Bleachers Other Sports Midweek Dump
| 11 June 2009
This week we will look at the sham that is the USC compliance department, Tim Donaghy's broken legs, Miss California's firing and pay homage to one of my favorite watering holes in America!
Oh boy, what a shock. USC's Tim Floyd has resigned after reports have surfaced that he arranged super star OJ Mayo to be paid a sum of $1,000. Personally, if Floyd was able to acquire the talents of OJ Mayo for one season by giving him only $1,000 then he should be commended and defended by the athletic department. Also, I still think there is a lot to this story, because Floyd had the "desire" to interview with Arizona in April, but now has no desire to coach anymore. Oddly enough, this new report runs completely contrary to an article that appeared in the NY Times prior to Mayo's official commitment in 2007. From the article:
"It sounds a little like a fairy tale.
A stranger walked into the University of Southern California basketball office one day last summer and asked to speak to the head coach. The stranger did not make an appointment. He did not call ahead. Tim Floyd, the U.S.C. head coach, cannot explain why he agreed to see him.
Nine months later, as U.S.C. prepares for the regional semifinal of the N.C.A.A. tournament, Floyd recounted his version of that conversation.
The mysterious man got right to the point. "How would you like to have the best player in the country?" he asked.
Floyd tried not to roll his eyes.
"Have you heard of O. J. Mayo?" the man asked."
Who could have imagined everything wasn't on the up and up?
Oh, then there was this Outside the Lines piece on OJ Mayo, Tim Floyd and Rodney Guillory from May 2008:
Oh and then there's that Reggie Bush scandal still hanging over the head of USC. Let's take a step back into the way, way back machine where I first wrote about Bush and USC being cheaters. From October 24, 2006 and two websites ago when my writing was only slightly less mature than it is now:
"But first, I promised a rant about USC this week and why they should give back at least one NCAA title and Reginald "The President" Bush should give back his Heisman.
FACTS
September 2004
Lamar Griffen, Bush's step dad approaches a family friend about starting a sports marketing business in the future where Bush will be the anchor.
November 2004
Michael Michaels, what a stupid name becomes the primary backer in New Era Sports & Entertainment. Michaels then pays off $28,000 in debt the Bush family had accrued. This was done because Bush family was holding Reggie as leverage to get the debt paid. - Extra benefit, CHEATERS, CHEATERS, CHEATERS!!!!
Jan 4, 2005
USC beats Oklahoma in the National Championship game. Bush plays in the game. (He would have been ineligible due to rules violations)
March 4, 2005
Bush uses Michael's credit card for a hotel stay. Total cost was $1,574.86. CHEATER, CHEATER, CHEATER!
March 29, 2005
Michaels buys a house in Spring Valley, CA for over $700,000
Bush family moves in, no rent is charged. CHEATER, CHEATER, CHEATER!
Fast Forward
-New Era buys a car for Bush
-New Era gives Bush family thousands for Heisman ceremony for suits, limo rides, makeovers, etc
-Bush wins Heisman
-Agents roam the USC sidelines (with USC consent)
-Agents are seen in the USC locker room post game (with USC consent)
-Agents set up paid internships with USC players through USC compliance office
Enough of the cheating. Here are the NCAA rules that are relevant
12.3.1.2 Benefits from Prospective Agents wrote:
An individual shall be ineligible per Bylaw 12.3.1 if he or she (or his or her relatives or friends) accepts transportation or other benefits from:
(a) Any person who represents any individual in the marketing of his or her athletics ability. The receipt of such expenses constitutes compensation based on athletics skill and is an extra benefit not available to the student body in general;
Student-athlete on a scholarship receiving money from an agent
Interpretation: Determined that if a student-athlete on full scholarship receives money from an agent, an institution must adjust the student-athlete's financial aid per Bylaw 6-1-(b)-(1) proportionate with the amount of money received; further, the institution may graduate or cancel the student-athletes aid per NCAA Constitution 3-4-(c)-(2)-(i).
12.1.1 Amateur Status. An individual loses amateur status and thus shall not be eligible for intercollegiate competition in a particular sport if the individual:
(a) Uses his or her athletics skill (directly or indirectly) for pay in any form in that sport;
(b) Accepts a promise of pay even if such pay is to be received following completion of intercollegiate athletics participation;
(c) Signs a contract or commitment of any kind to play professional athletics, regardless of its legal enforceability or any consideration received;
(d) Receives, directly or indirectly, a salary, reimbursement of expenses or any other form of financial assistance from a professional sports organization based upon athletics skill or participation, except as permitted by NCAA rules and regulations;
Ok, so what's the verdict? NOTHING AS OF YET. STUPID NCAA. Why are they so hesitant to pull the trigger on this investigation? Because cash rules everything around them. These assholes in Indianapolis aren't doing anything because it's USC. They have stripped titles before, not in football, but other sports that did not make any money.
The NCAA waxes on and on about fair play, and amateurism and student before athlete. But it is all hogwash. What they are really interested in is keeping a team in a major television market on top........"
According to Deadspin, Tim Donaghy has had his legs busted up by a mobster, while in jail no less. While this is certainly terrible, he did commit a crime and "shit happens" while in jail I guess. Everthus the deadbeats, Lebowski!
"Carrie Prejean, your'e fired!" Poor, poor Carrie Prejean, she has been fired for not doing her duties as Miss California. Carrie, I said it before, I'll say it again. Fox News is you key to riches.
Nicks's English Hut, a Bloomington, Indiana tradition now has a documentary produced about the fine establishment. It's a great place to drink, play sink the biz, or eat. Hell, one of my friends has his IU football jersey retired on the wall. Just watch out for Friday nights because there are a ton of law school douche bags in there. Here's the first seven minutes of the film, keep in mind you may find it wholly boring if you have never heard of the place.
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