straight summer. He was slated to earn $24 million next season.
Though he has opted out, James can re-sign with the Cavaliers and said last week he has no intentions of leav- ing Cleveland again.
"I love it here in Cleveland. I have no intentions of leav- ing," James told ESPN's Dave McMenamin during the Cavaliers' championship
LEBRON JAMES
parade. "There are some technicalities to take care of I'll leave up to my agent. That's right from the horse's mouth."
On Tuesday night, how- ever, Paul gave no insight into what type of contract his client would eventually sign with the Cavs or what the timetable is for his expected return to Cleveland.
There’s a code to decipher when Floyd Mayweather Jr. speaks.
Though his words may be heartfelt at that instant, his position is subject to change based on any event in the boxing world or even the break of a new day.
It’s been more than eight months since Mayweather, 38, announced he would re- tire with a 49-0 record after a 2015 campaign that included his record-setting victory over Manny Pacquiao and a farewell triumph over Andre Berto in September.
The completion of those convincing efforts earned Mayweather the Boxing Writers Assn. of America fighter-of-the-year-award, a
trophy he came to collect for a third time Friday at Copaca- bana restaurant.
In both a discussion with the Los Angeles Times and a reflective, insightful 34- minute acceptance speech, Mayweather revealed his answer to “the question I get all the time,” and how he’s spending retired life.
“As of now, I’m happy with being retired,” said May- weather, who pocketed more than $300 million in beating Pacquiao.
“A lot of fighters have to box. I don’t have to box. I don’t get the urge to go to the boxing gym. My urge is giving back to the sport now, help- ing [promote] the young fighters.
Dwyane Wade Open To Outside Offers As Heat Talks Stall
Dwyane Wade's initial contract discussions with the Miami Heat have not pro- duced a common ground be- tween the parties, and he is preparing to field outside of- fers when free agency opens Friday, according to league sources.
Sources told stated that Wade's representatives have made it known to multiple teams over the past several days that he will be on the market. Some teams have been skeptical, wondering whether Wade would seriously con- sider leaving the franchise where he has played 13 sea- sons and won three titles.
The Heat and Wade had several contentious weeks last year before they agreed on a one-year, $20 million deal for this past season.
DWYANE WADE
Wade, 34, played in 74 games, his most in five years, and averaged 19 points, 4.1 re- bounds and 4.6 assists in what was seen as a strong indication he had moved past the knee is- sues that had plagued him for several years.
At the end of the season, Wade said he hoped negotia- tions with the Heat would go more smoothly this summer.
Tim Duncan Exercises $5.6M Option, Still Mulling Future
Entertainment
Lil’ Wayne Accused Of
The San Antonio Spurs have been notified that Tim Duncan has decided to opt into his $5.6 million contract for 2016-17, but that he's still undecided about whether to return for a 20th NBA season.
When asked about his fu- ture following San Antonio's season-ending Game 6 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals, Duncan said he would "get to that after I get out of here and figure out life." He had until June 29 to pick up his player option or opt to become a free agent on July 1.
TIM DUNCAN
Duncan, 40, saw a drop- off in productivity last season, averaging a career-low 8.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in 61 regular-season games and then putting up 5.9 points and 4.8 rebounds over 10 playoff games.
Punching Nightclub Bouncer At BET Awards After-Party
The Sucker For Pain artist reportedly got angry after cer- tain members of his en- tourage got turned away from the late night bash.
According to the report, Lil Wayne and the bouncer started arguing about who was getting in.’
The Hyde employee was taken to the hospital and re- portedly sustained minor in- juries.
TMZ also reported that Lil Wayne denied punching the bouncer.
A source said, ‘The guy ac- tually worked in Wayne’s VIP section all night.’
The Weezy insider con- tinued, ‘There was a brief al-
On stage: Lil Wayne, pic- tured on stage at the BET Awards on Sunday night, has been accused of assaulting a doorman at an after-party in West Hollywood.
tercation, but only because the bouncer mistakenly grabbed Wayne by the arm ... not realizing who he was.’
FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 15-A