USC Morning Buzz: Time For Winners And Losers Of The Week

LEVINEIt’s Monday, so let’s check in with our winners and losers of the week:

Winners

Sean Combs

UCLA coaches did not want charges filed. Combs did not want charges filed. The DA did not want charges filed. As F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, the rich “are different from you and me.” That’s why Combs gets to park his car illegally at UCLA practices.

USC recruiting

Cornerback Thomas Graham of Rancho Cucamonga and wide receiver Michael Pittman of Oaks Christian committed last week. USC fans hope Pittman does better than some past Oaks Christian players did in college.

Amy Rodriguez

Wins a World Cup. Next stop USC Hall of Fame!

Tate Martell

The 2017 QB gets a fifth star from Scout.com. Not bad for a 5-10 signalcaller.

Losers

Recruiting hype

The Opening takes place starting Tuesday, a made-for-TV combine for high school recruits. USC has five commits there and a bunch of other prospects competing. Everything will be overhyped and called “the best,” and ESPN will get people to commit . . . some of whom might later decommit.

USC’s image

The athletic dept. tweeted out pictures of coaches going through Navy Seals training during a retreat. Of course it took place in Rancho Palos Verdes and USC has a sponsorship deal with the Terranea resort there. Roughing it in Palos Verdes. That’s how Andy Enfield earns his $2 million.

The Lakers

Pathetic attempt to impress LaMarcus Aldridge on social media. No wonder he chose the sanity of San Antonio. And now it looks like they want to move former USC guard Nick Young.

World Cup viewing

I’ve watched many of the 52 matches and now it’s withdrawal week. Here’s my breakdown of the broadcasters/pundits, and yes I’m aware many of you have no idea who these people are. But it’s summer and I need to vent.

5 stars: Kelly Smith, Kate Abdo, Ariane Hingst, Tony DiCicco, Julie Stewart Binks

Kelly Smith does it all: Plays brilliantly, speaks brilliantly and analyzes brilliantly. She’s terri-brill

4 stars: Rob Stone, Monica Gonzalez, Christine Latham, Dr. Joe Machnik, Danielle Slaton

Did you see Monica Gonzalez tease Reggie Bush about how she was a Notre Dame student during the Bush Push game?

3 stars: Aly Wagner, Alexi Lalas

Lalas could have gotten higher ranking if I didn’t have, “set pieces, set pieces, set pieces” still going through my head.

2 stars: Jenny  Taft, Cat Whitehill, Leslie Osborne

Taft probably deserves better but that smile is too distracting during interviews.

1 star: Heather Mitts, Eric Wynalda

Mitts says USA wins because it has “more heart.” Ugh. Wynalda looks like he wants to fall asleep on the couch.

49 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Time For Winners And Losers Of The Week

  1. that about sums it up… all of law enforcement and judicial process is about politics,not the actual law

  2. Bah humbug. I don’t read this segment.

    If I want to read about losers I will turn to SUCLA’s Wang’s blog to read about the SUCLAs (which I never do)

  3. Time For Winners And Losers Of The Week:

    Scott Wolf – LOSER: rooted for Germany, England, and Japan AGAINST the USA Women World Cup Team — Lost every game ! Go USA.

  4. Scottie, why does it bother you so much that Tate Martell is highly rated? You seem to have a vendetta against him.

    • “…….it’s summer and I need to vent.” ……That says it all…. this blog is simply a platform for Scott to vent….Don’t sweat the small stuff, Scott…..it makes you look petty…..

        • Ha!… Fear not, Helen…unlike Scott, I actually proofread my comments before I post…

  5. Mr Wolf:
    You put more work into analyzing World Cup soccer announcers than you have ever put into USC football. May I suggest a new title for this blog, Inside Futbol.

    JW

    • Actually Scottie is just being consistent – he roots against his own school in football also.

      • Yes, but it’s not like he got a great education from his own school. Just take a look at how he writes! Now, that may be because the school did not have much to work with, but he isn’t exacty a shining example of the USC School of Journalism!

        • The only ones here who will argue you on that point are UCLA folks.

          • The fact is you’re here every day to read and post on substandard USC blog. Funny stuff for a little gutty to do.

          • My point was the only ones here praising Wolf and his journalistic “skills” are UCLA trolls.

          • Obviously, us Trojans know a dolt when we see one. Every family has a black sheep of some sort and Wolfie doesn’t measure up and never has. Not everybody can cut it. The guy simply can’t write. We all know, except maybe a few little gutties, that even if he went to Stanford or Harvard, he still wouldn’t be able to write either.

          • Well Hoffarth is also a USC alum along with Wolf – if you know specifically of any ucla alums who write locally per sports I think we’d all be curious to know such seeing as you do possess a great deal of knowledge specific to ucla.

            Simers – No. IL – DeKalb-IL
            Randy Youngman – No. park. Univ. – Chicago
            Bonsignore – CSULB
            Wang (thanks for your heads up) Cal
            Plaschke – So. IL Carbondale-IL
            Chris Dufresne – CSUF

          • None come to mind. I know of a number of Trojans that have done a fine job of covering UCLA because they were pros. Lonny White was a former SC football player and did good job.

            Much harder to find real journalists these days, in many areas.

        • Yes, but look who he is working for……. Birds of a feather……

        • He’s been known to lose his head over a wager, every now and then….

          • Not always, but even if the Trojans win, but they DON’T cover the spread, that’s when Scott has a major meltdown…..

          • And he’s blown it all on booze, fast cars, and women….. LOL

          • No, but he does need to coax his right hand…..and pouring a little booze on it just might help…

          • Maybe booze, fast car not so sure, probably old Volvo and when it comes to women think he pays for and collects cheerleader pictures..

