Pete was known as a soft coach in New England where players sometimes took advantage of his lax handling of the team. Back to reality, you have the "when it rains it pours" syndrom occuring at SC. Now I won't personally point fingers at Mr. Carroll because well he did attend my school and I like him, but he needs to tie up his loose ends. Snoop Dog at practice etc etc.
They say bad things come in 3's. I hope nothing else happens to USC. I think Pete Carroll is a class act. But he reminds me a little of Barry Switzer in that he's an easygoing type of players coach who might give his players a little more free reign than what they deserve. Afterall this is laid back Caleeefornia. But there's no doubt Pete will have to start cracking the whip on his players or else he could be dealing with more rape or assault charges ala Duke. Or as was in Switzer's case both rape charges and players caught with oozies in their dorms. That's what I call getting out of hand. But Conan, the big thing Carroll has to be concerned about this fall is how much of this shit carries over to the performance of his team. I've seen this picture before with a few teams including OU. And with all of the distractions and publicity it can sometimes be devasting to a teams season. I know it was with the Sooners. And we don't get near the press here as you will in California. Carroll needs to put a lid on this. And quick.
GoSooners said:
Well, you called it.....the third piece of bad news just hit USC.
Keith Jackson officially retired yesterday. NOBODY was more biased or sucked more USC dick than that guy. He should have retired 10 years ago and just enjoyed himself.
It's about time Jackson retired. To listen to the guy was painful. Especially when he started reminising about the good old days. And then his suckass partner Bob Griese would have to remind him that there was another team on the field besides USC. Trouble with Jackson is he's so old that his fan base died 20 years ago. He most definitly had a west coast bias. I think he graduated from one of the Pac 10 schools. Washington or Wash.St I think.
Didn't KJ broadcast like the first Rose Bowl or something?
That guy was gettin up there. The last few years he'd fumble over his words, forget players names, call the action after the play was dead. Still got a rise out of him when they'd show the USC cheerleaders. I guess you never get too old to appreciate some of the finer things but he should have been put out to pasture a few years ago.
That guy was gettin up there. The last few years he'd fumble over his words, forget players names, call the action after the play was dead. Still got a rise out of him when they'd show the USC cheerleaders. I guess you never get too old to appreciate some of the finer things but he should have been put out to pasture a few years ago.
pags11 said:
OK let's assume that Michaels was up front to Mr. Griffin about his intentions which would mean that RB's parents knowingly accepted a benefit because their famous athlete son was involved. AND lets not forget that Michaels was no agent, backed by nobody and he never represented any client.
I find it a big stretch to assume that the Griffins would settle for an agent like that for their son. He was nobody's agent and represented no entity that was a legitimate agent. Then as it turns out, the Griffins hired a legit agent in January but Michaels let them stay in the house until April.
Only 2 possibilities... Michaels was holding out hope until the very last minute, even hoping that RB's Florida agent didn't work out until the very end. But regardless of whether that part is true or not, wouldn't that mean Mr. Griffin out hustled him from the beginning because he knew he'd find his son a real agent later on? So he worked the guy. Is that a violation?
OR
Michaels never told the Griffins about his plans from the beginning and they were deceptively lured into a sticky mess by Michaels (who was not an agent when the house deal was made) not knowing what he was up to. In other words, the only person who considered Michaels and Lake to be agents (wannabes at best) was Michaels and Lake.
One way or the other I can't see how the Griffins violated NCAA rules. But the rules are a foggy mess.
If I took it upon myself to help out a destitute Washington Husky player's family by donating some rent to thier lives, can't I do that? I don't like the Huskies and I'm no booster. Just a compassionate benevolant.
Now what if I found a desperate family in the same situation with a USC football player for a son? I like and support USC. Is there a difference?
Then just supposing... I decided after a while that what I was doing wasn't enough so I started up a Professional Sports Players Agency a couple months before the season ended so I could continue my relationship with them after the season ended and they needed some professional help.
When and where if ANYWHERE was the line crossed by anyone? Everyone accepted free rent and I'm now a legitimate agent who wasn't one at the time I helped them. Now what?
