I don't know if this is old news, but Yahoo sports is reporting news that Reggie Bush and family had accepted major benefits which included cash over the last couple of years while playing for the trojans.

 

This is story apparently is the result of an eight month investigation and the whole "rent free house" scandle was just the tip of the iceberg.

Here is the first part of the article..........talking about having details!

 

An eight-month Yahoo! Sports investigation has revealed that Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush and his family appear to have accepted financial benefits worth more than $100,000 from marketing agents while Bush was playing at the University of Southern California.

 

The benefits, which could lead to NCAA sanctions for USC and retroactively cost Bush his college eligibility and Heisman, were supplied by two groups attempting to woo Bush as a client. Current Bush marketing agent Mike Ornstein and one of Ornstein's employees were involved. So were Michael Michaels and Lloyd Lake, who attempted to launch an agency called New Era Sports & Entertainment, pursuing Bush as their first client.

 

Bush declined comment to Yahoo! Sports, and Ornstein denied any wrongdoing on his and Bush's behalf.

 

But documents and on-the-record interviews with sources close to the situation reveal that Bush and his family appear to have received financial benefits from Ornstein and a business associate. Those benefits include:

 

$595.20 in round-trip airfare from San Diego to Oakland in November 2005 for Bush's stepfather, LaMar Griffin, his mother, Denise Griffin and younger brother to attend the USC-California game at Berkeley. The fees were charged to the credit card of Jamie Fritz, an employee of Ornstein. The document detailing the charges was provided by Lee Pfeifer, an estranged business associate of Ornstein's.

$250.65 for limousine transportation from the Oakland airport to the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco that November weekend for the Bush family, charged to Fritz, according to a document. Ornstein acknowledged both he and Bush's family stayed at the luxury hotel.

Additionally, New Jersey memorabilia dealer Bob DeMartino alleges that Ornstein provided:

 

Suits for Bush's stepfather and brother to wear during the Dec. 10, 2005 Heisman ceremony in New York, a makeover for his mother for the event and limousine transportation;

Weekly payments of at least $1,500 to the Bush family.

Documents and multiple sources also link Bush and his family to receiving benefits from New Era's financial backers, including:

 

$623.63 for a hotel stay by Bush at the Venetian Resort & Casino in Las Vegas from March 11-13, 2005, charged to Michaels, according to a document signed by Bush.

$1,574.86 for a stay by Bush at the Manchester Hyatt in San Diego from March 4-6, 2005, paid for by Michaels, according to a hotel document, a hotel employee and a source.

Approximately $13,000 to Bush from New Era to purchase and modify a car, three sources said.

As reported by Yahoo! Sports in April, $54,000 in rent-free living for a year at Michaels' $757,500 home in Spring Valley, Calif., according to Michaels and San Diego attorney Brian Watkins.

Also from previous Yahoo! reports, $28,000 from Michaels to help Bush's family settle pre-existing debt, according to Michaels and Watkins.

Thousands of dollars in spending money to both Bush and his family from the prospective agents, according to multiple sources.

73 Nice find. Tsk Tsk Tsk No Heismen?

If they get more than a slap on the wrist, I'd be suprised. USC always reserves plenty of wiggle room.

If they get USC for this. We will be sitting pretty well. Look for future Trojans such as Marc Tyler to decommit, and try to get back on the Irish train.

i hate to say it but, i have the feeling they will get off. just like ohio st. i saw the whole article and yeah it is just too good to be true..its bs but thats just the way it is.

They got off once on this Reggie Bush deal, already...I don't think they get off a second time. If they do, we need to form a new NCAA body that actually believes in accountability and playing by the rules of fair play and fair clock rules.

Believe me, this one isn't going to be so easy to get off on. I think the NCAA comes down on the Trojans this time which could lead to the loss of schollies and maybe some decommits.

 

Tyler was mentioned, but how nice would it be if Galippo re-opened?

Tyler

Wilson

Gallippo

 

 

A man can dream...can't he?

This is just one in a series of violations that came to light last winter and early spring. Despite numerous examples of a lack of institutional control regarding the USC football program, there has been no decision handed down by the Pac-10 or the NCAA. Why is it taking so long for these investigations to conclude? If it were Baylor or Indiana, you can be sure that they would have already been severly disciplined. I tend to agree with the previous conclusions. Since it involves a high-profile program such as USC, they'll probably end up getting a "slap on the wrist." It certainly hasn't had the negative impact on their 2006 recruiting that I expected. I was hoping that Marc Tyler andChris Galippo would end up de-commiting (personally, I'd rather Notre Dame end up with the later, than the former).

 

Subway Alum - MA

ND Fan Since 1952

a slap on the wrist at most

 

schools have a duty to know, but if you are usc you argue that it did not place on campus and it was about impossible to find out unless RB told them

 

the NCAA will not come down hard, likely we wont even hear what USC is told, but it wont be anything more than a slap on the wrist

Alabama is / was a prestige program, and they got nuked.

 

The big question is whether Reggie is the only violator. If he's the tip of the iceberg, and some other revelation comes out, then... BOOM.

 

USC may get a "wrist slap" in terms of schollie loss or bowl game play... but if he is found in violation, doesn't USC HAVE to concede all games he played? And forfeit their one NC?

 

I also don't see a bunch of decommits unless NCAA sanctions are on the order of not being able to play bowl games.

 

I don't see Tyler decommitting... Gallippo seems more likely.

i would love to see USC finally get nailed but i also think that they'll get off.

i would love to see USC finally get nailed but i also think that they'll get off.

I have to agree with russ on this one.

 

Right now I could care less what happens to USC, my mind is soley focused on beating Michigan and hopefully having a few new recruits commit after a great victory. I also don't see this having that big of an effect in USC's recruiting.

 

Trust me, in a couple years Tyler and Galippo will be wishing they were Irish.

The two issues that were interesting in the article were the statement the one of the assistant coaches knew about the gifts prior to the NC game but did not do anything and the PC learned of the house but never followed up. USC will claim they knew nothing. In the end NCAA will turn a blind eye and let the trojans off.

 

I do think the NCAA might find that Bush was eneligible last year and forfiet all SC games. It really does not hurt SC that much because they lost in the NC game but the NCAA can act tough. Kinda like with the Wolverine BBall program. Of course, it took them years to conclude the investigation and do anything.

BIG trouble? The worst that will happen is Snoop Dog and Nick Lachey will be banned from the locker room during pre-game for 2 weeks.