Memphis’ O.J. Mayo gets 10-game suspension

The NBA suspended Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo for 10 games without pay for violating the league and union’s anti-drug program with a positive test.

The league announced the suspension Thursday for Mayo’s positive test for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Mayo’s suspension will start Friday night when the Grizzlies visit Philadelphia, and he will be able to return Feb. 15 against the 76ers in Memphis.

Mayo said in a statement released by the team that he is extremely disappointed he will sit out 10 games as the Grizzlies are making a push for the playoffs. He blamed an over-the-counter supplement that he didn’t know was banned by the NBA for the positive test, but a team spokesman said Mayo declined to say which supplement he used.

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A Superior Court judge in Los Angeles tentatively denied a request to dismiss a wrongful termination suit brought by Elgin Baylor, the Hall of Fame player and former Clippers executive, against the Clippers and three other defendants.

At a hearing Thursday, Judge Kenneth R. Freeman scheduled another hearing for Feb. 3 to make a final ruling on whether the civil case should proceed to trial, tentatively set for March 2.

Baylor, 76, was the Clippers’ executive vice president and general manager for 22 years until August 2008. In his lawsuit filed in February 2009, Baylor alleged that he was fired and suffered age and race discrimination while with the team, among other things.

The defendants — who also include Clippers owner Donald Sterling, team President Andy Roeser and the NBA — deny the allegations.

—Jim Peltz

ETC.

Butler to transfer from USC

Brice Butler, a USC receiver who played as a reserve the last two seasons, will transfer.

Butler, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound junior from Georgia, was a redshirt in 2008. He caught 20 passes, including two touchdowns, in 2009. But Butler’s playing time diminished last season with the arrival of a new coaching staff and freshman Robert Woods. Butler caught only nine passes, one for a touchdown.

Butler could not be reached for comment. But on his Twitter feed late Wednesday night, he wrote:

“Always will be a part of trojan nation! No regrets, I just gotta go play fball, which isn’t happening here... I love all yall! Always will”

He also added: “Was not an easy decision but evaluatin my future and what I want to do, it woulda been difficult here at this point so I made my dec”

—Gary Klein

Former USC football coach John Robinson will assist the school’s athletic development staff in outreach efforts throughout Orange County and San Diego, USC announced.

Robinson had two stints as Trojans head coach, from 1976 to 1982 and from 1993 to 1997. He guided USC to the 1978 national title and compiled a record of 104-35-4.

—Gary Klein

Seattle Mariners second baseman Adam Kennedy was released from jail Thursday after he was arrested in Newport Beach on suspicion of driving under the influence, authorities said.

Kennedy, 35, a former Angel, was stopped by the California Highway Patrol about 9 p.m. Wednesday while driving north on the 73 tollway, officer John Patterson said.

Kennedy was suspected of being under the influence and was arrested minutes later. He was turned over to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and booked at Men’s Central Jail.

He was released about 6 a.m. Thursday, officials said.

Kennedy, a native of Riverside, was a key player for the Angels in the team’s run to the 2002 World Series title, hitting three home runs in the AL pennant-clinching game against Minnesota.

—Nate Jackson

An autopsy confirmed that a body pulled from the Mississippi River in Louisiana is that of 28-year-old Brian Reed, the brother of Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed.