Page 29 - Florida Sentinel 11-4-16 Online Edition

Sports
Bucs Get Help At Running Back
Buccaneers Star Clinton McDonald Speaks On Fatherhood At All Pro Dad Father & Kids Experience
MIKE JAMES ...signed by the Bucs
The 2016 season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has proven to be detrimental for their running backs.
Starting running back, Doug Martin, who finished second in the NFL in rushing last season, has been suffering from an injury since the second week of the season.
In his place, the Bucs in- stalled Charles Sims, who was hurt in week 4 with a knee injury. In his place, the Bucs put Jacquizz Rodgers, who scored their go-ahead touch- down in the team’s game against the Oakland Raiders last week before leaving with a foot injury late in the fourth quarter.
With the exception of vet- eran running back Antone Smith, the Bucs had run out of
JOHNATHAN BANKS ...released by the Buccaneers
ball carriers, so they signed Mike James to step in.
James agreed to terms with the team Monday. He had made the team’s initial cuts, but was waived-injured the first week of the season. He became eligible to resign with the team after his injury settlement, and was on the practice squad of the Detroit Lions.
The Bucs also announced they had cut former second- round pick, cornerback Johnathan Banks.
Banks started 37-of-48 games under former Buc coaches, Greg Schiano and Lovie Smith.
He allegedly fell out of favor after former Atlanta Falcons head coach, Mike Smith, took over the team’s defense this season.
Connecting with Your Chil- dren is Focus of All Pro Dad’s Football-themed Event
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defen- sive tackle Clinton McDonald will host the All Pro Dad Father & Kids Experience held at Ray- mond James Stadium on Satur- day, November 5, from 9 a. m. to noon. This family-fun event highlights a partnership between Family First and the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Vio- lence and provides the opportu- nity to share the organizations’ common message about develop- ing safe and healthy relation-
ships.
The Father
& Kids Expe-
rience pro-
vides fun,
inspirational
opportunities
for dads and
their kids to
strengthen
their relation-
ships through interactive games and other hands-on experiences on the football field.
This year’s theme “HERO” will allow fathers to leave with practical tips on how they can be heroes in the lives of their chil-
dren.
All Pro Dad is the fatherhood
program of Family First, a na- tional nonprofit organization based in Tampa. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapo- lis Colts head coach Tony Dungy helped found this inno- vative and unique organization that seeks to help every father be- come passionate about his role in the family. There is a family ad- mission fee.
For more information and to register for the All Pro Dad Fa- ther & Kids Experience in Tampa on November 5, please visit All- ProDad.com.
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
The Veterans Day Golf Tour- nament will be held at Rogers Park Golf Course.
The Disabled Veterans Golf Association, Inc. is hosting its 3rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Veterans Day, Friday, Novem- ber 11, 2016 at Rogers Park Golf Course, 7911. N. Willie Black Dr.
MELVIN BLAIR, SR.
(N. 30th St.). Melvin Blair, Sr. is President/CEO of the Disabled Veterans Golf Association, Inc., a non-profit organization. Bobby Wilds is Vice President.
Proceeds from this event will benefit the disabled veterans and the rehabilitative and therapeutic golf-based programs in Adaptive Sports at James A. Haley Hospi- tal.
Blair teaches golf to several veterans at Rogers Park, many of them disabled. He works closely with Kathy Williams of Adap- tive Sports at the VA Hospital to ensure that those who are inter- ested in the instructions are able to get them.
He is also a teacher for the 1st
Tee program at Rogers Park. Blair spent 2 years in Viet- nam and more than 20 years in the military. He has 4 Purple Hearts, and has been decorated numerous times. Just recently, he was recognized by Congress- man Bennie G. Thompson, a Senator for Jackson, Mississippi commemorating 50 years ago of his military service. He was also recognized by the 1st Tee of Tampa Bay as the 2016 Volunteer
of the Year.
A native of Lake City, FL,
Blair recalls hitting golf balls in an orange grove off sand dunes. His dad worked at the golf course, but he was not allowed to play there. In 1966, when he re- turned from Vietnam, the owner’s son gave him a lifetime membership to play golf at the course in Eustis.
Registration for the golf tour- nament begins at 10:30 a. m., ceremony at 11 a. m., and the shotgun start is at 12 noon.
Blair invites the community to come out and support the dis- abled veterans.
CLINTON MCDONALD
Charity Golf Tournament To Benefit Disabled Veterans
PAGE 14-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016