Answer Monday, Part 6
Every question will be answered today and there is still time to ask questions.
Q: What are your thoughts on the AP title vs the BCS title? They usually end up with the same team except for 2003. At least the AP title takes into account ALL the games, including the bowls. There is no BCS poll after the bowls since they don't re-rank the teams. The BCS really is just for determining who will play in what BCS bowl game. It's a flawed system that they don't seem interested in fixing and there really is no true National Champion. I believe the NCAA doesn't even list Div 1A NCAA champions.
A: Of course a playoff would be the best possible format. But I do think the AP poll serves a valuable function because it allows for independent thought regarding who should be the national champion. Why? Because AP voters can pick whoever they want. The coaches poll is forced to vote for the BCS title game winner. So far, it's only happened once, but at least it exists.
Q: Scotty... Now that Davon is finally gone, can you please tell us who paid for the Mercedes Benz that he's been driving these past few months??? I know Jeff Trep's girlfriend's dad didn't co-sign for the car.
Who is happier DJ is gone Tim Floyd or Davon Jefferson???
A: I didn't know he had a Mercedes, but that might be something to ask his agent.
Davon Jefferson is definitely happier than Floyd because no matter what transpired, Floyd's demonstrated repeatedly he will look the other way when it comes to taking players with questionable academic records and do whatever it takes to win.
Well, let's look at this academic thing objectively. First, about 50% to 70% of students graduate anyway, depending on the school. So that leaves a lot of "students" who either don't get it or decide they don't want it. So an athlete having a questionable academic record fits in with about one-half of the student body. And a college basketball coach's main job is to win (which means keeping his kids academically eligible).
Scott,
Sorry for bringing this subject up again.
It seems like the Lloyd Lake/Bush problem is just not going to go away. Reggie asked for the case to be dismissed and the judge said no. Even if he had said yes, I am sure Lake would of appealed the decision and started the proceedings again.
The trial is supposed to start in March 2009.
Lake and his team are now saying that they are going to Subpoena Pete Carroll, Todd Mcnair, and just about anyone involved with the USC football program, to testify. Hell, maybe even you Scott, haha. The story I get from USC fans is that Lake can't play his "evidence" because it would incriminate him, and this whole thing is a waste of time. If this is so, why hasn't Reggie just gone to court, blown lake out of the water, and be done with it?
It seems to me that the further this goes on, the worse it makes Reggie/USC look. If he's innocent then let's just get it over with. Why did he pay off the other guys? What was going on? Here's my question(s):
1. Do you ever see any end to this? Which year? 2010? 2011?
2. Do you think it will get to the point of Pete Carroll testifying in court? And how would that affect recruiting/spring practice 2009?
3. You have posted that USC could be made to "vacate" wins...would that include the NC? If so, would Oklahoma be NC instead of USC?
4. What's your take on all this? USC and PC claim they had no idea of what was going on...yet they knew about the $100,000 a month condo or whatever Matt was staying in that his day was paying for. Do you see alot of info coming out under oath?
Any help is much appreciated!
Bush settled with Michaels because he was a well-respected and well-connected man in his community. Hence, he is credible. Bush took a calculated risk of not settling with Lake, who is a convicted felon. He figured that no one would believe a convicted felon. However, the convicted felon began to realize that Bush may not come on board, and started taping Reggie's stepfather in numerous conversations, and preserving other evidence. Contrary to the post above, I have not seen any indication that Lake risked self-incrimination by pursuing a civil case against Bush.
However, with only $300K at stake, but with millions in the bank, Bush's calculated risk may backfire - not necessarily on him, but perhaps with USC. After all, Bush is only economically exposed to a $300K claim. He could have paid that off with the annual interest he is making on his NFL salary/signing bonus.
