April 29, 2006
Bush family linked to agents; received $100K cash
An attorney for the agents looking to sue Reggie Bush & his family have said that Bush's step-father, Lamar Griffith, was a founding member of New Era Sports & Entertainment, and received cash payments of $100,000 from New Era since late 2004.
Reggie Bush's parents received more than $100,000 in cash disbursements since late 2004 from investors in the sports marketing agency that sought to represent their son, according to a letter written by the investors' attorney to the Bush family.Attorney Brian Watkins said yesterday Bush's parents, LaMar and Denise Griffin, asked for the money in part to resolve financial problems. Watkins said that sum included an initial payment of about $30,000 to help start up the agency, New Era Sports and Entertainment.
Brian Watkins, the attorney, representing New Era Sports & Entertainment, also said that Bush & his mother met with New Era and that Bush sent a text message promising to repay his family's debts once he turned pro.
If these reports can be verified -- and (given that New Era filing a lawsuit) I'm inclined to believe that they can be-- then Bush would have been ineligible for at least a portion of the 2004 season and all of the 2005 season.
If it can be shown the Griffins received "extra benefits," Bush might be deemed retroactively ineligible and USC might have to forfeit games from last season, even if the school knew nothing about the violations.Ron Barker, a Pacific 10 associate commissioner for enforcement, said that such cases can be difficult for investigators looking at a number of questions.
"We have to hear the whole story," he said Friday. "Did the family get any type of preferential treatment? Did the landlord let it go and not try to collect like they would for a normal person? Did they not evict for a year when it would normally be three months?"
(emphasis added)
So, if the Griffiths received improper benefits (such as payments, preferential treatment from a landlord, etc) then USC could be facing not only the loss of its 2005 season, but sanctions against the 2004 championship season as well.
Wow.
I wonder if any of this will spawn a curse for EA Sports NCAA Football, since Bush is the 2007 cover man.
Comments:
So Cal Clippers said:
posted on April 29, 2006 2:39 PM — 204.62.68.23 — link — abuse?
Is there a legal way to dis-own your Family from an NCAA rules perspective?
If there is, every new Recruit (of any school) should be strongly advised to do it! ... muther-fuggin-moron-parents, especially Mom... good looking out, stupid b!tch.Gerald said:
posted on April 29, 2006 2:48 PM — 65.12.162.103 — link — abuse?
So Cal Clips:
Let me say that the people making these accusations have no credibility, and the only thing that I believe is that the Griffins paid no rent, and the only reason why I believe that is because of their actions as a result of the USC - loving media's investigation and NOT anything that anyone associated with New Era says.
BUT if the New Era accusations are proven credible, then you cannot blame it all on Bush's family, because New Era alleges the same thing that a lot of Michael Moore fans do about the person in the White House about 9/11: "BUSH KNEW!" As a matter of fact, New Era alleges that Bush not only knew, but was involved to some extent.
If New Era's accusations are true, then Reggie loses the Heisman and USC forfeits BOTH every game in 2005 AND the 2004 national title. See this link here: http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=dw-bush042806&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
posted on April 29, 2006 2:52 PM — link — abuse?Kevin Donahue said:
I don't know, Gerald. There's an AWFUL LOT of smoke here.
A Bush Fan said:
posted on April 29, 2006 9:36 PM — 68.80.112.71 — link — abuse?
the NCAA comes up with a bunch of impossible rules. do they really expect college players not too want to indulge in every thing possible. If his parents were indeed involved... then they should be the ones to pay for it... not USC and not the Fans and not the rest of the Team who was smart enough to indulge without getting caught. it seems to me from the thousands of reports on this that Lamar Griffin was the one in the scheme of everything and He ain't really Reggies dad when u think about it. the rules say that "Parents" aren't allowed to partake in Fringe benefits... it says nothing about Step Parents.
I just hope this whole thing blows over ASAP.
Rusty Shackleford said:
posted on April 30, 2006 3:07 PM — 205.188.116.133 — link — abuse?
Gooooood, USC is a bunch of cheaters, now auburn will have the 2004 championship and hopefully bush and family will fined until they go into debt and have to beg vince young and his new heisman trophy to lend them some money to buy my house im moving out of
Regan said:
posted on April 30, 2006 9:39 PM — 205.188.116.133 — link — abuse?