      • I hate to break this to you, Tama, but it sounds like you would consider me to be a liberal. Well, my son served this country in Afghanistan unlike the children of many who supported the war. I also happen to love this country as it has afforded me plenty of opportunities to succeed. There are also plenty of people in the South that consider themselves to be the true patriots while flying the flag of the secessionists. So, perhaps the labeling is inappropriate and we should discuss the soccer game and supporting the American athletes. Save the politics for the CNN and Fox websites, please.

          • It wasn’t an oversight. It’s all a matter of perspective. Tama would think I am liberal. I consider myself a moderate. Where I live, I am considered a conservative.

          • I didn’t think it was an oversight. I saw the reference to Fox, which is liberal speak for hateful white men, and was compelled to push back using a reference to the most liberal outlet on the air. I hope you are moderate, we can use more moderates in this country!

  6. Scottie, are you a little green they didn’t ask you to participate? I get it. You’re into the sport – would have been fun?

  7. More losers of the week:
    Scott Wolf (again ! a multiple winner !!!)

    Only in your anti-USC mind does having Navy Seal training for coaches at Terranea resort in Palos Verdes make “USC Image” a “loser” ???? — and you ARE the Daily Breeze USC beat corespondent. Again I ask why does USC even let your anti-Trojan rear end through the door to campus ???

  8. S.Wolf nearly always has a way to draw attention to himself.. The wizard of Negative. Like Oz he hides behind curtain and judges…. Always will.Enough about him.
    Yesterday’s World Cup performance by Lloyd was a moment in sport that transcends the believable.. Performance of the decade, century and one we are not likely to see again in sport… If you happen to catch what athletes like Kobe, T.Woods, E.Smith,Erhart Jr., and hundreds more have said…. It was unimaginable !!To appreciate sport for the enjoyment and inspiration it provides, Yesterday’s USA women’s Soccer provided even the occasional fan with a memory for the Ages..!!!!!

    • I heard SC does in fact have 4 blue shirts.

      Clayton Johnston
      Deonte Burnett
      Daniel Imatorbhebhe
      Taylor McNamara

      So that means 21 spots for our recruiting class. You probably already knew that. But it was driving me nuts hearing about it and not being sure.

      • Thanks buddy,I had read last week with Imatorbhebhe it put us at 21..From what I read and the results I see, staff seems to be quite excellent at their recruiting plans. We both know you don’t always land who you target, but the actual plan is impressive to me.they last year saw 2015 loaded class, and needed quality players to beef up down roster, so blue shirts were recruited, I think that brought in a total of 29 players for fall.One being kicker from year before. They last year saw 2016 as being down from. 2015 and will use only 21,saving spots for a big 2017 class. In fact I’ve heard that there’s been the eairlest ,big push for 2017.Will be curious to see who red shirts from 2015 class. Do you know which coaches are the brains behind the plans? Does just come from staff meeting creating plan? Who’s the plan maker..we know who the great recruiters are, somebody has incredible insight and assistants doing great research..

        • Yeah. All the recruiting services say SC is primed to have an even better 2017 class. Many believe it will be better then this year’s class and will rival 2015’s. It supposed to be top and bottom heavy. The reason being that it’s loaded and The big fish are all leaning to SC. The three who are already committed are all high 4 stars Carr being named a 5 star today. And USC has never had this much attention from Out of State players like the 2017 class. It’s crazy how many have SC at the top for next year. I don’t even think Carroll had this much interest from kids OOS this early. Like you’ve said next year’s class should be Awesome.
          As for the brains. I don’t really know. On the recruiting SIDE Sark and his staff are lights out. My only answer is he’s put together some great recruiters. Tee Martin filled ED O’s shoes as much as anyone could, Tuiasosopo is really making his mark and Wilson is due to catch fire. I think Sark trust them and it’s working so far.

          • One or more of these coaches must be an excellent strategist…. We know they can get into any living room.Tee’ s son coming should keep Tee a Trojan. Wasn’t he on Kiffens staff*?

          • We definitely need to hold onto Tee. It look like we will, but stranger things have happened. Kiffin hired him away from Kentucky where he was becoming a popular name.

  9. Wolf’s a liberal, they hate their country and they are always miserable even when they get what they want, they always want more.

  10. I have to agree with Wolf. Diddy is a loser who embarrassed all parties. The Opening is overhyped. And my Lakers are still pathetic.

    • Crazy thing about the Diddy, we see his pathetic, character and classless actions.Yet the crowd he plays to see him as being cool and righteous in his actions… Testimony to how sick people can be in powering his behavior

  11. Winners – the LAA – a record of 8-1 the past 9 games heading into DEN tomorrow for two and then onto SEA for four more before the All Star Break.

    Losers – Jerry DiPoto who foolishly left one of only 30 identical jobs but worst of all did so a mere 4 weeks from the end of the trading deadline (31st July).

  12. Dudes!! you got some issuuuuues!!!!

    i thought the Holiday was supposed to leave everyone is a good mood??? but the BUDDIES show up angrier that ever!!! what? did you gueys step on a sparkler??

    wolfman is so far in your heads, many of you have lost your tenuous grip on reality!! wolf is a a supporter of ISIS, a traitor to his country, and all kinds of lunacy!!!

    one guey even shows up in this segment every week to declare he never reads it!!

    wolfman, i gotta give you props, when it comes to messing with people’s heads, Hannibal Lecter takes a back seat to you, Hermano!!

    #SoTotallyClassicWolfman

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