News & Neuigkeiten » ... Chance The Rapper was among the fan

NEW ORLEANS -- Former New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas told a jury Wednesday that he thought a heated argument between retired Saints star Will Smith and an irate driver had cooled -- but then he heard gunshots and turned to see his friend being gunned down.After the shooting stopped I stood there in shock. Telling myself that didnt happen, Thomas said, his voice shaking. Telling myself he didnt just kill one of my friends, my former teammate.Thomas, who spent eight seasons with the Saints, said he walked up to the SUV to confirm his fear, and peered through the passenger window to see Smiths body slouched over the steering wheel.Nobody disputes that Smiths killer was Cardell Hayes, 29, a former semi-pro football player and owner of a tow-truck business. At dispute in the second-degree murder trial is whether Hayes legitimately feared for his life in a post-collision confrontation with Smith and others.He also wounded Smiths wife, Racquel, in the legs, before surrendering to police at the scene.Thomas testimony is the latest to bolster the prosecutions scenario of how the shooting unfolded: The Smiths were out for the evening with friends after a festival in the French Quarter, and were traveling in three different vehicles.At one point, Smiths Mercedes SUV stopped short behind an orange Hummer, perhaps lightly striking it, before steering around it and continuing downtown. Moments later, the Hummer, driven by Hayes, rammed into the rear of Smiths vehicle, and both men got out to confront each other.Prosecutors and their witnesses say Racquel had calmed her husband and the argument had subsided when Hayes fired, hitting her in the legs, followed by a bullet to Smiths side and seven more in his back.In opening statements and cross examinations, defense attorneys John Fuller and Jay Daniels have questioned the credibility of prosecution witnesses while insisting that Hayes fired because he feared that Smith was returning to his vehicle to fetch his own gun.The Hummers crash into Smiths SUV, they suggested, was an accident that happened as Hayes was trying to report Smiths license plate number on a 911 call.Fuller noted that Smith had been drinking at the festival, a bar and two restaurants earlier that night, but Thomas insisted that Smith showed no signs of being out of control, and resisted suggestions during cross examination that he was trying to burnish Smiths image.I want justice, he told Fuller at one point.Thomas had been in a car that was ahead of the accident scene.Another Smith family friend, Rebecca Dooley testified Wednesday that Hayes shouted taunts at the slain mans body, sounding evil and showing no remorse.Dooley and her husband were riding with Smith and his wife when the Hummer slammed into them.They just both seemed angry: Will saying `You hit my car, `Mr. Hayes saying, `You hit me first, then back and forth, back and forth, Dooley testified.Dooley said her husband and Hayes passenger also had words, and that the passenger took a swing at her husband. But she said no physical contact was made among any of those arguing, and she too thought tempers had calmed.Then, she said: I see Mr. Hayes walking toward Will with a gun pointed at him. I hear shots fired. I see Wills body jolt.Look at you now. You were showing off, Dooley quoted Hayes as saying over Smiths slumped body.It just sounded like there was no remorse -- evil kind of sounding, Dooley testified.Then, she said, I heard Mr. Hayes say, `Wheres that white boy at?At that point I though he was looking for my husband, she said, but no other shots were fired.Contradicting a developing defense narrative, Dooley and Thomas said they never heard Smith threaten to fetch a gun before he was shot.Dooleys husband, Richard Hernandez, also took the stand Wednesday, and the defense pointed to inconsistencies in his testimony as well as a discrepancy between his account and what his wife apparently told police.Fuller noted that Hernandez testified at one point that the drivers were calm after the accident but also said he pulled his shirt off, expecting a fight. Fuller also said that Dooley had told police that a passenger in Hayes Hummer, Kevin ONeal, tried to calm the situation down.But Hernandez, who had argued with ONeal at the scene, characterized ONeal as aggressive. Michael Pineda Twins Jersey . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Kirby Puckett Jersey . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record. http://www.twinssale.com/twins-kirby-puckett-jersey/ . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. Rod Carew Jersey . Scott won the Australian PGA last week in his first event in Australia since winning the U.S. Masters in April. American Matt Kuchar, ahead by two strokes with four to play and even with Scott with one to go, double-bogeyed the 18th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker. Marwin Gonzalez Twins Jersey . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Los Angeles Clippers goal in their opener was to keep the Portland Trail Blazers from making 3-pointers.The strategy worked: Portland made just four of 18 attempts from the perimeter and the Clippers came away with a 114-106 victory Thursday night.Chris Paul said the Clippers had the luxury of being able to watch Portlands opener two days before.We just saw the clinic they put on at the 3-point line, so we just tried to make it tough on them and get them inside the line, said Paul, who had 27 points.Blake Griffin also had 27 points and added 13 rebounds in what was a contentious game that had fans booing the officials after two flagrant fouls called on Portland players in the fourth quarter. Chris Paul hit a 3-pointer that gave the Clippers a 102-90 lead with 4:07 left and the crowd headed for the exits.The Clippers were the last team in the Western Conference to start the season. Portland opened at home on Tuesday with a 113-104 victory over Utah that included 13 3-pointers.Damian Lillard led the Blazers against the Clippers with 29 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out late. His layup got the Blazers to 107-102 with 35.9 seconds left but the rally fell short.I just think we grew frustrated with the way some things went, Lillard said. When were in that situation weve probably got to do a better job of controlling what we can control.The teams last met in the opening round of the playoffs last season. Portland dropped the first two games of the series, but Paul broke his right hand and Griffin reinjured his left quadriceps tendon, and the Blazers won the next four to take the series. Portland would go on to fall to the Golden State Warriors in the conference semifinals.Jamal Crawford hit a 3-pointer that capped a 16-0 run to put the Clippers up 37-27. Griffins layup extended the lead to 49-38 with less than five minutes left in the first half. Paul made a 3 to end the half and the Clippers led 58-49.The game got testy in the third quarter when DeAndre Jordan and Mason Plumlee got into a bit of a pushing match, resulting in offsetting technical fouls.Portland rallied to keep it close throughout the quarter and Allan Crabbes jumper made it 76-73, but Marreese Speights answered for the Clippers with a 3-pointer.dddddddddddd It was tied at 82 going into the fourth quarter.Raymond Felton put the Clippers ahead 90-84 but they couldnt extend it any further until midway through the quarter when the game got chippy again and Plumlee was assessed a flagrant foul.I wont comment on the officiating, but obviously I didnt like some of the calls, Blazers coach Terry Stotts said.That shifted the momentum, and the Clippers went up 95-89. CJ McCollum was called for a flagrant on Jordan, who missed both free throws. J.J. Redick made a 3-pointer that put Los Angeles ahead 98-89.When you shoot 40 percent on the road and you have the grit to still win the game, that was pretty cool, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.TIP INSClippers: The Clippers went after veterans in the offseason, bringing in 11-year pros Felton and Brandon Bass, eight-year pro Speights, and seven-year pro Alan Anderson. ... Los Angeles started Luc Mbah a Moute at small forward.Trail Blazers: Lillard opened the season with 39 points against the Jazz. ... Chance The Rapper was among the fans at the game. ... The Blazers made just four of 18 3-point attempts.TOGETHER: Paul, head of the NBA players union, is one of a group of players that lent their voices to an NBA video to spread a message of unity. Along with Dwyane Wade, Kyle Korver and Carmelo Anthony, the video ends with the words Theres only one way to work through our challenges -- together.The Trail Blazers have been linking arms during the national anthem for the seasons first two games.PLUMLEES GESTURE: He landed in the seats before his dustup with Jordan, startling two kids sitting courtside. After the game he brought them back to the locker room and signed a pair of jerseys for the youngsters.As for the officiating? He said it shouldnt be a distraction.If you are a mentally tough team you dont let that bother you, Plumlee said. Youve got to play through stuff.UP NEXTClippers: Host the Utah Jazz on Sunday night.Trail Blazers: At the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night. ' ' '