Mystery Role
I've known Louis Johnson since he was a sportswriter at the Long Beach Press-Telegram and often sought his opinion on high school prospects. I hadn't seen him for a few years when he suddenly started showing up everywhere O.J. Mayo went, like his official visit, where he escorted Mayo with the basketball staff.
He also became a fixture at Mayo's pickup games. Naturally, I became suspicious. So one day at USC, I made a comment to him about being a runner and he took great offense to my remark. He said he was merely a close friend of Rodney Guillory.
If I was suspicious, shouldn't USC have been?
Hmmm, maybe Johnson told the truth to Scott and lied to ESPN as part of a vendetta? Also, Scott does not show that anyone at USC knew about Johnson. Moreover, Scott does not say that he brought it to the attention of USC in the form of hard-hitting questions. Indeed, if Scott knew Guillory was involved, then why didn't he press the issue then. Even Johnson admits that no one at USC knew about extra benefits. Why be a journalist when you can spread innuendo and rumor?
How do I put this delicately. Ahem, Scott, by nature you are a suspicious individual. Probably also overly self-centered, overly defensive, and possibly even a little paranoid.
That said, and I know you are man enough to take it because you discount anything said on your blog, perhaps SC has better things to do than monitor the acquaintances its athletes strike up during the season.
I mean, I would resent somebody looking over my shoulder monitoring who I was hanging with, so it does become a right to privacy matter as well. And, besides, at some point the school just has to trust its athletes. If the kids want to get into trouble (and who didn't in their teens), it is not too difficult a task. But it is difficult to police, and this is the criteria by which the schools should be judged.
So, you were scooped by some girl at ESPN when the whole story was developing right under your nose?
Gee Scott, you're so perceptive and loyal to SC, why didn't you inform the athletic department? Were you afraid of Johnson? Did he threaten you? Shame on him.
please drink more of the Scott Wolf Haterade, Loco...it might do you well...probably because Scott wouldn't negotiate with Louis like Kelly Naqi did....
but then Loco...what would you know about journalism...
Mike:
Have you ever thought about perhaps moving on with your (sad excuse for a) life? Let's see:
1) You come on a Scott Wolf blog and constantly attack and insult him.
2) You constantly claim Scott doesn't know anything and does not provide a valuable service, yet you do not add anything to this board other than complaints about how other readers post too many questions, or you do not like what they write.
3) You go to the trouble of actually setting up an account to post on Scott's blog.
4) You spend time and energy posting on a blog of someone you claim you do not respect.
So if Scott is so bad and you do not respect him, why are you such a hypocrite that you go so far as to spend so much time reading what he says, creating an account to post on his blog, then constantly make comments on his blog? You clearly have nothing better to add than Scott, yet you keep attacking him.
If you don't like what Scott writes, do not read it. Do not write on his blog and do not keep making a nuisance of yourself. Do not keep acting like a jealous high school loser geek who attacks the readers because they ask more interesting questions that get answered or ask more questions than you are allowed to ask.
You are just a bitter, jealous man and a hypocrite. Move on.
Well, JamesUSC99, let me simply say that I respectfully disagree with your criticism of uscmike if that is who your 'Mike' reference is referring to in your critique. I don't believe uscmike has to defend himself. I believe most readers find him insightful, thought-provoking and well-spoken (well-written).
And since I sometimes poke fun at Scott, I suppose you could point some of your sharp words at me as well. But, hey, this is America, and uscmike and I will defend your right to write bad things about us, if that is how your spirit moves you.
"WolfIsDaMan said:
please drink more of the Scott Wolf Haterade, Loco...it might do you well...probably because Scott wouldn't negotiate with Louis like Kelly Naqi did...."
Unless you were trying to be sardonic, that is one of the most embarrassingly idiotic rebuttals ever posted on this blog.
JamesUSC99, I have to agree with what Lawyer John is saying. I don't think that uscmike has been more critical of SW or USC, more than any of us have been. Like a lot of you, I have taken my shots at both SW and some of the coaches (current and former coaches) on PC staff, but that does not make me any less of respectful of SW or USC. I honestly cannot think of a time where uscmike has shown any real sense of not being a USC fan.
Without doubt, this whole Mayo & Bush situations are brining up a lot of questions (and some doubt) in the USC community. However, I believe that all of us die-hard, "true" members of the Trojan family and community will continue to support the land of "Troy". That's my worthless eighth of a cent opinion (use to be two cent opinion, but with price of gas, who can afford it) Fight On!
JamesUSC99....don't be such a sycophant. This is not a SW fan club site.
The SC beat writer gets scooped by a reporter from CT, and then has the cajones to say "no, wait, I was susicious too!" If you were suspicious, Wolfie, then where was your story? Why didn't you investigate further? All high profile hoops players talk to runners. Worthless post. Fight on, USCMike!
I echo the sentiments from above. Why go after uscmike? That was kind of out of left field dude.
"Have you ever thought about perhaps moving on with your (sad excuse for a) life?" I mean, really? I felt like I was reading some "Bizarro Inside USC" post.
I'll tell you what. Take a deep breath, count to ten, and think about for a minute. I think you'll find you were out of line.
Fight on!
I have to agree with James here. Mike is board lint. Or should that be blog lint?
Mike does get upset when other posters get attention and consistently attacks Scott even though it is Scott's blog. I have to be honest, if you don't like what Scott says, don't read his blog. It's a choice, not a requirement. If there's a better SC source out there, go read that; no one is stopping you.
We all have a choice of what we read.
Thanks to those above who offered kinds words of support. Fight On, indeed!
James, I don't know why you resorted to a personal attack on me (my so-called "sad life," and "a jealous high school loser geek who attacks the readers" among other epithets). By the way, after your rant, do you note the irony of that latter comment?
Maybe that is just your nature to judge others. I don't know you, just like you don't know me. I have no problem with your criticism of me, if you think my comments were too harsh. But, if you have the right to comment, then so do I and everyone else, right? That is the beauty of a free country. Thus, it makes no sense to tell me or anyone else to "Do not write on his blog and do not keep making a nuisance of yourself." That statement is utterly ridiculous.
In the past, I did make a few comments (and eventually asked Scott a question) about Fluor Tower's multi-part questions about Mitch Mustain. I was called to a carpet by a few people for that one at the time. I had a few who supported me in asking about the apparent double-standard. In hindsight, I should have not asked Scott why he allowed such multi-part questions. It was petty. It's his blog, he can obviously answer whatever questions he wants. But, man, that was SEVERAL MONTHS ago. Let it go.
As for this blog, I find it entertaining. I am a USC grad and a huge USC fan. The entertainment comes not just from Scott's posts, but from the comments of others. I always thank Scott for the open forum. I am glad he has the blog. I am sorry, but I don't intend to "move on." If you don't like my comments, take your own advice and don't read them.
I, along with many others, have been critical of certain posts made by Scott. (Others have been much more ruthless in their comments than me, by the way.) Scott sometimes makes provocative statements just to stir the pot. He is a big boy, and can handle criticism. At least, he does not censor his readers like Dohn does.
Fight On!
Trojan in DC.........Again, this isn't a SW fan club site. You don't have to agree with everything SW writes to enjoy the site. That's part of the fun of sites like this. Scott puts controversial information out there. Look at some of the other Trojan sites. They are real boring reporting only positive things about SC.