Magic's Turkolu suspended for 20 games
NEW YORK, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The NBA said Wednesday it has suspended Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu for 20 games for steroid use.
The league said Turkoglu violated the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program by testing positive for the anabolic steroid methenolone.
Turkoglu will forfeit his pay during his suspension, which was to begin with the Magic's game against Atlanta Wednesday night.
Turkoglu said he took the steroids, not realizing they were a banned substance.
"While I was back home in Turkey this past summer, I was given a medication by my trainer to help recover more quickly from a shoulder injury," Turkoglu said in a release. "I didn't know that this was a banned substance and didn't check before taking it.
"I take full responsibility for anything that goes into my body. This was a complete error in judgment on my part and I apologize to the Orlando Magic organization, the league, my teammates and the Magic fans. I know I have let down a lot of people and I am truly sorry for my mistake."
The 33-year-old Turkoglu, who is in his 13th year in the NBA, is averaging 2.9 points, 2.1 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 11 games this season. He has career averages of 11.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
Indians ink ex-Boston pitcher Matsuzaka
GOODYEAR, Ariz., Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The Cleveland Indians announced Wednesday they have signed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka to a minor-league contract.
The 32-year-old right-hander will earn base salary of $1.5 million if he makes the team with a chance to make $4 million if he achieves certain incentives, CBS Sports and The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported.
At Cleveland, the ex-Red Sox star will be reunited with former Boston manager Terry Francona, who will be in his first year of leading the Indians in the coming season.
Matsuzaka struggled last year for the Red Sox after coming off reconstructive elbow surgery, going 1-7 with an 8.28 ERA over 11 starts.
The Tokyo native has compiled a 50-37 record with a 4.52 ERA over 117 career games with Boston.
Lawyer guilty in death of Curry girlfriend
CHICAGO, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- A Chicago attorney has been convicted of fatally shooting an ex-girlfriend of former Chicago Bulls player Eddy Curry and their infant daughter, officials say.
Frederick Goings, 40, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in the 2009 deaths of Nova Henry, 24, and her 10-month-old daughter Ava, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.
Goings had been Henry's attorney is a child-support case against Curry, prosecutor Jim McKay said, and the relationship developed into a romance that lasted two years.
When Goings billed her for $24,000 in legal fees, Henry sought another attorney to contest the charges, prosecutors said.
Henry took out an order of protection against Goings in 2007 after she said he threatened her and her son, Noah, but she let it expire, McKay said.
'Thug' remark sparks effort to fire regent
HELENA, Mont., Feb. 13 (UPI) -- A group of University of Montana fans say they have begun a petition to have a college regent removed for his remark that "thugs" were on the UM football team.
The petition was begun after regent Pat Williams told The New York Times last week the university had "recruited thugs for its football team," the (Missoula, Mont.) Missoulian reported Wednesday.
Attorney Scott Gratton, who is circulating the petition, called on Gov. Steve Bullock and higher education officials to censure Williams and remove him from the Board of Regents.
The petition says labeling the players as thugs was "obviously untrue and knowingly damaging."
The comments by Williams, a former U.S. representative, alluded to crimes committed by UM football players in recent years. Former Montana running back Beau Donaldson was sentenced last month for rape.
The university system said last week that while it disagreed with Williams' comment, regents are entitled to their opinions.