Even if one didn't care for the Trojans or their recent run, the sad thing is that even if something was inappropriate, it will be taken out on the '06 team and lots of people who were innocent of wrongdoing, while those that were responsible for the violations get off scot-free.
I don't think anyone needs to be stripped of anything, unless it was an individual award. The Trojans could have made it to the Title game without any one or two players; College Football is a Team game.
It's too bad the whole Team has to pay when one person screws up...
sean said:
posted on May 1, 2006 11:13 AM — 209.82.168.215 — link — abuse?
Do you think Auburn wants the title under these circumstances? Fact is, money or no money, USC won and Bush was a major reason. Hit him with mega-fines, but don't smear the whole team, they won the games. And no, I don't like USC at all, it's just common sense.
Fighting Ibis said:
posted on May 2, 2006 1:17 PM — 69.163.197.196 — link — abuse?
You know, this is some BS! The Hurricanes got slapped with five years of probation from bowl games. Loss of twenty something scholies for five years & was threatened with the death penalty for less than what USC is being accused of!
You know damn well Bush knew what was going on! And yes, if it happened in 2004 then they should be stripped of all while they were cheating! You know nothing is going to come of it! That's why we're only hearing about now! You mean to tell me no one noticed Bush's parents moving into a house they couldn't afford? Hell Leinart violated a couple NCAA rules during the season last year with ESPN & nothing came of it!
Sanchez assaults some chicky? Nothing! Leinart & Bush can do no wrong! Why bother having any rules at all!
If this happened at UM the NCAA would be coming for the death penalty. Hell, UM produced a rap song & out came the anti-UM media! Michigan has since then put out a rap song and nothing! If W.Williams family had gotten a house for free, all hell would brake loose! Whats fair is fair! And USC didn't play fair!
VOLPIMP said:
posted on May 2, 2006 8:36 PM — 208.0.27.10 — link — abuse?
It sucks for a team when this stuff happens, because usually innocent guys are affected and the guilty are long gone. If it happens to be true, Bush and family should have been smarter than that, he was way too high profile for something that dumb.
jthutmd said:
posted on July 1, 2006 6:09 PM — 64.12.116.199 — link — abuse?
we all know that 100,000 went to Reggie's pockets and not just to daddy and mommy. they got the condo. Reggie knew he had to sign with this agency and instead he backked out and got caught. he cheated and knew it and took the NC trophy and kept playing and playing and then the Heisman. is this fair ?? anyone can play hard if they are getting cash on the side in the six figure range.
SD Trojan said:
posted on September 15, 2006 8:52 AM — 12.20.14.2 — link — abuse?
The one thing that is overlooked in the media is that the neighborhood Bush’s parents lived in rent free is NOT a nice place… I know I am from Spring Valley. In every news story they list the price of the home… welcome to Southern California where dingy homes in crappy East County San Diego go for 600k; Spring Valley is definitely no La Jolla.
Not that this has any bearing on the principal of the issue; but it is an interesting tidbit for those outside of CA who think that $600k homes = mansions.
jason Davis said:
posted on September 15, 2006 11:14 AM — 69.130.97.191 — link — abuse?
Hey, I could be a Pete Carrol genius also, if I had the best players money could buy. Do not defend him with, " he knew nothing about this". A couple of words for you all to remember, Lack of Institutional Control. He is responsible for his players good or bad.
Bad USC, BAD! said:
posted on September 15, 2006 4:34 PM — 68.15.97.192 — link — abuse?
The whole discussion is stupid. Whether USC wins or loses, they do it as a complete team. So ya, the whole team should be punished for this with reagards to those past seasons. You cannot tell me that in a 18+ month span no one could see anything suspicious. Thats a load of crap. Sure Bush himself should take the bulk of the responsibility and punishment, but it is also the coaches and team managers responsibility to keep an eye on the team, especially its heisman bound players.
John Spezia said:
posted on September 16, 2006 12:48 PM — 66.82.9.25 — link — abuse?
What disappoints me is lack of "delayed gratification." R Bush has it all. All R Bush(and family) had to do is WAIT a few months. Any superstar, (insert your example) have to learn to say NO because he/she will be offered everything.
I admire students who work hard at education and workers who keep this country running. You are the real hero's.
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So Cal Clippers said:
posted on April 29, 2006 2:34 PM — 204.62.68.23 — link — abuse?This is getting Bad.
... if its true.