Deadspin
Not in time for Christmas, darn it, but sure to make for cozy fireside reading nonetheless; the new Reggie Bush book, Don Yaeger's Tarnished Heisman, is here. Is this the Game of Shadows of college football? There's apparently enough evidence of financial impropriety involving Bush at USC to make that case (Adam Rose of the Los Angeles Times reviews the whole thing here). And like the Bonds steroids issue, none of it is totally unexpected. It now just depends on how far the NCAA and the BCS are willing to go with their own investigations; it's kind of sobering to realize that It all could end with Bush losing his Heisman, and USC forfeiting its national championship.
The book's case against Bush is built heavily on the testimony of one man, Lloyd Lake, who is at the center of the controversy. Lake, a convicted felon whose past in examined in the book, allegedly provided or arranged for hundreds of thousands of dollars in benefits for Bush and his family, much of which went directly to into the hands the USC football star. Lake goes so far as to claim that Bush was the one lobbying to further the partnership in clear violated of NCAA regulations. He says Bush had to convince him to follow through, urging, "Let's do it," in a face-to-face meeting.
I would suggest picking up a copy just so that you'll have something to read to your kids at bedtime.
YOU: "In February 2005, Bush asked for and was given $13,000 — by Lake — for the purchase of a car, a 1996 black Impala SS."
BOBBY: "Was it a fast car, daddy?"
YOU: "Yes. And Reggie wanted to upgrade the car and received another $4,000 from Lake for a new stereo, tinted windows, and high-performance tires and rims."
BOBBY: "That's called 'pimping,' right, daddy?"
YOU: "Yes."
BOBBY: "Will you read it to me again?"
Coincidentally or not, the Falcons chose the same day to say that they'd like to talk with Pete Carroll about their coaching vacancy. At any rate, it's all a lot more interesting than the BCS title game.
Carroll reportedly has no interest in the Falcons' job. Huh. Can't imagine why not.
First Glance At The Dreaded Bush Book [Los Angeles Times]
AP: Falcons Want To Interview Pete Carroll [USA Today]
Comments
$13,000 for an 96 Impala??!! I guess Bush isn't much of a businessman.
They also bought LenDale White a pimped out Dodge Neon.
Wouldn't it be the NCAA and Pac-10 investigating and not the NCAA and BCS?
And if the BCS had an investigatory team, would it include one Carl Monday?
Call me when Pete Carroll's son microwaves a parrot.
Amazon has it filed under "Bush Tell-All", along with "The Price of Loyalty" and "How to Make Love to a Porn Star."
Remember that time Bush drove that Impala straight through the laft side of UCLA's defensive line. I knew there was something sketchy about that play.
God Save the Fan >> Tarnished Heisman
/gratuitous sucking up to Will
He may have to give back the national championship and the Heisman, but he can always comfort himself with Ray J's sloppy seconds.
I'll show my Lord of the Rings if you show me your Harry Potter.
/2003
Suck it Yahoo, Don Yaeger is on the case.
Fans of the Houston Texans really wanted this book badly but instead ended up with a book of far greater value.
What are you going to do with 10 million dollars, and you can't say buy the Cleveland Cavaliers.
I'd buy a ten million dollar car.
Matt Leinart is pissed after realizing of how many abortions that would have paid for.
So apparently Pete Carroll expressed "no interest" in the Falcons job to the point that you linked to an article that says he's interested in the article? Weird.
And yet, somehow, Reggie Bush wound up with a car about 1/5 as fly as Darren McFadden's.
Shoulda been you, Pepsi machine.
"Tarnished? Shit no, man. Get yourself some Brasso and shine that shit up. That way you get top dollar for it."
--Former USC award-winning RB
@HazelMaesLandingStrip:
The only book Reggie should be worried about is Blue.
THREADJACK:
Bill Cowher reportedly has not yet received a coaching offer in which he is interested for the 2008 NFL season.
END THREADJACK
What? tWWL thought it was important enough to interrupt with a breaking news break, so I figured it was a big deal.
