HOUSEGUEST 2: REGGIE BUSH'S MOM EDITION

The NCAA/PAC-10/USC will complete its “Investigations” and finds no violations. Every Mid-Major out west better watch out becasue has we all know, somebody has to pay.

twinshawk is correct, Fresno State better be covering their arse.

The two fine USC blogs will have absolutely zero to say on this one. Dont look for a report too soon…

Michael Michaels has GOT to be a fake name. If it’s not, I’m changing my name to Mark Marx. Maybe – just maybe – I’ll get myself a nice little 2/1 out beyond Thunderdrome.

Actually it is a little known fact that real estate agents in Southern California will let you try out a house for a few months before financing is arranged. Then if you decide that the payments are going to be too much, you can just give the house back and move out. It’s something that’s available to everybody.

Early winner of comment of the day Phil.

Blogs are fun, aren’t they? You can just dress up and play make believe journalist—-and many fall for it. Comments like this make it hard to take your seriously:

“A more likely suspect in the case since we’ve got some ample evidence for it. Bush’s mom, stepfather, and brother all piled into the house on Reggie’s dime, lived there for a year without considering the potential complications, and fled the house like Irish Travelers once reporters came around sniffing out the real owners of the house”.

Tell ya what, Scoop. Produce some factual evidence that they DIDN’T pay fair-market-rent—-and you’ve got a story AND a JR journalism badge for the day.

BTW——Ever tried packing up a 3000 square ft house? It’s not the same as that efficiency you most likely dwell in, trust me.

One more thing, there, Colombo——Ya think maybe the Griffins had a one year lease and the move was synchronized with Reggies freshly inked multi-million $$ Subway deal?

Nah, couldn’t be—-that’d make your blog too dull.

Does Adrian Peterson realize that he could have gone for much more than a new car?

The NCAA/PAC-10/USC will complete its “Investigations” and finds no violations. Every Mid-Major out west better watch out becasue has we all know, somebody has to pay.

It’ll get pinned on Logan Young. Three more years of probation for Alabama.

As dull as talk radio perhaps? Hmm…where could I pay thousands to NOT work in radio but have a shiny certificate..if only there were some way to do it…some link embedded in a commenter’s name…

And our middle name actually is Columbo, by the way.

Which are the two fine USC blogs in question Heath?

It looks like insideusc and student body right have not been updated in awhile. Boi is more about other stuff than football. HP isn’t a strictly USC site, and he’s got it covered. I’m just curious as to who is being accused of ignoring the story.

And to pick a nit, this past season was Reggie’s junior year, not his senior.

Michael? Is you Reggie’s Cousin?

And no, Michael, the deal couldn’t have been synced up with Reggie’s Subway deal because Reggie signed with a completely different marketeer.

Damn, Orson, I didn’t know you guys were going for a Pulitzer for Investigative Reporting over here. But I tell you what, I’ve got a hot lead that could land you on the Page 13 of the BFE Times-Picayune: Michael cannot distinguish the funny from the not funny. Don’t worry about crediting me with the info, just throw me a couple dollars after that Pulitzer check comes in.

mANNNNNNN, Micheal is seriously aggressive. Mite want to release some pent up anger once in a while. I’ll bet he hasn’t been that angry since BBM got stiffed at the Oscar’s.
No pun intended.

Whatever happened, NCAA rules state that an institution can be held to account if improper benefits were paid to a student-athlete’s family, not simply the athlete.

Michael’s heated defense notwithstanding, if the Bushes were paying fair market value to rent Michael Michaels’ crib, why not just say so, instead of moving out as soon as someone has the gumption to ask you about it?

OK, does this deal even come close to the one Eric Dickerson had with SMU? Was there a Hummer involved (the vehicle, please) like when Lebron’s mom got one for him with no payment due for awhile?

And what has Miles Brand-Identification had to say? This is not in the purview of the NCAA? Are you fellahs gonna have to rename One-Pete to Cheatin’ Pete, and let up on Cheatypants McSweatervest?

Now for the fun: If they have to forfeit the 2004 title, does it go to Auburn or Oklahoma?

I have something to say about this, actually, but I’m not a fine USC blog. I’m more of an “amateur varietal, dabbling in overpowering tastes and aromas and desperately in need of the kind of maturity a decade might add”. So what I’m trying to say is I’m a crappy merlot.