In the Don Yaeger book (which I am 2/3 way through), one thing that really troubled me (among other alleged facts) was that USC, including Pete Carroll, consented to Bush working as an intern for marketing rep Mike Ornstein. This basically allowed Ornstein to get the inside track to landing Bush as a client after he left USC. Ornstein is also a felon, albeit several years ago. It is alleged in the book that Bush's family was receiving handouts from Michaels/Lake and Ornstein at the same time. "Feeding from the trough" was how it was described.
In the book, there is an allegation that McNair knew Reggie and his family were staying at an expensive hotel. However, beyond that, I have not seen anything that would directly show that USC knew or should have known that Bush (and/or his family) was receiving money and benefits from Michaels/Lake.
For USC fans, I do note that the vast majority of allegations against Bush and his family occurred after the Oklahoma game in Jan 2005. Thus, there likely is insufficient evidence to strip USC of that Nat'l Championship.
Still, just to be safe, USC should win another one this year!
Fight On!
In the civil law field, a defendant who settles with a plaintiff, even if he believes the plaintiff has no case, is called settling for nuisance value. Now, most of us would not consider $300,000 nuisance money, but in Bush's case it is. For the life of me I do not understand why Bush has allowed this thing to take on an even bigger life of its own than it warrants, and just pay off the ex-felon. Even if Bush goes to trial and wins, he loses i.e. the expense of the trial, the bad publicity, not to mention dragging in ancillary players such as Carroll.
Ricky Irvins, you should do even a basic search online before posting ridiculous claims... unless your whole point of posting them is to try and give them credence.
It took me all of 6 seconds to double-check the Leinart/Jarrett apartment "scandal" - the rent was not quite $3,900 a month, slightly less than the $100,000 a month you floated. Please. Get real.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2486792
Ricky Irvins, you should do even a basic search online before posting ridiculous claims... unless your whole point of posting them is to try and get them credence. It took me all of 6 seconds to double-check the Leinart/Jarrett apartment "scandal" - the rent was not quite $3,900 a month, slightly less than the $100,000 a month you floated. Please. Get over yourself.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2486792
and thanks Lawyer john too...sorry this is dragging on for so long it's hard to know what to believe
yeah me neither lawyer john...just pay whatever and move on..
Hey USC mike...thanks for the good info.
Hey "defender90CA" thanks for the immature, unwarranted hate. Never saw that on a football board before.
Sorry for the typo I meant 10,000, obviously not 100,000...jeezis
RI:
Let's see:
hypocrisy
sanctimonious
joke: unwarranted hate? Please...
A hypo or a typo?>Joke! HAH!
Bush's behavior in this matter suggests that the advice he is receiving now is no better than that he received which led to the charges, including that from his "Dad."
Settle this thing and move on. No matter what the outcome, Bush's reputation has been tarnished, if not permanently at least for a time. But his apparent willingness to throw USC under the bus for this will dog him forever. Wake up already. Show some loyalty to the school and program that got you there. The term "Bush league" seems appropriate here.
Fine, RI, so the extra zero was a typo. So where did you get the bs you mentioned about Pete Carroll "knowing" what Matt Leinart/DJ/Matt's dad were paying for rent? Why would Pete Carroll know that???
You start your post here by apologizing to Scott for bringing it up again, but you're just trolling. It's obvious.
I finished the book. The authors characterized the inability to settle with Lake as a clash of egos. Lake felt disrespected because he, his mom and sister all lent Reggie and his family money. At a minimum, they felt Reggie should pay back the money. Their attorney sent a demand letter for $3.2 million, alleging fraud that Bush never intended to follow through on his promise to join and promote the fledgling sports agency.
On the other hand, Bush's attorney made a take-it or leave-it offer of $100K. That was insulting to the Lakes because Bush received about $300K in cash and benefits from Michaels and Lake. The book claimed that Michaels was reportedly paid $200K to $300K.
