Michael Vick, Reggie Bush cellmates?
Scavenger
Posts: 987
in Sports Talk
I have never seen such a large amount of ignorance confined to such a small group of people. The National Football League has got to be the best job in the world, you can be dumb as a sack of hammers and still make millions.
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But I thought some reporter made the whole thing up for yahoo sports?
Sports marketer reportedly to meet with NCAA investigators
Associated Press
Updated: October 9, 2007, 7:55 PM ET
LOS ANGELES -- A sports marketer who allegedly made improper payments to Reggie Bush while the Heisman Trophy winner was still at Southern California has agreed to meet with NCAA investigators and provide documentation of financial transactions between the two, according to a report.
The Los Angeles Times also reported Tuesday on its Web site that Lloyd Lake is expected to file a civil lawsuit in San Diego against Bush later this month, seeking to recoup money allegedly given to Bush and his family.
"I can't really comment on the matter. I can't confirm or deny," Lake's attorney, Brian Watkins, told The Associated Press.
Lake and partner Michael Michaels claimed over a year ago that they provided money to Bush's family as well as a home for which the family had failed to pay more than $50,000 in rent. The conflict was made public after Bush signed with another sports agent.
Lake and Michaels founded New Era Sports & Entertainment, a marketing agency that they claim was created with co-operation from Bush and his stepfather, LaMar Griffin.
Bush, the Heisman Trophy winner as a junior in 2005, is in his second year with the New Orleans Saints, having signed a contract reportedly worth up to $60 million. He has said repeatedly that neither he nor his family did anything wrong in dealings with Michaels and Lake.
Michaels reached a settlement with Bush and his family last April. Yahoo Sports said the settlement was for between $200,000 and $300,000.
Should NCAA investigators find that Bush received improper benefits, USC could be forced to forfeit games. The school could face other sanctions if it's proven that coaches knew or should have known about the alleged benefits.
The Times also quoted an unidentified source familiar with the situation that NCAA officials tried to include USC in the meeting with Lake, but the school declined to participate.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
No chance, no way that Bush serves jail time...get real.
stown's got such a man crush on Bush it's not even funny....pretty pathetic, actually.
<< <i>What kind of comment is this:
"all that would happen is USC would be forced to forfeit games. "
You make it sound like that's no big deal. It's a HUGE deal and I'm sure Pete Carroll and all of Bush's teammates would pretty pissed. Also, we're talking about potentially losing up to two national championships. Whether Bush goes to jail or not, who cares? Whatever bad he has coming to him, if he does, he brought it on himself. No one forced this situation upon him. >>
Uhm, in comparison to JAIL TIME, it's meaningless.
How exactly would they 'lose' two national championships? They won them on the field, everyone knows it, you think it's going to diminish them in the slightest if they do?
Why is jail even being mentioned here? If he did do these things, they aren't ILLEGAL.
<< <i><<How exactly would they 'lose' two national championships? They won them on the field, everyone knows it, you think it's going to diminish them in the slightest if they do?>>
The NCAA could disqualify them, that's how. I'm not saying it will definitely happen, but it's within their power to do so and I wouldn't put it passed them. And yes, I think it would diminish their accomplishment ENTIRELY. They won't officially be the National Champions anymore. Do you think people look at Marion Jones TODAY as the champion after having given back the medals? Perhaps you may, but I doubt the majority of people feel that way and it will become even more so as time goes by, until eventually she (and potentially USC if they lose their title/s), becomes, at best, a footnote if they're lucky. >>
If anyone thinks for a second that having the NCAA come in, wave their hands, and say 'those national championships didn't happen!' and expect anyone to care, they are delusional. If you think that it will affect recruiting, you are delusional.
The only people that will care are self-righteous jackals who feel that their school's program does no wrong.
<< <i>Hey, don't get your panties in a bunch because you might be scared of the possible repercussions. This isn't the first time the media, or this forum, has discussed the possibility. Whether YOU like it or not, and regardless of how YOU may feel about the situation, it is a distinct possibility hanging out there. And while I mentioned nothing about recruiting, since you brought it up, I can't imagine how it wouldn't hurt recruiting if they were put on sanctions. >>
Who's getting their panties in a bunch?
