Update

Not my best week ever.  I'll be better next week.  I'm actually traveling right now so it's a bit hard to get to some of this but things will be running more efficiently soon.

The big story is Yahoo!'s continuation of the Reggie Bush scandal.

On first read there isn't any real new "charge" against Bush or USC, simply more specifics about what he and his family allegedly took (extra benefits, in NCAA speak) from the fun-loving criminals they associated with in conjunction with the formation of the New Era Sports agency.  New suits, Limo rides, a hilarious "allowance" paid to Bush's parents and his brother and access to posh hotel rooms are just some of those documented benefits.

There's also anonymous allegations that at least one USC assistant coach knew of Bush's situation before the Rose Bowl against Texas.  Actually almost the entire piece is based on anonymous information and puts doubt into Yahoo!'s account of the situation.  I believe most of the charges to be true, however unless the NCAA's completely lost its mind it will hold information to a more rigid standard and not jump to the conclusions Yahoo! has editorially made in its news story.

Yahoo!'s big push is that this is enough to shift the call from "USC may forfeit the Heisman, 2004's national championship" etc. to "the NCAA must enforce the abdication of wins, titles, etc. against USC".

We'll see where this goes, it made a big splash with the fancy page and eight new stories, but seven of them are rewrites of old facts and a backhanded compliment about Bush's charitable work for the city of New Orleans.  The new allegations are already in line with allegations presented in April.

Comments

[Kevin @ Fanblogs]

Yahoo's worked on it for eight months and states clearly that the info is from "on-the-record interviews with sources", so how can you blast them for "anonymous information"??

[scott]

CFBR, I generally like your insights on the ins and outs of CFB. I also tend to stay out of the pissing contests that erupt where commenters accuse a "non-affiliated" blogger (e.g., you, HP, etc.) of shilling for a particular team or conference. But c'mon man, I feel embarrassed for both of us after reading your "nope, nothing to see here folks. Move along..." defense of what is clearly a tainted (albeit highly successful) program in USC.

[g-man's homeboy]

Scott,

Seems to me like CFR thinks something bad went on at SC. He wrote, "I believe most of the charges to be true. . . ." CFR can correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like the point of CFR's post was "improper benefits were received, but the NCAA likely won't be able to prove it, so nothing will come of it."

And Kevin, "on the record" sources are anonymous until named.

[Quaker]

Unfortunately, this won't stick.

[superdawg]

Did we read the same article? Yahoo cites at least two sources by name. One of which even provided "a document detailing the charges" of a hotel stay. While the veracity of the individuals may be questioned the fact that there's a paper trail for at least some of this would seem to make it an open and shut case.

[Paxil]

Tainted not much more than most other major programs. A little yes, but not much. Sanchez and Hershel Dennis sexual assault cases never became anything (probably the sanchez one more, still not too sure about the whole Dennis thing), both blown way out of proportion. Only really bad things were Eric Wright and his ecstacy pills, and Rey M. punching a guy at a party- which most teams have to face every few years. Am I missing anything?

[Quaker]

Paxil, USC has let agents watch games from the sidelines, let them in the locker room, let their players take "internships" with agents. It's clearly a program that thinks it is above the law and flaunts it.

If these things came out about my school, I'd be crapping my pants. However, since its USC, I doubt much happens.

[Tyler]

Quaker: Here's your quote: "USC has let agents watch games from the sidelines, let them in the locker room, let their players take "internships" with agents".

I'm sorry to ask but do you any have proof of either of the first 2 ridiculous allegations you listed? Or are you citing the same unnamed sources that the Yahoo article did? Were you or someone you knew on the sideline or in the locker room when USC let the agents in?? Has the world gone completely mad? If I start a blog tomorrow and say that I saw Matt Leinart take a suitcase full of money from an agent in a parking lot on USC's campus can I be on Sportscenter by the morning news cycle? When did unnamed sources become hard evidence and since when are athlete's eligiblities tried on the frontpage of Yahoo Sports??

[chuckchuck.us]

Here is whats funny about Bush's statements. He asserts that he told SC "there is nothing to worry about." Yeah?! Who made you prosecutor, judge and jury?? Dude is still living in lala land. Does he think that the NCAA, the IRS, the NFL players union, et al, will just lay off now that he has assured all of us that nothing happened?? He may get away with a slap on the wrist, but this isnt going away for him.