<!-- begin pagetitle -->Updated: April 28, 2006, 8:41 AM ET
NFL Security says Bush victim of threats by agent
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The NFL Players Association and NFL Security have concluded that sports agent David Caravantes and fledgling marketing company New Era Sports used an attorney to try and force USC running back Reggie Bush to pay them $3.2 million after Bush decided not to sign with the group, sources told ESPN's Joe Schad on Thursday.
According to the sources, Caravantes threatened to reveal embarrassing personal information about the Bush family if he did not receive the money. Sources also say Caravantes tried to evict the family from a San Diego house they rented from his business associate Michael Michaels.
The NFLPA claims in a disciplinary complaint written Thursday that Brian Watkins, an attorney allegedly representing Caravantes and New Era Sports, engaged in unlawful conduct by demanding payment in at least three letters. Those letters were dated Feb. 13, March 7 and April 26, a source said. In another letter to the Bush family, dated March 2, Watkins identifies his clients as New Era Sports and Caravantes. New Era Sports marketing materials identify Caravantes as Chief Executive Officer, according to the source.
According to records found on the California Secretary of State's Web site, New Era Sports and Entertainment, LLC filed as a limited liability corporation with the state on Nov. 23, 2005. According to the records, the entity remains active and its "agent for service of process" was Phillip M. Smith Jr.
When reached by Yahoo! Sports to discuss the company, Smith ended the conversation by saying, "That's really not an issue that I want to deal with."
Caravantes said late Thursday night that Watkins does not work for him. Caravantes also said he had no knowledge of any threats made against the Bush family, including eviction from the home. Caravantes denied being employed by New Era Sports and said he had no knowledge of a complaint filed with the NFLPA.
Calls to Watkins' office were not returned Thursday.
David Cornwell, attorney for the Bush family, would not comment on the NFLPA or NFL Security findings other than to say there was "comfort that two independent, third parties have reached the same conclusion we have."
The house rental is still the subject of an investigation by the NCAA and the Pac-10. Officials have contacted Bush's attorney and told him they will wait until after this weekend's NFL draft to conduct interviews on how payments were made on the house. Bush's family no longer lives there.
In an interview on ESPN on Monday, Bush did not get into specifics about the controversy but said, "when this is all said and done, everyone will see at the end of the day that we've done absolutely nothing wrong."
Also, a source close to Bush said NFL Security has contacted the top four teams in the NFL draft and told them Bush was the victim of threats.
Cornwell says that Bush had no knowledge of an agreement between his parents and Michaels, the man who owned the $750,000 home the Bush family lived in for the past year.
Bush added that his "parents leased a house like any other parent." Bush declined to say who paid the rent.
A source close to Bush told Schad that while the family had at first agreed to pay rent on the San Diego home, they quickly realized there was no way they could afford to. After falling behind on payments, the family will claim, however, that they were repeatedly told not to worry, that they would not be evicted.
Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner, chose to turn pro after his junior season with USC. He is expected to be the No. 1 pick in Saturday's NFL draft.
ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reported Thursday that talks between Bush's representatives and the Houston Texans, the team with the top draft pick, have stalled. Information from The Associated Press is included in this report
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NFL Security says Bush victim of threats by agent
<!-- end pagetitle --><!-- begin bylinebox -->ESPN.com news services
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The NFL Players Association and NFL Security have concluded that sports agent David Caravantes and fledgling marketing company New Era Sports used an attorney to try and force USC running back Reggie Bush to pay them $3.2 million after Bush decided not to sign with the group, sources told ESPN's Joe Schad on Thursday.
According to the sources, Caravantes threatened to reveal embarrassing personal information about the Bush family if he did not receive the money. Sources also say Caravantes tried to evict the family from a San Diego house they rented from his business associate Michael Michaels.
The NFLPA claims in a disciplinary complaint written Thursday that Brian Watkins, an attorney allegedly representing Caravantes and New Era Sports, engaged in unlawful conduct by demanding payment in at least three letters. Those letters were dated Feb. 13, March 7 and April 26, a source said. In another letter to the Bush family, dated March 2, Watkins identifies his clients as New Era Sports and Caravantes. New Era Sports marketing materials identify Caravantes as Chief Executive Officer, according to the source.
According to records found on the California Secretary of State's Web site, New Era Sports and Entertainment, LLC filed as a limited liability corporation with the state on Nov. 23, 2005. According to the records, the entity remains active and its "agent for service of process" was Phillip M. Smith Jr.