If Bush is found to have been involved in receiving money, and USC loses their titles, that will be the limit of their actions. USC would likely not be held responsible and would not face any penalties (such as losing postseason rights or scholarships).
You honestly think a stud recruit is going to care about that? Of course they won't.
Last I heard, NCAA "rules" are not the law in this country. It's not a crime to break NCAA rules.
If Bush broke NCAA rules, the only penalty he would be liable for is monetary...if anything.
<< <i>Well since YOU'RE not a "stud recruit", it's probably best for you not to say. Past schools that have faced similar situations have not fared so well. >>
As long as scholarships won't be taken away (and it's likely not to happen) then no, it will have no impact on recruiting.
The situations where postseason berths and scholarship losses of course will impact recruiting, that doesn't appear to be the case here.
<< <i>If that helps you sleep better at night. Regardless, only you would think something like this is no big deal. Quite frankly, I would shudder at the thought of championships being taken away. If it were to happen, I'm sure Pete Carroll would not be taking it so easily. >>
Who said anything about the coach? Also, why do you care so much? Other than to run your yap and argue with me?
<< <i>Why do you care so much? Other than to argue with others? >>
Simply pointing out the silliness of comparing Reggie Bush allegedly taking money that isn't a crime with Michael Vick's dogfighting that is a crime.
But here you are, still yapping.
Fans don't care, because it won't take away the memory of those national championships, it won't take away from the plays that were made...the NCAA trying to snap their fingers and make them go away won't make them go away. They won't lose scholarships, and everyone with some common sense will realize that if what was alleged to have happened happened, was the actions of one guy, not the school, not the program.
USC will be fine and continue to be a national powerhouse.
lame.
<< <i>stown's got such a man crush on Bush it's not even funny....pretty pathetic, actually. >>
I have a man crush on Bush?
Uh, who is the one who claimed Bush to be a once in a generation player?
Who is the one who claimed Bush would be better than LT, LJ, Edge, Faulk, Alexander, etc?
Who defends Bush and USC even though they didn't even go to that college?
Yeah, I think we all know who has the man crush on Bush.
In the end, if the NCAA does take away championships, scholarships and suspend them, it could severely hurt the program for a long time. Players would not continue to run to USC. And for the record, I'm not interested in the result because of any jealously towards USC (for those who may make such a claim). I'm interested in the equal treatment of teams found guilty of similar actions that Michigan and other universities were when they were put on probation.
<< <i>The worse thing for USC would be if the NCAA comes in and pulls scholarships. Many of their main players could NOT afford to go their without a scholarship and will go to schools that can offer them scholarships. >>
Since it doesn't appear that USC was at all involved and had no knowledge about the alleged activities of Bush, I don't see how the NCAA gets involved and takes scholarships or postseason berths.
<< <i>
<< <i>The worse thing for USC would be if the NCAA comes in and pulls scholarships. Many of their main players could NOT afford to go their without a scholarship and will go to schools that can offer them scholarships. >>
Since it doesn't appear that USC was at all involved and had no knowledge about the alleged activities of Bush, I don't see how the NCAA gets involved and takes scholarships or postseason berths. >>
They took them away from Alabama.
For those who have a hankerin to see USC punished because of what Bush allegedly did while at the school, I ask if they also think that USC should be punished because of OJ Simpson being found liable in a wrongful death lawsuit for killing his wife and Ron Goldman?
Surely USC knew, from his days playing for the Trojans, that OJ was a powder keg ready to explode at any moment. Yet with this knowledge, USC did nothing to stop the killings. Shouldn't USC be penalized for this? If so, strip USC of all national titles they have won since OJ was a Trojan since an argument could be made that "But for" OJ playing at USC, USC never would have been able to recruit all of the star players that have played for the Trojans after OJ left for the NFL; and thus they never would have won the title's they did.
Guessing they were distancing themselves for a reason.
Edited to add link
No USC sideline pass upsets Bush
By David Wharton and Gary Klein, Times Staff Writers
January 1, 2007
The lingering controversy over Reggie Bush and alleged improper benefits has spilled onto the sideline of today's Rose Bowl game between No. 3 Michigan and No. 8 USC.
