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NEW ORLEANS -- The man who fatally shot retired New Orleans Saints defensive leader Will Smith was convicted of manslaughter on Sunday night, ending a week-long trial in which the defendant insisted he only fired because the popular football star was drunk, violent and had grabbed a gun following a traffic crash on the night of April 9.Smith was part of the Saints team that lifted the stricken citys spirits in the years after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, helping carry the team to a winning season in 2006 and a Super Bowl win four years later. His death at the hands of Cardell Hayes, 29, was stunning, even for a city where residents are accustomed to reports of multiple gunfire deaths every week.Hayes faces a possible sentence of up to 40 years in prison at his sentencing on Feb. 17.Hayes defense lawyers said Smiths popularity led to a rush to judgment by police and prosecutors.I knew for a fact that I was going to get shot, Hayes told the jury after taking the stand in his own defense Saturday. He said he not only saw the gun but heard what he believes was a gunshot before he began firing.Hayes, however, was the only witness to say Smith armed himself that night. Prosecutors acknowledged that a loaded gun was found in Smiths car but said there was no evidence that it was ever fired or that Smith had grabbed it.A pathologist report showed Smith was legally drunk with a high blood-alcohol level that night, the end of a day in which he had spent time at the citys annual French Quarter Festival, a bar and two restaurants. He, his wife and two passengers were in his Mercedes SUV the night of the shooting. They were heading from New Orleans Lower Garden District toward downtown when a series of events led to the shooting, beginning with Smiths vehicle appearing to lightly bump Hayes Hummer -- although the prosecution raised doubts that the two vehicles actually touched.Hayes vehemently denied intentionally running into Smiths Mercedes SUV moments later -- he said he was trying to dial 911 and didnt realize how close he was getting to Smith as he tried to report the apparent hit-and-run.Hayes said he armed himself only after he and his own passenger were accosted by Smith and Richard Hernandez, a passenger in the Smiths Mercedes. Hernandez, he said, wildly stripped off his shirt and took something shiny from his pocket -- Hayes said he was afraid it was a knife.Smith didnt initially notice the gun, Hayes said. He said Smith, 34, threw a cup containing some type of alcohol at him and punched him repeatedly. At some point during the fast-unfolding melee, Hernandez alerted Smith to Hayes gun, Hayes said under questioning from defense lawyer John Fuller.Hayes testified that Smith addressed him with a racial epithet and then told him, ... you got your gun. Well Im going to get mine and Ill show you what to do with it.Hayes said Hernandez, a white Hispanic who fled the scene, also used racial epithets.However, race has not been raised as an alleged factor in the confrontation. Hayes and Kevin ONeal, his passenger, are black, and so was Smith.On cross examination, Assistant Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Napoli repeatedly noted that no other witness said Smith had a gun and that Hayes never told investigators he saw a gun in Smiths hands that night.I never gave a full statement to anyone, Hayes said, growing testy as Napoli asked about inconsistencies in his testimony and past statements.Hayes also insisted he never shot Racquel Smith, although Napoli said ballistics evident indicates otherwise.Calm and sometimes smiling during his early testimony, Hayes voice broke a bit as he talked about being separated from his 6-year-old son. Hayes has been jailed since the shooting. Hayes owns a tow truck business and also said he breeds dogs. He discussed his high school and college football career, his time as a semi-pro football player and his admiration for Smith. He said he didnt recognize Smith the night of the shooting and grew despondent hours later upon learning he had killed the beloved football star.I cried like a baby, he said.I said my lifes over with ... Theyre going to make me like I just shot and killed this man.Clearance NFL Shop . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. Cheap Authentic Jerseys . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. http://www.cheapnfljerseyswholesale.com/ . 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. Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap . -- Nate Robinson has played for seven teams, so beating one of them is no longer a rare occurrence. Jerseys China . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J.SPRINGFIELD, N.J. -- Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship the last time it was at Baltusrol in 2005. He played some of his best golf ever only 11 days ago at the British Open . And on Thursday, the New York-area crowd had his back even before he teed off.The momentum he had to start the PGA Championship was there.Until it wasnt.When Mickelson stepped onto the 10th tee for his opening shot Thursday, the cheers and shouts went on for so long that the two other players with him -- defending champion Jason Day and two-time PGA champion Rory McIlroy -- didnt seem to exist.But Mickelsons first shot of the day sailed well left into the gallery. He hit into a bunker, blasted out to about 5 feet and missed the putt. It was the first of four bogeys in his opening 11 holes. He wasnt driving very well. He wasnt putting much better. After the frustrating start, the 46-year-old rallied for a 1-over 71 with three birdies over his last seven holes. He was six strokes behind leader Jimmy Walker.Its not the start I wanted, Mickelson said. Its not indicative of how Im playing. But Im back to where tomorrow, if I play the way Ive been playing, I should be OK.Mickelson, in a bright pink shirt, turned it around with a birdie on the tough 503-yard third hole.That was a big birdie, Mickelson said. I hit two really good shots. If I miss that fairway, I probably have to lay up and fight for par again. Instead I hit a really good drive, a good 8-iron to 15, 18 feet behind the hole and made it. That kind of got things going.Mickelson is coming off one of the best tournaments hes ever played -- a 63 in the first round, a 65 in the final round at Royal Troon -- and still lost by three to Henrik Stenson, who had the lowest score in major championship history.Mickelson finished second for the 11th time in his career in a major.Unfortunately, I didnt get off to a great start (at Baltusrol), like I did at the British, Mickelson said. Its always easier. You shoot a good low number the ffirst day, youve got momentum.ddddddddddddMickelson had three bogeys starting in the featured morning group along with McIlroy and Day. He still was only 2 over going to the 17th and 18th, both par 5s, a chance for him to get back to even par. Instead, he kept going the wrong direction.He missed his drive so far right on the 17th that it landed just off the 15th tee box. Instead of having the gallery around the 15th tee and the gallery lining the 17th fairway move out of the way, he hit a wedge over them into deep rough. His third shot was over the green and he had to make a 7-foot putt just for par.When Mickelson got in deep rough on the 18th, he tried to hit with fairway metal, but it squirted out and only the deep rough kept it from going in the water. He pulled his next shot into the gallery, chipped it to about 10 feet and missed. On the easiest hole at Baltusrol, Mickelson made bogey.Mickelson said the 18th was the really only good birdie hole on the course.Just lost focus, Mickelson said. Just antsy, little jumpy, just lost the rhythm and made some terrible swings. Theres no real answer.While Mickelson got off to a subpar beginning, he said the crowd support was what really carried him along.There wasnt an empty seat in the bleachers on the 10th tee when Mickelson arrived just before his 8:30 a.m. start, they cheered wildly for him. When he hit his tee shot into the gallery, Mickelson walked up to them and said, Good morning, guys, and about 100 of them returned the greeting.Mickelson said of all the support the people in New Jersey and New York have given him over the years, today was the day that it helped the most.I remember walking off of No. 3 and a guy said, `Hey, youve got a lot of golf left, youre not out of this, lets get going, Mickelson said. Hes right. Got a lot of golf left. I came back and made some birdies. ' ' '