When reached by Yahoo! Sports to discuss the company, Smith ended the conversation by saying, "That's really not an issue that I want to deal with."
Caravantes said late Thursday night that Watkins does not work for him. Caravantes also said he had no knowledge of any threats made against the Bush family, including eviction from the home. Caravantes denied being employed by New Era Sports and said he had no knowledge of a complaint filed with the NFLPA.
Calls to Watkins' office were not returned Thursday.
David Cornwell, attorney for the Bush family, would not comment on the NFLPA or NFL Security findings other than to say there was "comfort that two independent, third parties have reached the same conclusion we have."
The house rental is still the subject of an investigation by the NCAA and the Pac-10. Officials have contacted Bush's attorney and told him they will wait until after this weekend's NFL draft to conduct interviews on how payments were made on the house. Bush's family no longer lives there.
In an interview on ESPN on Monday, Bush did not get into specifics about the controversy but said, "when this is all said and done, everyone will see at the end of the day that we've done absolutely nothing wrong."
Also, a source close to Bush said NFL Security has contacted the top four teams in the NFL draft and told them Bush was the victim of threats.
Cornwell says that Bush had no knowledge of an agreement between his parents and Michaels, the man who owned the $750,000 home the Bush family lived in for the past year.
Bush added that his "parents leased a house like any other parent." Bush declined to say who paid the rent.
A source close to Bush told Schad that while the family had at first agreed to pay rent on the San Diego home, they quickly realized there was no way they could afford to. After falling behind on payments, the family will claim, however, that they were repeatedly told not to worry, that they would not be evicted.
Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner, chose to turn pro after his junior season with USC. He is expected to be the No. 1 pick in Saturday's NFL draft.
ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reported Thursday that talks between Bush's representatives and the Houston Texans, the team with the top draft pick, have stalled. Information from The Associated Press is included in this report
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here's the daily USC bombshell.....I
Michaels claims he's due $54,000; attorney preparing $3.2 million suit
By Brent Schrotenboer and Jim Trotter
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS
April 28, 2006
<!--- BODYTEXT --->Reggie Bush's parents failed to pay $54,000 in rent for the year they lived in a house owned by an investor in a sports marketing agency that sought to represent Bush, the owner of the house said late last night in an interview at The San Diego Union-Tribune.
<!-- begin:sidebar --><!--startclickprintexclude--><TABLE cellPadding=5 width=220 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=10 width="100%" bgColor=#dfdfdf border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
But when Bush signed with a different marketing representative early this year, relations deteriorated. Michaels' attorney, Brian Watkins, sent them a letter April 3 demanding they move out of the house. Bush's parents, LaMar and Denise Griffin, finally moved out last week. Watkins showed Union-Tribune reporters a copy of the eviction notice last night.
Watkins said he plans to sue Bush's parents, and possibly Bush, for fraud and will seek $3.2 million. That includes $300,000 in “out-of-pocket” expenses owed Michaels and another investor, Lloyd Lake, plus punitive damages.
<!---------- BEGIN BIGBOXAD ----------><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="/scripts/oas_x32.js"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT src="http://oas.signonsandiego.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_jx.cgi/www.uniontrib.com/sports/nfl/20060428-9999-7s29bush.html@x32" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>
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</TD></TR><TR><TD rowSpan=2>
</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>Advertisement</TD></TR><TR><TD>http://oas.signonsandiego.com/RealM..._041706.html/34366234386334373432666131333930</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://oas.signonsandiego.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream.cap/1264305810?c= BT_sd_symphony_300_apr06&dv=1&e=12h&s=1"></SCRIPT><!---------- END BIGBOXAD ---------->Watkins said $54,000 of that is the unpaid rent. He said Michaels and Lake incurred additional expenses associated with starting the marketing agency, but declined to provide details. He also would not specify the extent of Bush's involvement in the agency, New Era Sports and Entertainment.
Bush has denied knowledge of any deal with Michaels and promised details would emerge later that would clear up the situation. He again yesterday declined to answer specific questions about whether his parents paid rent for the house.
The NCAA is investigating whether its rules of amateurism were violated by Bush or his parents, who may have improperly received extra benefits in their living arrangements at the Michaels house.
The NCAA has requested to interview David Caravantes, an agent contacted by New Era, in its investigation of Bush and the house next week. If the NCAA determines that Bush or his family committed a violation of its rules of amateurism, Bush could be ruled retroactively ineligible and USC could face sanctions, including the possible forfeiture of games.
Bush's marketing representative, Mike Ornstein, hung up when contacted for his reaction to Michaels' claims last night.
Michaels said he is a real estate investor and when the Griffins told him they were having financial problems at their previous residence, he allowed them to move into his newly purchased house in Spring Valley.
Michaels bought the 3,002-square-foot, three-bedroom home for $757,237 in April 2005, according to San Diego County records.
“I never agreed to let them live rent-free,” Michaels said.
Watkins said he sent Bush's family attorney, David Cornwell, a letter Feb. 13 threatening the family with the $3.2 million fraud suit. Watkins said he has been in regular contact with Cornwell, and that the two talked as recently as yesterday. Cornwell did not return a phone message last night and the Bush family could not be reached for comment.
“It was basically (left that) we can't come to a meeting of the minds on a number, so do what you're going to do and I'm going to do what I'm going to do, is basically what (Cornwell) said,” Watkins said. “He starts going to the press and throwing out words (like) 'extortion' and I never even wanted to go here. We were just preparing a lawsuit.”
Yesterday, ESPN reported that Caravantes was demanding $3.2 million from the Bush family. Watkins and Caravantes adamantly said that wasn't true. Watkins said it was he who was asking for $3.2 million in the fraud suit.
“If you want to call somebody on a lie, ask them where their canceled rent checks are, from this house that they leased from their 'friend' Michael Michaels,” said Watkins, who used the word “friend” sardonically.
The disagreement between Michaels and Bush's family began when Bush decided to hire another agent (Joel Segal) and another marketing representative (Ornstein). Watkins said he and Michaels were upset that Ornstein told the Los Angeles Times in New York this week that Michaels was a “longtime family friend of Bush's stepfather and mother” who offered to put them up in their house while they were having financial problems. Bush, a former Helix High star, is expected to be the No. 1 pick tomorrow in the NFL draft.
“Michael Michaels didn't even know them,” Watkins said. “Lloyd Lake and the Lake family are their friends. Lloyd Lake introduced Reggie to Michael Michaels. They don't even know Michael Michaels.”
Michaels, who also goes by the name Michael Pettiford, said he was approached by LaMar Griffin and Lake, who is now in federal prison in Victorville, to invest in a sports marketing company they were starting. They would share ownership in the company, New Era, and Bush was to be their primary client.
It is a violation of NCAA rules for an athlete, or his relatives or friends, to accept benefit from prospective agents “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,” according to NCAA regulations. If an athlete or his family commits such a violation, he would be ruled ineligible, even if it's retroactively.
Watkins said the idea for a sports marketing agency was conceived during the 2004 season, when USC went undefeated en route to the national championship. It was before Bush became a household name in college football and the darling of almost every sports and marketing agency in the nation.
Watkins said Griffin sought to line up possible endorsement deals for Bush, including one from the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians.
Michaels works for Sycuan as director of economic development. Sycuan General Counsel George Forman said last weekend he recalls Griffin making a pitch to Sycuan about joining a business venture, but that there was no interest from Sycuan. Watkins also said Sycuan was not interested.
Sycuan spokesman Adam Day said Sycuan had nothing to do with any potential deal involving Bush or Griffin.
The backgrounds of Michaels and Lake raised a red flag among NFL officials, who Wednesday questioned Bush about his relationship with them. Two general managers said yesterday the NFL sent a memo to each team in which Bush denied knowing about the backgrounds of Michaels and Lake. He also denied having an agreement with New Era.
Michaels was arrested under the name Michael Pettiford in October 1999 on felony charges of making terrorist threats and discharging a firearm in a negligent manner in an incident involving current Sycuan Tribal Chairman Daniel Tucker. Charges were dropped in 2000 for lack of evidence, records show.
Michaels' connection with Lake, a former Helix High basketball player with a history of gang and drug ties, goes back several years, FBI agent Allan Vitkosky wrote in a sworn affidavit in 2002. Lake, 32, has had a series of drug and firearm arrests, including felony convictions for false imprisonment in 1993 and possession of marijuana for sale in 1996. San Diego Police Street Gang Unit records reveal that Lake was a documented member of the Emerald Hills Blood/Upside Sic street gang, according to Vitkosky's affidavit.
Michaels claims he's due $54,000; attorney preparing $3.2 million suit
By Brent Schrotenboer and Jim Trotter
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS
April 28, 2006
<!--- BODYTEXT --->Reggie Bush's parents failed to pay $54,000 in rent for the year they lived in a house owned by an investor in a sports marketing agency that sought to represent Bush, the owner of the house said late last night in an interview at The San Diego Union-Tribune.
<!-- begin:sidebar --><!--startclickprintexclude--><TABLE cellPadding=5 width=220 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=10 width="100%" bgColor=#dfdfdf border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
- <SIDEBAR>Sullivan: This continuing silence shows a touch of crass</SIDEBAR>
But when Bush signed with a different marketing representative early this year, relations deteriorated. Michaels' attorney, Brian Watkins, sent them a letter April 3 demanding they move out of the house. Bush's parents, LaMar and Denise Griffin, finally moved out last week. Watkins showed Union-Tribune reporters a copy of the eviction notice last night.
Watkins said he plans to sue Bush's parents, and possibly Bush, for fraud and will seek $3.2 million. That includes $300,000 in “out-of-pocket” expenses owed Michaels and another investor, Lloyd Lake, plus punitive damages.
<!---------- BEGIN BIGBOXAD ----------><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="/scripts/oas_x32.js"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT src="http://oas.signonsandiego.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_jx.cgi/www.uniontrib.com/sports/nfl/20060428-9999-7s29bush.html@x32" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>
<TABLE style="CLEAR: right; FLOAT: right" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=300 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2>
Bush has denied knowledge of any deal with Michaels and promised details would emerge later that would clear up the situation. He again yesterday declined to answer specific questions about whether his parents paid rent for the house.
The NCAA is investigating whether its rules of amateurism were violated by Bush or his parents, who may have improperly received extra benefits in their living arrangements at the Michaels house.
The NCAA has requested to interview David Caravantes, an agent contacted by New Era, in its investigation of Bush and the house next week. If the NCAA determines that Bush or his family committed a violation of its rules of amateurism, Bush could be ruled retroactively ineligible and USC could face sanctions, including the possible forfeiture of games.
Bush's marketing representative, Mike Ornstein, hung up when contacted for his reaction to Michaels' claims last night.
Michaels said he is a real estate investor and when the Griffins told him they were having financial problems at their previous residence, he allowed them to move into his newly purchased house in Spring Valley.
Michaels bought the 3,002-square-foot, three-bedroom home for $757,237 in April 2005, according to San Diego County records.
“I never agreed to let them live rent-free,” Michaels said.
Watkins said he sent Bush's family attorney, David Cornwell, a letter Feb. 13 threatening the family with the $3.2 million fraud suit. Watkins said he has been in regular contact with Cornwell, and that the two talked as recently as yesterday. Cornwell did not return a phone message last night and the Bush family could not be reached for comment.
“It was basically (left that) we can't come to a meeting of the minds on a number, so do what you're going to do and I'm going to do what I'm going to do, is basically what (Cornwell) said,” Watkins said. “He starts going to the press and throwing out words (like) 'extortion' and I never even wanted to go here. We were just preparing a lawsuit.”
Yesterday, ESPN reported that Caravantes was demanding $3.2 million from the Bush family. Watkins and Caravantes adamantly said that wasn't true. Watkins said it was he who was asking for $3.2 million in the fraud suit.
“If you want to call somebody on a lie, ask them where their canceled rent checks are, from this house that they leased from their 'friend' Michael Michaels,” said Watkins, who used the word “friend” sardonically.
The disagreement between Michaels and Bush's family began when Bush decided to hire another agent (Joel Segal) and another marketing representative (Ornstein). Watkins said he and Michaels were upset that Ornstein told the Los Angeles Times in New York this week that Michaels was a “longtime family friend of Bush's stepfather and mother” who offered to put them up in their house while they were having financial problems. Bush, a former Helix High star, is expected to be the No. 1 pick tomorrow in the NFL draft.
“Michael Michaels didn't even know them,” Watkins said. “Lloyd Lake and the Lake family are their friends. Lloyd Lake introduced Reggie to Michael Michaels. They don't even know Michael Michaels.”
Michaels, who also goes by the name Michael Pettiford, said he was approached by LaMar Griffin and Lake, who is now in federal prison in Victorville, to invest in a sports marketing company they were starting. They would share ownership in the company, New Era, and Bush was to be their primary client.
It is a violation of NCAA rules for an athlete, or his relatives or friends, to accept benefit from prospective agents “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,” according to NCAA regulations. If an athlete or his family commits such a violation, he would be ruled ineligible, even if it's retroactively.
Watkins said the idea for a sports marketing agency was conceived during the 2004 season, when USC went undefeated en route to the national championship. It was before Bush became a household name in college football and the darling of almost every sports and marketing agency in the nation.
Watkins said Griffin sought to line up possible endorsement deals for Bush, including one from the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians.
Michaels works for Sycuan as director of economic development. Sycuan General Counsel George Forman said last weekend he recalls Griffin making a pitch to Sycuan about joining a business venture, but that there was no interest from Sycuan. Watkins also said Sycuan was not interested.
Sycuan spokesman Adam Day said Sycuan had nothing to do with any potential deal involving Bush or Griffin.
The backgrounds of Michaels and Lake raised a red flag among NFL officials, who Wednesday questioned Bush about his relationship with them. Two general managers said yesterday the NFL sent a memo to each team in which Bush denied knowing about the backgrounds of Michaels and Lake. He also denied having an agreement with New Era.
Michaels was arrested under the name Michael Pettiford in October 1999 on felony charges of making terrorist threats and discharging a firearm in a negligent manner in an incident involving current Sycuan Tribal Chairman Daniel Tucker. Charges were dropped in 2000 for lack of evidence, records show.
Michaels' connection with Lake, a former Helix High basketball player with a history of gang and drug ties, goes back several years, FBI agent Allan Vitkosky wrote in a sworn affidavit in 2002. Lake, 32, has had a series of drug and firearm arrests, including felony convictions for false imprisonment in 1993 and possession of marijuana for sale in 1996. San Diego Police Street Gang Unit records reveal that Lake was a documented member of the Emerald Hills Blood/Upside Sic street gang, according to Vitkosky's affidavit.
Well I have now come under the opinion that this is going to be a problem for USC.
We now have parents of an NCAA player living in a house rent free. This is the definition of an illegal benefit. Didn't Reggie say in the ESPN interview that his partents DID pay rent? So was that a lie? I don't believe that it matters if this was from the kindness of strangers because the fact is that the Griffins would NOT have received this house if their son was not Reggie Bush. There was no deposit made and they were allowed to live there seemingly indefinitely w/out paying a dime in rent. Only when Reggie signed with another agent did they get the eviction notice.
Now with the fact that a lawsuit is coming from the two individuals involved with the Griffins it does NOT look good for USC as they will burn any bridge necessary to fry the Griffins/Bush.
We now have parents of an NCAA player living in a house rent free. This is the definition of an illegal benefit. Didn't Reggie say in the ESPN interview that his partents DID pay rent? So was that a lie? I don't believe that it matters if this was from the kindness of strangers because the fact is that the Griffins would NOT have received this house if their son was not Reggie Bush. There was no deposit made and they were allowed to live there seemingly indefinitely w/out paying a dime in rent. Only when Reggie signed with another agent did they get the eviction notice.
Now with the fact that a lawsuit is coming from the two individuals involved with the Griffins it does NOT look good for USC as they will burn any bridge necessary to fry the Griffins/Bush.
This is funny.
Intersting too because if anything, it proves that Michaels and Lake were a couple of cons, kindly advancing rent on an IOU basis to be paid at a later time when the Griffins expected to see $$$ from Reggie's NFL contract. Then, naturally, Reggie signed with a legitimate agent, NOT THEM and it went sour. How this can point to a deal he had with them is beyond me. Probably his parents were led to believe that an IOU would be sufficient. No doubt that Michaels and Lake used the IOU as leverage to force the Griffins into signing regardless of whether or not it would have passed muster with the NCAA.