The former tailback said USC asked that he "not show up on the sidelines," according to a FOXSports.com report.
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- COMPLETE ROSE BOWL COVERAGE
Bush reportedly said his alma mater was distancing itself from him because of allegations that he and his parents took cash and gifts from a would-be sports marketer while he was in school.
"It's ridiculous," Bush reportedly said. "I guess I won't be going."
A USC spokesman said there was no snub on the school's part.
Under Bowl Championship Series rules, the Rose Bowl strictly limits who may stand on the sideline. Each team is allowed five guest passes for ex-players. The Internet report quoted Bush as saying that he called Friday to request a pass.
"If that's true, the passes were already allocated," USC spokesman Tim Tessalone said. "They were given out a week or two ago."
The team's passes went to Marcus Allen, Ronnie Lott, Charles White, Matt Leinart and John Papadakis.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<< <i>I recall USC refusing to give Bush a sideline pass to the 2007 Rose Bowl game against Michigan.
Guessing they were distancing themselves for a reason.
>>
Or perhaps it was because longer tenured, older players were already given the FIVE passes that were allocated? Perhaps it's time for you to stop making guesses, eh?
<< <i> Each team is allowed five guest passes for ex-players. The Internet report quoted Bush as saying that he called Friday to request a pass.
"If that's true, the passes were already allocated," USC spokesman Tim Tessalone said. "They were given out a week or two ago."
The team's passes went to Marcus Allen, Ronnie Lott, Charles White, Matt Leinart and John Papadakis. >>
Damn this is toooooo easy.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>
And John Papadakis?
Oh, the same one who is under NCAA investigation for his dinners? Link
Speaking of colleges, which school did you attend, hmm?
<< <i>Sure, that's exactly what happened. Same reason why Coach Pete refuses to talk about Bush.. >>
What, you mean the coach doesn't want to talk about a player undergoing an investigation? How dare he!!!
<< <i>And John Papadakis? >>
Link
Damn you sure have it in for USC don't ya? I would think that your team winning the national championship would be enough..but I guess the fact that everyone considers the 05 USC team one of the best of all time makes you a petty, jealous little bitx.
<< <i>
<< <i>Sure, that's exactly what happened. Same reason why Coach Pete refuses to talk about Bush.. >>
What, you mean the coach doesn't want to talk about a player undergoing an investigation? How dare he!!! >>
But you said before that it was a nut job that was making a moutain out of a mole hill. Now that you see that the story has legs, you spin, as usual.
<< <i>
<< <i>And John Papadakis? >>
Link >>
Yes, as I said before, the same one that's under NCAA investigation for his dinners. What's your point?
<< <i>Damn you sure have it in for USC don't ya? I would think that your team winning the national championship would be enough..but I guess the fact that everyone considers the 05 USC team one of the best of all time makes you a petty, jealous little bitx. >>
I don't know what a "bitx" is but thank you for proving that ESPN polls are worthless. Ask ESPN to run that poll again and the '05 USC team will not be the 2nd best team ever. Epecially since UT beat them in their own house.
So, since you talk so much smack about other colleges, which one do you represent? Still embarrassed to admit you flunked out of Modesto Community College?
<< <i>
<< <i>The worse thing for USC would be if the NCAA comes in and pulls scholarships. Many of their main players could NOT afford to go their without a scholarship and will go to schools that can offer them scholarships. >>
Since it doesn't appear that USC was at all involved and had no knowledge about the alleged activities of Bush, I don't see how the NCAA gets involved and takes scholarships or postseason berths. >>
As markj eluded to, it doesn't matter if the coaches claim to have known or not. Michigan claimed they didn't have knowledge either, but in the end many blamed Fisher so he simply resigned. If anybody at Michigan knew, it wasn't that guy. Further, the biggest stink was about Webber, yet the booster giving him money was actually a family friend way before he went to U-M. Don't get me wrong, there were still likely violations. But if a player receiving money from a family friend is considered a violation worthy of NCAA probation, limited scholarships and removal of banners, I am certain the Bush situation would qualify as well.
And to think USC didn't know about this...
