No Arbitration for Reggie Bush...

When an agent gives money to a player, in the past the NCAA has been more lenient than when a booster gives money to a player. When an agent is involved, there is a chance that the NCAA could only punish Bush, by declaring him ineligible. USC would be forced to forfeit games that he played in, but wouldn’t lose scholarships, etc.

It is clear to mostly everyone that Reggie and his family received extra benefits. The NCAA might not deal a harsh blow to USC because it happened 100+ miles away with agents having nothing to do with USC coaches, administration, fans, or boosters.

The big question is whether USC should have known or could have known what was going on in San Diego. Running backs coach McNair met Reggie down in San Diego and Lake alleges that he must have known that something was going on. The difference between what happened with USC and Oklahoma is this:

Oklahoma had multiple athletes working at a dealership in Norman, formerly owned by a OU booster, that reported their timecards to the athletic department. The timecards showed time at the dealership when OU football players were at practice. It was an easy discrepancy to find.

USC had 1 athlete’s parents move into a house in San Diego with money given to them by a businessman looking to start a sports marketing company.

The OU problem was right under their noses in Norman. USC would have had to hire a PIs to find out what Reggie’s family had been up to.

and seriously bam- not to split hairs, but something must be said about the whole ‘being paid’ deal.

frak outlined what being paid really and truly is, under the spirit of the NCAA bylaws. but even still, ANY ADDED benefit- be it financially, hotel/tix/airfare for athlete or his/her friends and family is still considered a benefit. (though not necessarily ‘being paid’) It’s quite easy to just blanket write/say ‘being paid’ but under what auspices is it being construed? and in Bush’s case- if you take the phrase semantically- what dollar amount?

Bush had a pimped out Impala and he may have been given some airfare and hotel lodgings that tie him directly to Lake. Receipts for the Impala’s improvements have not been offered in discovery nor has any paper trail detailing anything close to the 90K Lake supposedly owes toward his family. His whole $300K is way off base and is more of a punitive amount, as even if he does win his case- he will not get any attorney fees rewarded (also in the appellate judgments yesterday- there were 2: private arbitration bound to all parties have been dismissed, as it applies to the Michaels settlement. And no reward of monies owed to Lakes attorneys for having to argue at the appeal level and possibly at the jurisdiction level)

At worst, testimony under sworn oath is the best that Lake can achieve right now. Any jury in their right mind will not allow judgment in his favor for the amount that he wants. It’s the sworn testimonies that any/all compelled parties must submit to on the USC side (re: Bush, Carroll, USC AD Garrett, et. al) that will be the dagger and cause most damage as the investigations that are tied to OJ Mayo, Bush, and now McKnight driving his girlfriend’s SUV that was actually owned by a Santa Monica businessman are under the umbrella of “Lack of Institutional Control”- as far as the totality of the NCAA investigation.

Being paid is a poor man’s argument that supposes USC athlete’s aren’t amateur. You know and I know that is full of shit.

the depositions are an insubstantial sideshow, except for the Trojan haters.