So what does it say in the NCAA rule book about turning down a con's offer if he wasn't a bonafide agent? They were paying market value rent on an IOU basis where Michaels extended them credit. But who was he at the time? Nobody that's who.
If the NCAA doesn't like it. They can go rewrite the rules because I'll bet you there was no contract or quid pro quo arrangements for any favors they may have given the Griffins. Nor does any of this prove that even the Griffins were aware of Michaels business intentions. They even tried to rope Caravantes into the game but that was also a fraudulent representation.
Intersting too because if anything, it proves that Michaels and Lake were a couple of cons, kindly advancing rent on an IOU basis to be paid at a later time when the Griffins expected to see $$$ from Reggie's NFL contract. Then, naturally, Reggie signed with a legitimate agent, NOT THEM and it went sour. How this can point to a deal he had with them is beyond me. Probably his parents were led to believe that an IOU would be sufficient. No doubt that Michaels and Lake used the IOU as leverage to force the Griffins into signing regardless of whether or not it would have passed muster with the NCAA.
So what does it say in the NCAA rule book about turning down a con's offer if he wasn't a bonafide agent? They were paying market value rent on an IOU basis where Michaels extended them credit. But who was he at the time? Nobody that's who.
If the NCAA doesn't like it. They can go rewrite the rules because I'll bet you there was no contract or quid pro quo arrangements for any favors they may have given the Griffins. Nor does any of this prove that even the Griffins were aware of Michaels business intentions. They even tried to rope Caravantes into the game but that was also a fraudulent representation.
who allows someone to rent a 3/4 of a million dollar house on an IOU???
it is an illegal benefit and usc should go down in flames....
this is what is wrong with college football......
ps...if you would loan rent a 3/4 million dollar house on an IOU..... for a whole year... sign me up ....:finger:
it is an illegal benefit and usc should go down in flames....
this is what is wrong with college football......
ps...if you would loan rent a 3/4 million dollar house on an IOU..... for a whole year... sign me up ....:finger:
Hey Conan, read this article and tell me that Bush and his family are completely innocent.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AqvxwnSVPBjbdm.dcHXxT_Y5nYcB?slug=cr-bushsuit042706&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AqvxwnSVPBjbdm.dcHXxT_Y5nYcB?slug=cr-bushsuit042706&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
LSUpete said:
If all of this is true, RB's stepfather fucked up big time. He used his own stepson to try to pull himself out of the toilets he cleans daily to put himself in the limelight. Reggie Bush didn't have anything to do with this, although I'm sure he found out along the way and being a strong family kid, ignored the situation or thought he could take care of it.
I will die laughing if they erase USC's season and take away the Heisman and give it to Young. That makes Oregon the 2005 Pac 10 champs. How funny will it be when they say...Vince Young, 2005 Heisman winner by default...If I was VY I'd say keep it, I got what I wanted and it's on my finger.
Found this on USC website - All second hand but interesting...
I know that none of this stuff would hold up in court and it seems too easy nowadays to pile on but Arkish has great sources...
WC - No pride in winning the pac10 that way!
==========================================================
Hub Arkish of Pro Football Weekly was on the Score 670 this morning and had the following to say about the USC football program (I am summarizing) :
-He said PFW knew about Reggie Bush and his family's house a year ago, but couldn't run the story because they didn't have airtight confirmation on some facts of it. He said Bush 100% knew what was going on and was involved in it, and not only that, but the worst kept secret in college football was that Bush was taking MAJOR freebies for the last year or two. The Bush story, he says, is just getting started, that the Texans have stepped up their calls on shopping the pick since the annual NFL security "open house" a few days ago (when files compiled on every player by league security- a team of about 40 ex-FBI agents, can be viewed by teams), and if they don't get a deal they like, are probably a 50/50 bet to take Mario Williams right now.
-He said that USC has some major problems with institutional control, and that the Bush story will by no means be the last one we will hear. He compared the situation to Michigan basketball under Steve Fisher. He said, correctly, that Fisher was a really nice man who was telling the truth when he said he didn't know what Ed Martin was doing. But the fact remains that it was his JOB to know. He said the difference between Fisher and Carroll is that Fisher was simply too naive about the realities of what can go on at a major DI revenue sport program, having kind of been thrown into it in 1989. Arkush said Carroll's not naive- he doesn't WANT to know, and Hub feels that will ultimately be his undoing. Hub also offered the opinion that the NCAA doesn't like investigating teams- it's hugely expensive.
