Dustin Johnson Suspended 6 Months For Positive Drug Test (UPDATED)

((HT: Golf.com/Bamberger, Walker))

Now, we know...

Yesterday, PGA Tour pro Dustin Johnson was stepping away to take some time and seek "professional help" for some issues that he was going through at present.

Bamberger and Walker may now have the answer as to what those issues are: testing positive for cocaine.

The article also sheds some light on what could be some very serious allegations on Johnson's behavior while he has been on tour the last few seasons.

The background to this suspension from the Golf.com article:

Johnson has failed three drug tests: one for marijuana in 2009 and two for cocaine, in 2012 and 2014. He was previously suspended for the 2012 failed test, but that suspension was never made public. Under the PGA Tour’s drug-testing policies, the Tour is not required to announce any disciplinary actions against players who test positive for recreational drugs.

His past is somewhat checkered with the tour and includes an alleged indiscretion with another player's wife.

Johnson's "management team" released this statement yesterday:

“I will use this time to seek professional help for personal challenges I have faced,” he said in a statement issued by his management company. “By committing the time and resources necessary to improve my mental health, physical well-being and emotional foundation, I am confident that I will be better equipped to fulfill my potential and become a consistent champion.”

Here's a feature the tour put together on Johnson on him when he returns to his home town- Jupiter, Florida


The HQ hopes he gets the help he needs...

1900 UPDATE: The tour is saying he is not suspended...

Executive vice president Ty Votaw says the leave is voluntary.

"With regard to media reports that Dustin Johnson has been suspended by the PGA Tour, this is to clarify that Mr. Johnson has taken a voluntary leave of absence and is not under a suspension from the PGA Tour," Votaw said in a statement.

BREAKING: Bolts Malone Busted On DUI And Possession Charges

((HT: 98.7 The Fan-Tampa/SunSports))

Last night, the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 behind the work of Kristers Gudlevskis in net and Eric Brewer's two goals. Right now, the Bolts are second in the Atlantic Division ahead of Montreal. And the second place team gets home ice in the first round of the playoffs...


It might be done without one of their players...

Around 5:30 this morning, Lightning forward Ryan Malone was arrested on DUI and cocaine possession charges. He is currently being held on $2,500 bond. Malone has only 15 points in 57 games this season as one of the top-five paid guys on the roster with a cap hit of $4.5-million (Stamkos, Filppula, Purcell, Carle, and St. Louis) and he has another year left on his deal.

From Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times, Lightning GM Steve Yzerman released a statement:

“We are aware of the situation concerning Ryan Malone this morning. Ryan will not travel with the team to Washington today, but beyond that we cannot comment further at this time.”

Here's the arrest report and the beginning of a very long day for a team veteran...

Crittenton's Gang Ties Questioned All Over Again

((HT: ESPN))

Not that this is a complete shock or anything...

With former NBA'er Javaris Crittenton in an Atlanta jail awaiting his trial on charges of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to deal marijuana and cocaine, not to mention two more indictments that have even more charges attached.

He was indicted in April of 2013 on a 12-count indictment with his cousin Douglas Gamble in the murder of Julian Jones and the attempted murder of another individual. Jones was murdered in August of 2011 when she was walking with Trontavious Stephens, a known member of the "ROC Crew" street gang. Crittenton and Gamble fired several shots at Stephens but hit Jones instead.

It was widely thought that Jones was not the target, but was the member of the party walking along the street that was hit by the gunfire.
Deputy DA Gabe Banks said at the time that Crittenton was a member of the "Mansfield Gangster Crips" and a member of the gang (or "not" depending on if you ask the person ESPN linked to the Crips) denied Crittenton's involvement with the Crips themselves. But if gang activity can be linked to a case, it may be easier to introduce gang-related evidence... Here's John Barr's handiwork in the Crittenton update:

Okay, Carl... You Haven't Resigned, You're Fired...

Florida Atlantic withdrew Carl Pelini's resignation as football coach and has now fired him with cause saying he failed to report misconduct by members of his staff...

Assumedly this has to do with the former DC, Pete Rekstis, and his admission he used illegal drugs...

The letter doesn't mention any of Pelini's drug use...