Bushgate ’06: Brewing shitstorm or dissipating afternoon gas?

Michael called you “a journalist” and “Scoop” in the same comment. Apparently, the gloves have come off.

My take? USC is waaaay too important to the NCAA right now. I think this will be deposited in the memory banks and will resurface with extra-hard punishment the next time USC is in the news. Oh, and UCLA will most likely play the part of Alabama to USC’s Tennessee…not Fresno State.

Somebody had their Obtuse Flakes© for breakfast this morning, it seems. But hey, if Hunter S. can be considered a journalist, why not Orson?

IAR, you think? I would guess one of the directionals or a ‘__________ State’ would be the one getting the NCAA bitch-hand.

I bet it all blows by.

California is a liberal state, and the NCAA will interpret its rules liberally…

Meanwhile, Michael apparently needs some horse tranquilizer.

How does this imply USC is cheating? did they have unfair recruiting? no. Did it make RB play better? no.

So please don’t call them cheaters

You’re a journalist so long as you have dealings with giant lizards in bars. It’s in the rulebook.

Phil,

Eh just a bit of fan coming out of me. The more I read about this thing, its shady, but then again the whole agent thing is slimy to begin with.

Jumped the shark a bit.

drj, by your line of reasoning, paying any player will not improve their on the field performance, so it isn’t cheating.

I agree this looks shady. My prediciton is that everybody is going to continue to clam up and the whole thing will eventually blow over. The NCAA or Pac 10 can’t really make anybody to talk if they don’t want to. The Griffins and Michaels don’t have to turn over thier financial or other records to a newspaper just because the paper asks them to. Nor do they probably have to talk to the NCAA. Remember the issues here deal with NCAA rules rather than the law. A lease on a house or a private contract is not a public document.

It does not look good if they go that route. But remember things were looking worse for tOSU last year when Clarett started slinging accusations in the press. But once everybody got quiet the Buckeyes escaped without sanctions.

Heath: no problem, I understand the fan reaction. Most of the ND fans seem to be acting with rationality and class, unlike the freaks from a certain public university who are making fools of themselves as usual.

Did anyone see him on ESPN.com? I swear he said his fmaily “did nothing wrong” and “That’s the funny thing” every time a quesiton was posed to him. I’m no CIA interrogater, but I’ve got a hunch we was evading the truth.

The reason AP got his Lexus and Bush’s family got a house is because they knew damn well they could get away with it.

Riiiight…the day the NCAA puts sanctions on USC is the day Fat Phil stops eating (drinking?) gravy by the gallon on a daily basis.

“Michael? Is you Reggie’s Cousin”?

Erik—-Is you an english teacher?

“And no, Michael, the deal couldn’t have been synced up with Reggie’s Subway deal because Reggie signed with a completely different marketeer”

Do the math. They moved in last April. They moved out this April. The NFL draft is EVERY April. Even without inking a deal it’s fair to assume that reggie knew he’d be a high draft choice last April.

“if the Bushes were paying fair market value to rent Michael Michaels’ crib, why not just say so, instead of moving out as soon as someone has the gumption to ask you about it”?

Fair question that no one has an answer for right now with hearing just one side of the story. I can yell you this. I’ve moved cross country twice from homes of similar size—-and NO WAY in hell that job gets done in one day. I had plenty of help and it was a 3 day job for me.

It is, however, within the realm of possibility that they were already packed and ready to leave when the reporter arrived.

Of course, the haters will read into it what they choose while reasonable people allow it to unfold.

You know I think you people are a bundle of work, and you all should be ashamed of yourselves. This man is obviously not guilty of anything, give the man a break if you don’t want the man to get his money try somethin else. Reggie Bush is a true class ACT man give him a break he deserves it, No Reggie Bush no fans because that is the only person they care about man 4 real,I think Reggie Bush is one of a kind and should be given a break he just didn’t know man.

Dudes — USC can still get hit because athlete’s families count, too — not just the athletes.

And the first thing I thought of was Antonio Langham. 1995, when the NCAA awarded the State of Mississippi a gift with three “wins” against Alabama in ’93. The only legit victory that year? The Gator Bowl win against UNC. Man, I love sanctions.

#1. they obviously did something shady

#2. if they tried hard enough, the ncaa would be able to find out what it was, track it and expose it

#3. there’s no way in hell the ncaa is going to put the barry bonds treatment on usc and its most recent heisman winner.

someone has to pay, indeed, but it ain’t gonna be the trojans.