<< <i>I am certain the Bush situation would qualify as well. >>
From Bush's mouth to Yahoo Sports article:
In that interview, Bush said of the NCAA investigation and his family's alleged impropriety: "For me, I look at it as – and my family looks at it as – extortion. Because these were guys we'd known our whole lives … when I was a freshman in high school, they weren't asking for money. When I was getting older, and then all of the sudden my year with the possibility of me coming out, all this stuff comes out."
According to a source at ESPN, that segment aired despite a threat from Bush's camp that the running back would halt future cooperation with the network if the interview was not pulled.
Sources told Yahoo! Sports following the segment that Bush might have violated his confidentiality clause with Michaels by directing claims of extortion at the New Era financiers. The FBI briefly investigated claims of extortion from Bush's attorney, including interviewing several of Lake's family members and acquaintances before a federal grand jury. After the depositions, a federal source told Yahoo! Sports that the FBI would not be pursuing the extortion claims.
Bush, whose family had lived in an apartment before moving into the Spring Valley home, claimed his parents simply "got behind" on rent during his interview with "Outside The Lines."
"It was basically, you know, just my parents, you know, renting a house from a friend of ours, and they got behind on some rent, you know, a couple of months on some rent," Bush said on the segment. "And all of the sudden it's like the media blew up this whole thing – 'Oh, they were living in this house rent free' – which wasn't the case. We rented a house and just like any other family, you know, you get behind on bills. You don't have money; my family isn't rich. We didn't have a lot of money.
"So my parents struggled to pay bills here and there, one of those being rent. I think just like any normal average family, you struggle to pay bills sometimes, and that's all it was. And the media kind of blew it out to kind of make it seem like we were living in this nice gorgeous house – which I never lived there – living in this nice gorgeous house rent free, and it wasn't anything like that."
<< <i>Bush, whose family had lived in an apartment before moving into the Spring Valley home, claimed his parents simply "got behind" on rent during his interview with "Outside The Lines."
"It was basically, you know, just my parents, you know, renting a house from a friend of ours, and they got behind on some rent, you know, a couple of months on some rent," Bush said on the segment. "And all of the sudden it's like the media blew up this whole thing – 'Oh, they were living in this house rent free' – which wasn't the case. We rented a house and just like any other family, you know, you get behind on bills. You don't have money; my family isn't rich. We didn't have a lot of money.
"So my parents struggled to pay bills here and there, one of those being rent. I think just like any normal average family, you struggle to pay bills sometimes, and that's all it was. And the media kind of blew it out to kind of make it seem like we were living in this nice gorgeous house – which I never lived there – living in this nice gorgeous house rent free, and it wasn't anything like that." >>
"Yeah, they got like $50K behind on rent living in this awesome house. No, my parents aren't rich and have no business living in a house like that, but it was all honest. We did nothing wrong."
<< <i>What kind of comment is this:
"all that would happen is USC would be forced to forfeit games. "
You make it sound like that's no big deal. It's a HUGE deal and I'm sure Pete Carroll and all of Bush's teammates would pretty pissed. Also, we're talking about potentially losing up to two national championships. Whether Bush goes to jail or not, who cares? Whatever bad he has coming to him, if he does, he brought it on himself. No one forced this situation upon him. >>
USC won only one national championship when Bush was there.
<< <i> They won't lose scholarships, and everyone with some common sense will realize that if what was alleged to have happened happened, was the actions of one guy, not the school, not the program.
USC will be fine and continue to be a national powerhouse. >>
Alabama's football program was placed on three years' probation in 1995. All-America defensive back Antonio Langham admitted signing with a sports agent the morning after the Tide gained the national title with a Sugar Bowl win over Miami, but returned to play his senior season.
The NCAA DID take away all their wins for that next season, but he fans will still tell you they won 10 that year. They did not care about that. What they cared about was that the NCAA took 26 scholarships away too and that hurt them tremendously.
They got so sick of losing so fast, they ended up violating even more to try and get some advantage, and THREE YEARS LATER they were almost given the Death Penalty, but instead were given 5 years and even more scholarships taken.
They have never successfully recovered.
<< <i>Since it doesn't appear that USC was at all involved and had no knowledge about the alleged activities of Bush, I don't see how the NCAA gets involved and takes scholarships or postseason berths. >>
"Lack of institutional control."