They only do it when they have to, and the stories first uncovered by the media are usually the first indication of something being wrong.
He said just like the Barry Bonds story, once the door is open, everyone swarms on the story to get a piece of it, and that hunting season is officially open when it comes to the media and USC.
-Arkush made some strong hints about booster involvement in USC recruiting when he said that USC didn't suddenly start bringing in top classes when Carroll arrived just because he's such a charming guy. "When Pete took over, some doors were opened that are shut at most programs," he said, and he said that when recruits visit USC, it's obvious that that the lifestyle of a USC football player is much different from the lifestyle of a football player at most other schools, and recruits are taken in by it.
-Hub said that without trying the case in the media, his people tell him that this Mark Sanchez thing will go away, that it's probably nonsense, and that Mark's biggest problem is that "the two kids on the team he is most tight with, one is seriously emotionally troubled and one, people around the program say, is just flat out a bad seed.
Sanchez doesn't need to go looking for trouble. If he keeps hanging out with the same kids, trouble will find him."
I know that none of this stuff would hold up in court and it seems too easy nowadays to pile on but Arkish has great sources...
WC - No pride in winning the pac10 that way!
==========================================================
Hub Arkish of Pro Football Weekly was on the Score 670 this morning and had the following to say about the USC football program (I am summarizing) :
-He said PFW knew about Reggie Bush and his family's house a year ago, but couldn't run the story because they didn't have airtight confirmation on some facts of it. He said Bush 100% knew what was going on and was involved in it, and not only that, but the worst kept secret in college football was that Bush was taking MAJOR freebies for the last year or two. The Bush story, he says, is just getting started, that the Texans have stepped up their calls on shopping the pick since the annual NFL security "open house" a few days ago (when files compiled on every player by league security- a team of about 40 ex-FBI agents, can be viewed by teams), and if they don't get a deal they like, are probably a 50/50 bet to take Mario Williams right now.
-He said that USC has some major problems with institutional control, and that the Bush story will by no means be the last one we will hear. He compared the situation to Michigan basketball under Steve Fisher. He said, correctly, that Fisher was a really nice man who was telling the truth when he said he didn't know what Ed Martin was doing. But the fact remains that it was his JOB to know. He said the difference between Fisher and Carroll is that Fisher was simply too naive about the realities of what can go on at a major DI revenue sport program, having kind of been thrown into it in 1989. Arkush said Carroll's not naive- he doesn't WANT to know, and Hub feels that will ultimately be his undoing. Hub also offered the opinion that the NCAA doesn't like investigating teams- it's hugely expensive.
They only do it when they have to, and the stories first uncovered by the media are usually the first indication of something being wrong.
He said just like the Barry Bonds story, once the door is open, everyone swarms on the story to get a piece of it, and that hunting season is officially open when it comes to the media and USC.
-Arkush made some strong hints about booster involvement in USC recruiting when he said that USC didn't suddenly start bringing in top classes when Carroll arrived just because he's such a charming guy. "When Pete took over, some doors were opened that are shut at most programs," he said, and he said that when recruits visit USC, it's obvious that that the lifestyle of a USC football player is much different from the lifestyle of a football player at most other schools, and recruits are taken in by it.
-Hub said that without trying the case in the media, his people tell him that this Mark Sanchez thing will go away, that it's probably nonsense, and that Mark's biggest problem is that "the two kids on the team he is most tight with, one is seriously emotionally troubled and one, people around the program say, is just flat out a bad seed.
Sanchez doesn't need to go looking for trouble. If he keeps hanging out with the same kids, trouble will find him."
I can't believe Leinart didn't get picked to join his old coach Chow at Tennessee. I think that was a mistake unless the Titans have some ultierior motives. We'll see. But I think your going to see a big number of trades after this draft. Especially by the NY Jets, who also passed on Leinart. Something tells me they may trade up for Bush from New Orleans. I'm still waiting for Leinart. If Green Bay don't get him with Favre on his last legs then I don't know. I would like to see Green Bay pass on him and my 49ers get him.