File this one under Large Broom, Big Rug.

As for moving out that quick, if you came from a smaller house and were only going to live in a large house for 1 year, you could easily only have enough stuff in there for a 1 day move. And, anyone with Bush’s payday could hire enough movers to do it in one day even if it was stuffed to the gills.

Even though I am not a Notre Dame fan, this situation stinks big time, because either:

1) Reggie Bush and family are dumb and did not think they would be caught renting a home from an agent/sleazeball/hanger-on. Even if they paid market rent, the appearance of impropriety is as apparent as Weis’ beer belly gut. Or,

2) Reggie Bush and family are cheaters and violated NCAA regulations, for lousy, ill-gotten, lucre.

Either way you look at it, Bush and family are either stupid or cheaters.

This gives Dr. Evil Weis, and his Housfrau ucla Fan a big opportunity to scream: “Haaaaaaaa, Haaaaaaaa, Haaaaaa” until they are to tired to do it anymore…(apologies for the Austin Powers reference…I saw the great movie again this past weekend)

First things first…no one should question the journalism credentials of the good doctor. I have a bookshelf full of his writings and they are generally more accurate than the shit written by straight journalists. The fact that they are more entertaining is just icing.

On to more important matters: To the extent that the Griffin’s received housing at a value below market, they’d likely have to calim it as unearned income. If they don’t, they could be considered to be evading taxes. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t take a hit on tax evasion to protect a university. Also, I’m not sure the property owner is going to clam up now that he’s got nothing left in this deal. Whatever, we all know this shit goes on, everyone try and hang on to their monocles while being so aghast.

Also, one nit-pick…it’s Lionel Hutz, esq. His entire history is linked in my name.

For the record, I certainly didn’t mean to cast any aspersions on the Good Doctor (may he RIP). More of a reference to Swindle being of the gonzo-type of journalist, rather than an erstwhile Upton Sinclair. We’re here to be entertained, after all (a fact apparently lost on some m&m’s).

From what I hear this morning the fam needs to get the story straight. They were leasing the house until Reggie could buy them a new one. And they were moving out because they found one. But the 24hr network of sports (who’s name shall not be spoken)is reporting the deal fell thru. Why do you move out if you don’t have a house?
And why would Reg not comment on who was paying the payments?

Anyone remember Antonio Langham as the HACK mentioned.
The NCAA has strict yet randomly enforced rules on Athletes and their families receiving gifts.

They aren’t that randomly enforced.

The general rule of thumb seems to be the likelihood of rules being enforced is inversely relative to the guilty school’s importance within the NCAA athletic community.

There are some modifiers to school reputation.
For Big Ten schools, multiply reputation by 1.5.
For SEC schools, multiply by .75.
For Notre Dame, multiply by 10. As long as nobody is killed (on camera), it didn’t happen.

Not that it matters except us in Bama Land, but Tank Black involved tens of thousands of dollars, vehicles for on campus players, agent all over campus, while Antonio Langham supposedly got paid $400.00 the night of winning the Sugar Bowl over Miami and winning the National Championship, and “signing” an agreement with an agent on a napkin at a bar……
  Surely this is at least as bad as Langham and ought to get USC lost scholarships, forfeiture of 9 victories and 5 years of probation. That’s what happened to Bama on Langham…..

People say college athelets should get some kind of stipend. I disagree, the stipend they get is a college education. free schooling in exchange for football. If they leave early for the draft(NBA,NFL) they should be held financialy responsible for the tuition. As for their families,they should be ashamed of themselves for expecting free houses,cars,money just because an athelete makes it big.Some of these people go broke supporting their “posse”.

Everyone is making money off of these athletes but the athletes. The schools are making millions off of these sports-The LEAST the school can do is give them a free ride. So what if they get a car or some cash everyone else is getting paid! And don’t even pretend that the school’s give a crap about actually educating these kids. If that was the deal they shouldn’t even be able to draft until AFTER they have completed 4 years of college.

But…Reggie’s parents should be ashamed of themselves, though. How are you going to use your kid like that? What if he would have gotten hurt or something-who the heck do they think was going to pay for that quarter million dollar house?

Well, USC won yesterday so they can give back that trophy because we all know they squished Michigan!