Bush's attorney contacted the FBI and labeled the Lakes and their attorney as extortionists. The FBI investigated, Mrs. Lake testified before the grand jury, but the investigation was ultimately closed without any action. Frankly, the Lakes had the right to try to settle the case, although Lake went to far when he initially threatened to reveal intimate secrets confided to him by LaMar Griffin (Bush's stepdad).
In theory, Lake could face charges of illegal recording and acting as an unlicensed sports agent, but, to me, the passage of time indicates otherwise.
The authors note that Bush faces the possibility of a tax evasion charge if he did not report the monies allegedly received from Michaels and the Lakes.
Bush has yet to be deposed in the civil case. My hunch is that now that the judge has set a trial date and ordered the depositions to go forward, the case is ripe for settlement. Having publicly denied any impropriety, Reggie does not want to be placed under oath and forced to admit taking money, if that is true. If he denies it under oath, and it is conclusively proven otherwise, there is the potential for perjury charges. However, if he settles, the court of public opinion (if it hasn't already) will surmise that Bush was on the take.
Nevertheless, having failed to nip this in the bud, Bush ought to settle it now and avoid going under oath.
The timeline reveals the following prior to the Jan. 2005 NC game against Oklahoma:
In Sept/Oct '04, Griffin agreed with Lake to start this agency and said that Reggie was on board. The book alleges that Reggie, the Griffins and Lake agreed to act as a sports agent for Reggie, and others, and that Reggie would have an ownership interest. Lake turned to Michaels, a business developer for the Sycuan tribe. The Griffins sat in Michaels' suite during a Chargers game to discuss the agency.
In November 2004, Griffin again confirms with Lake that they will participate in the sports agency, and that Reggie will be the anchor client. Reggie later met with Lake and Michaels at a restaurant, and confirmed his involvement. Bush thereafter asked for $3,000 in living expenses, as an advance against future income from the agency.
In December 2004, the Griffins ask Michaels for $28,000 to pay off past debts. They supposedly used Reggie's commitment as leverage.
Then the next entry on the timeline is USC-Oklahoma game in Jan. 2005. To me, the alleged commitment by Bush is troublesome, but may not lead to him being declared ineligible for the NC game if he did not actually receive any benefits at that point. After all, it was all talk up to that point in time. The exception would be if Reggie actually received $3,000 in monthly cash prior to the NC game. However, the book does not provide any proof that such was paid.
According to the book, Reggie did not get any extra cash or benefits until Feb 2005, when he allegedly received $13,000 to buy the Impala.
As for USC's alleged knowledge, Carroll received an anonymous e-mail in May 2005 to inquire as to why the Griffins moved from an apartment to a nice house. Carroll spoke to Griffin about whether a written lease existed for the house. It also alleges that in March 2005, McNair went out on the town with Bush, Lake, and Michaels, and that McNair knew that Bush was spending the night at the Manchester Hyatt. The authors noted that there is no evidence that McNair knew that Michaels paid for Bush's room according to a receipt provided to the authors.
Other than those two instances, there is no other allegation that USC knew about Bush's arrangement with New Era and the receipt of payments and benefits.
However, the 2005 undefeated regular season and the Rose Bowl loss to Texas (Bush's fumble being delayed karma?) are subject to a finding that Bush was ineligible for receiving allegedly $300,000 in cash and benefits.
Finally, the tapes supplied by Lake contain damning admissions by Griffin, but the few conversations that he taped with Reggie are inconclusive. What is eye-opening is that (1) Griffin claimed to Lake that he was unaware that Reggie was taking money from Lake, and that (2) Reggie told Lake that his stepdad promised Reggie's participation without Reggie's consent. Thus, the stepdad is claiming that he didn't know what Reggie was doing, and Reggie claimed the same thing about his father.
Fascinating stuff, uscmike. Thanks for condensing the book for us a la Reader's Digest. And all the more reason for Bush to settle this darn thing, and do it now. The public's memory is short (read: Colorado and Bryant), and this will blow over if the truth is not disclosed.