Reggie Bush appears to have been paid while at USC

Yahoo ^

[SmoothTalker]

"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."

The Benifits 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.

$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.

$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,

[Trajan88]

Bush's fault.

Oh wait, wrong Bush.

[scott7278]

Unbelievable.

[infidel29]

...but honestly, does anyone really believe that big time college athletes aren't being paid?

[MikefromOhio]

College Football Ping.

Freepmail me to be added to this list.



First things first. Rules are rules. They generally aren't meant to be broken.

Secondly, the NCAA and it's rules are absolutely arcane and stupid.

Finally, chances are nothing will come of this.

[BigSkyFreeper]

(NCAA) Rules are meant to be broken. /sarc

[onyx]

It's hard to believe his family could be so stupid. Millions were just a year within their reach.

[BigSkyFreeper]

[No Quoted Text Available]

I take it you're speechless?

:) 

[annie laurie]

I'm shocked, shocked, SHOCKED, I tell you!

[meandog]

Uh, oh, "Cheat on, for ole SC..."!

[dc27]

It's hard to believe his family could be so stupid. Millions were just a year within their reach.

I would think that only USC stands to lose anything by this. Reggie already has his contract with the Saints.

[BigSkyFreeper]

It's like a complete waste of talent. Give the guy a free ride scholarship, then he can make the beaucoup bucks in the big leagues where it's perfectly legal.

[dfwgator]

Congratulations to the Auburn Tigers, the 2005 National Champions.

[demsux]

They ought to be paid anyway.

[llevrok]

Oh, let's cut the crap. Most big time college sports programs are semi pro at the least.

[dfwgator]

Got Proof? Just like the Rats, "Everybody does it....yadda yadda yadda"

USC is going down and they're going down hard.

[bybybill]

Lets get a rope and have the hanging before the trial.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

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

Wonder what kind of sweet ride he got and modified for $13K?

[A CA Guy]

The guy who had Bush living in his home will make a 100k extra by being able to sat Reggie Bush lived there.

The other stuff could have been a loan that was to be repaid.

I doubt this has much legs.