Tapia's widow: It wasn't an OD
THE WIFE of the late Johnny Tapia says the former boxing champion's death was related to heart problems and not because of a drug overdose.
THE WIFE of the late Johnny Tapia says the former boxing champion's death was related to heart problems and not because of a drug overdose.
Teresa Tapia said Wednesday that an autopsy report showed that Tapia died from heart disease and high blood pressure, and that no traces of illegal drugs were found in his system.
Tapia shared the newly released autopsy report with reporters at a press conference at the late boxer's Albuquerque, N.M., gym.
Investigators found one Hydrocodone tablet, a painkiller, on the floor beside his body. They said there were no indications of an overdose or alcohol use, but that he likely developed medical complications from past illegal drug use.
Tapia says her husband was taking medication for his bipolar disorder.
Colleges *
State lawmakers have approved first-in-the-nation legislation requiring California universities with the most high-profile sports programs to provide financial protections for student-athletes who suffer career-ending injuries. Schools would have to give academic scholarships to students who lose their athletic scholarships because of an injury suffered playing their sport. The bill also requires them to cover insurance deductibles and pay health-care premiums for low-income athletes.
* Former Virginia lacrosse player George Huguely V, convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend, was denied a new trial. Charlottesville Circuit Judge Edward Hogshire rejected a defense motion to set aside Huguely's second-degree murder conviction and order a new trial in the May 2010 killing of Yeardley Love. Hogshire says there was overwhelming evidence to support Huguely's conviction. The Chevy Chase, Md., man was convicted in February of killing the suburban Baltimore woman in a violent encounter in her Charlottesville apartment. In arguing for a new trial, attorneys for Huguely cited a series of errors before and during his trial. Huguely's sentencing is Aug. 30. He faces up to 26 years in prison.
* Alabama athletic director Mal Moore remains hospitalized with an irregular heartbeat. Moore, 72, was admitted Tuesday evening as a precaution.
* Mississippi Valley State hired Ashley Robinson as its athletic director. Robinson returns to his alma mater, where he was a standout basketball player in the early 2000s, after 3 years working in compliance and academic advising at Prairie View A&M.
Basketball *
The Boston Celtics re-signed forward Jeff Green, who missed all of last season after a physical exam revealed an aortic aneurysm for which underwent surgery.
* Eduardo Najera, the first Mexican-born player drafted in the NBA, retired after 12 seasons to coach the NBA Development League's Texas Legends.
Sport Stops *
NASCAR fined Paul Menard's crew chief $100,000 for illegal modifications found on the Chevrolet last weekend at Michigan. Slugger Labbe was also suspended until Oct. 3.
* The Oklahoma City school district says it will review its dress-code policy on college sports apparel after a 5-year-old student was told to turn his University of Michigan T-shirt inside out. The dress code allows Oklahoma or Oklahoma State college apparel to be worn but bars other schools' clothing. The dress code was created in 2005 with the help of an anti-gang task force.