Shoulda been you, Deon Thomas.
/B. Pearl
@PKIGUY: God, I love a good abortion joke. +1.
Pete Carroll, 6-10 with the Jets. Coaches a Patriots team wholly created by Parcells to 10-6, then makes them steadily worse for two years before being fired. A massively arrogant prick, to boot.
Enjoy, Atlanta, enjoy.
Mario Williams got a 97 Impala
@fightonusc: re: D-Mac's car, well, the SEC is the vastly superior conference in terms of cheating and shady benefits
SEC CHEAT SPEED!!!
@fightonusc: Hey, in South Central an Escalade presents a bigger target. It's harder to hit an Impala with AK fire.
The book also reveals that Kim Kardashian's butt cheeks are artificially inflated every morning with a bicycle pump.
CHEATER! CHEATER! CHEATER!
Fuck Ohio State.
CHEATER! CHEATER...
"Don't worry Reggie, it obviously takes way more than shady deals with agents before they ask for your Heisman Trophy back."
-OJ Simpson
@HazelMaesLandingStrip: Twas an Impala SS, which became a collector's item of sorts when it went out of production. Gigantic V8 engine, RWD, big fat tires, and it could go fucking fast.
@fightonusc: The article was published on Opposite Day.
Young enough to know what kind of car to buy, apparently not grown enough not to put rims on it...
Does anyone else find it amusing that the book 'Tarnished Heisman' about a standout USC football running back, who brought much fame and fortune to USC is about ... Reggie Fucking Bush.
Seriously, even if everything in Yaeger's book is true, hasn't OJ done more to fuck with USC's and the Heisman's image than any other USC player?
Just a thought.
/Douchebag rant
@katni: +30
Reggie Bush: Analogy:: College Athletics: Impala
I admit, I am not good at this analogy thing.
@Rob Iracane: + 1
@Farneyismycopilot: Despite the lack of a Heisman, when words like "tarnished" and "USC" get thrown around let's be sure we include Todd Marinovich in the discussion.
I prefer Ghetto Heisman.
Action Jackson is not impressed with his choice of Impala.
@Kid Canada: Damnit. And you were actually funny too.
Yaeger's next book will be on Jamie-Lynn Spears. It's called "Tainted Hymen."
So how come the Yahoo! guys who have been all over this story didn't write this book? Or is Don Yeager one of those Yahoo! guys?
@Gourmet Spud: Which will promptly be followed up by Britney Spears' next film, "Taint and Hymen."
@MickelsonsManBoobs: I'd still pull you over.
Oprah gets first crack before the Deadspin Book Club? What gives?
Also exposed in the book:
- Petros Papadakis received a 1986 Ford Escort with only 27,500 miles on it in exchange for coming to USC
- Reggie Bush once shot a man...for snoring.
- Before the 2006 Rose Bowl, Matt Leinart was seen at the Roosevelt Hotel at 3 a.m., snorting a line of Hunter S. Thompson's ashes off of Paris Hilton's ass.
- Pete Carroll's real first name is Thadeus P. Wainscott III
@Crookednose:
Neither is Skee-Lo.
Remember Skee-Lo?
Poor guy. Without his Heisman and National Championship all Reggie will have to console himself is his millions of dollars.
@GreatOdensRaven:
I think I saw some stills from that movie.
.... because he has a bigger player acquisition budget at USC.
Thank you! I'll be here all week!
Is this the same Don Yeager, formerly of SI, who unfairly trashed Mike Price for getting too fucked up one disastrous evening? Who among us does not get too fucked up at the TBar? Who? Speak, you self-righteous teetotalers!
@Kid Canada: Everyone remembers Skee-Lo!
I wish I was a little bit taller!
@GreatOdensRaven: Followed by Taint Misbehavin'
When asked to comment on the book Bush replied, "It's not like I killed someone."
Do you really want to know the horrible, horrible truth, or do you want to see me score some more touchdowns?
Touchdowns!!! Touchdowns!!!!
@Kid Canada: Enlighten me