Pelini resigned October 30. But Pelini denied the illegal drug use claim made by FAU AD Patrick Chun- even as another member of the FAU staff admitted seeing him use marijuana and cocaine.
((HT: FAUOwlTV))


The semantics of Pelini now having/needing to repay $500,000 are now moot... which means that lump sum is, probably, now his settlement.

FAU is 3-0 since Pelini was replaced by interim coach Brian Wright, and could become bowl-eligible with a win in the regular-season finale against FIU... which looks promising...

Tom Fornelli discusses the resignation/firing at the time it went down with Tim Brando...
((HT: CBS Sports Network))

Sam Hurd Gets 15 Years For Distribution Scheme

((HT: WFAA-TV))

Sam Hurd was arrested in Chicago in December of 2011 when he thought he was meeting with members of Mexico's dangerous Zeta drug cartel. He wanted to buy up to 50 kilos of cocaine a week to distribute it in Texas. He had a dozen guys ready to help move the stash, but it turned out that he was wrapped up in a sting...

In court yesterday, Hurd pleaded guilty to one count of trying to buy and distribute large quantities of cocaine and marijuana.

Hurd asked for a second chance in open court, but District Judge Jorge Solis said he was being penalized for wanting to be a significant drug dealer, not because he was an athlete...

Here's the report from the courthouse...

So, It Wasn't Just Pot With Pelini...???

((HT: Sun Sentinel/Kurtenbach))

Dieter Kurtenbach has been on top of the Florida Atlantic saga involving former head coach Carl Pelini and former DC Pete Rekstis- and their admitted to drug use... and he wishes that he could say more in his printed word, but lawyers have themselvs caught up in it at present...

And if you read his Twitter feed, you can see it...

But it appears that the drug use may have gone past just marijuana- the Sun Sentinel newspaper obtained two affidavits from DL coach Matt Edwards and a woman named Allison Stewart. They admitted Pelini use drugs- and Edwards also admitted that he witnessed Pelini and Rekstis using cocaine. Stewart has a text message, apparently, where Pelini admitted drug use.

AD Pat Chun said at his press conference where it was announced that Pelini and Rekstis resigned that Pelini admitted past drug use to him before his dismissal...

Here's some of the press conference...
((HT: FAUOwlTV))


And here's local news coverage...
((HT: WPBF-TV))

Otis Nixon Busted With A Crack Pipe

((HT: AJC/Stevens))

Otis is in trouble again (Photo Courtesy: Cherokee County Police Department)

Alexis Stevens has the details on the latest arrest in the life of troubled former Atlanta Braves outfielder Otis Nixon.

He was arrested early Saturday morning after being pulled over on an interstate north of the city of Atlanta. A 911 caller alerted police to the erratic driving of a truck and Nixon was pulled over. Upon investigation, Cherokee County (GA) police and state troopers found a "rock-like substance" in the cab and a crack pipe in his pocket.

From Stevens:

“Otis admitted to me that the substance was crack cocaine but it didn’t belong to him,” a deputy wrote in the report. “Otis said the crack cocaine and the pipe belonged to his son.”

During a search of the truck, investigators found an additional crack pipe, more suspected crack rocks and a plastic bag containing suspected cocaine residue in the floor board of the driver’s side, the sheriff’s office said.

Nixon remained in the Cherokee County jail Monday, and was being held on $11,880 bond. Nixon has been charged with possession of cocaine and possession of a drug-related object.

The last time Nixon was in the news, he had run afoul of a lot of folks in north Georgia- much to the dismay of Braves fan, I-Team Investigator, and FOSG Randy Travis...
((HT: MyFoxAtlanta))
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Bears' Hurd To Plead Guilty In Drug Case

((HT: WLS-TV))

And this is because most of his co-defendants rolled over on him...

Former Chicago Bears WR Sam Hurd was going to be heading to trial very soon on his drug charges. Remember when he went to a cop and said that he wanted to purchase marijuana and cocaine so he could distribute it...???

According to his attorney, Hurd will enter a guilty plea to one count of conspiring to sell cocaine and marijuana. He went from the Dallas Cowboys to the Bears in his NFL travels and the feds were maintaining that he wanted to set up a drug network between the two cities...

It will be interesting to see just how much of the initial 10 years and US$10-million sentence gets put in Hurd's dossier when he gets sentenced over the summer...

Here's the I-team...