Answer Monday, the sequel's sequel
These answers are sponsored by Roman Meal bread, which never loses institutional control.
Q: Were you ever able to get to the bottom of CELL PHONEGATE?
I heard directly from someone in the basketball program that a lost/missing/stolen cell phone of a significant player caused major distractions before the Trojans tipped-off in March Madness. Players were fighting over the phone instead of focusing on the game. At one point Coach Floyd was pulled into the mix and allegedly asked the victim "If he tried calling the phone." I guess it shows the priorities of 19 & 20 year old kids.
A: No, I haven't been able to look into it yet, but the O.J. Mayo case kind of makes it moot doesn't it? Nothing surprises me regarding basketball.
Q: About how many scholarships did we have available last Feb. that were not given out and thus saved for future use?
A: There were at least five extras, but two went to walk-ons during spring practice. There might be more after this semester if anyone does not survive academically.
Q: I have noticed that you have been quite evasive the past two or three open forums when readers have asked you questions about Mark Sanchez's off the field activities. I am not sure whether this is due to legal reasons or fear of retaliation/fallout, so let me ask you a question where there could only be one answer - Other than his arrest for sexual assault by the LAPD, how many times has Sanchez been handcuffed or detained by law enforcement agencies, whether it was USC's Department of Public Safety, the Orange County Sheriff, LA County Sheriff, or any other entity, since coming to USC?
A: I don't recall being evasive. I have no fears of fallout or retaliation. Perhaps some of the questions were just ridiculous. The only time I know of a legal problem was the alleged sexual assault. I've previously written about an incident at a party in Orange County where Brian Cushing punched a friend of Sanchez, but Sanchez was not involved in the fight.
Scott:
You are being evasive again. What about the time Sanchez was detained for vandalizing a fraternity house?
If someone vandalized a frat house, would it even be noticeable?
Sanchez wasn't detained, wasn't put in handcuffs, was not arrested. He questioned at the scene along with everyone else and told to go home. Geez, get the facts straight.
Sanchez WAS detained on the row by DPS. Fact.
For the record, I was the reporter who broke the story on the fraternity house incident. Here's what I wrote: ``Last month, campus security detained him after he allegedly broke a window at a fraternity party but did not make any arrests.''
I forgot I wrote this when I answered the question because I was busy with Mayo stuff. It's a joke to say I was evasive. My question is why you are obsessing on these incidents two years later?