Here is some excerpts from the San Diego Union Tribune...note that they didn't even have the company set up until November 2005, six months after the Bush's moved in.
Michaels, who also goes by the name Michael Pettiford, and partner Lloyd Lake, who is now in federal prison, had been trying to set up a sports marketing company called New Era Sports and Entertainment. They had hoped – but ultimately failed – to sign Bush as a primary client.
It is a violation of NCAA rules for an athlete, or his relatives or friends, to accept benefit from “any person who represents any individual in the marketing of his or her athletics ability ... (or) an agent, even if the agent has indicated that he or she has no interest in representing the student-athlete in the marketing of his or her athletics ability or reputation.”
It is unclear the amount of rent that Bush's mother and stepfather paid to live in the house. If the sum was less than market value, the NCAA could determine the relationship to be a violation. Typically in instances where violations have been discovered, the NCAA ruled the athlete ineligible and stripped the team of any victories that occurred while the athlete was in violation.
The University of Southern California was 12-1 last season as Bush, in his junior season, wowed the nation with highlight-reel moves and earned the Heisman, considered the most prestigious award in college football. The former star at Helix High in La Mesa elected to turn professional and is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft Saturday.
Lake and Michaels had approached San Diego-based agent David Caravantes about possibly negotiating Bush's NFL contract, as well as joining their prospective agency.
“They were trying to get me in front of (Bush) during the interview process, which I was never a part of,” Caravantes said. “They didn't try to recruit him for me. They thought it would be a good idea to have everything in San Diego. I think their concept was that they were going to deal with marketing, and they (needed) an agent.
“If things worked out, we were going to try to put something together (to become business partners). But everything was in waiting to see if they landed (Bush) to do the marketing. Nothing came of it.” Bush ultimately decided not to enlist with New Era, which killed the plan of Michaels and Lake. Bush hired Miami-based agent Joel Segal in January and Mike Ornstein as his marketing representative.
These guys thought they had an in to Reggie Bush...maybe the father even opened the door for them. But the bottom line is these guys didn't market Reggie Bush in any way, didn't ever have him under contract, and have never marketed any professional athlete.
This is a matter of some guys trying to get rich of Bush, not the other way around.
arty:
