LongJim

The hits keep on coming... *************************************** Michaels claims he's due $54,000; attorney preparing $3.2 million suit By Brent Schrotenboer and Jim Trotter SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS April 28, 2006 Reggie Bush's parents failed to pay $54,000 in rent for the year they lived in a house owned by an investor in a sports marketing agency that sought to represent Bush, the owner of the house said late last night in an interview at The San Diego Union-Tribune. Michael Michaels, who has been silent since questions surfaced about the Bush family's living arrangements at the Spring Valley house he owns, said the stepfather and mother of the Heisman Trophy-winning running back initially agreed to pay $4,500 per month in rent when they moved in last spring. He said when they failed to pay the first few months' rent, they said they would pay when Bush turned pro. But when Bush signed with a different marketing representative early this year, relations deteriorated. Michaels' attorney, Brian Watkins, sent them a letter April 3 demanding they move out of the house. Bush's parents, LaMar and Denise Griffin, finally moved out last week. Watkins showed Union-Tribune reporters a copy of the eviction notice last night. Watkins said he plans to sue Bush's parents, and possibly Bush, for fraud and will seek $3.2 million. That includes $300,000 in “out-of-pocket” expenses owed Michaels and another investor, Lloyd Lake, plus punitive damages. Watkins said $54,000 of that is the unpaid rent. He said Michaels and Lake incurred additional expenses associated with starting the marketing agency, but declined to provide details. He also would not specify the extent of Bush's involvement in the agency, New Era Sports and Entertainment. Bush has denied knowledge of any deal with Michaels and promised details would emerge later that would clear up the situation. He again yesterday declined to answer specific questions about whether his parents paid rent for the house. The NCAA is investigating whether its rules of amateurism were violated by Bush or his parents, who may have improperly received extra benefits in their living arrangements at the Michaels house. The NCAA has requested to interview David Caravantes, an agent contacted by New Era, in its investigation of Bush and the house next week. If the NCAA determines that Bush or his family committed a violation of its rules of amateurism, Bush could be ruled retroactively ineligible and USC could face sanctions, including the possible forfeiture of games. Bush's marketing representative, Mike Ornstein, hung up when contacted for his reaction to Michaels' claims last night. Michaels said he is a real estate investor and when the Griffins told him they were having financial problems at their previous residence, he allowed them to move into his newly purchased house in Spring Valley. Michaels bought the 3,002-square-foot, three-bedroom home for $757,237 in April 2005, according to San Diego County records. “I never agreed to let them live rent-free,” Michaels said. Watkins said he sent Bush's family attorney, David Cornwell, a letter Feb. 13 threatening the family with the $3.2 million fraud suit. Watkins said he has been in regular contact with Cornwell, and that the two talked as recently as yesterday. Cornwell did not return a phone message last night and the Bush family could not be reached for comment. “It was basically (left that) we can't come to a meeting of the minds on a number, so do what you're going to do and I'm going to do what I'm going to do, is basically what (Cornwell) said,” Watkins said. “He starts going to the press and throwing out words (like) 'extortion' and I never even wanted to go here. We were just preparing a lawsuit.” Yesterday, ESPN reported that Caravantes was demanding $3.2 million from the Bush family. Watkins and Caravantes adamantly said that wasn't true. Watkins said it was he who was asking for $3.2 million in the fraud suit. “If you want to call somebody on a lie, ask them where their canceled rent checks are, from this house that they leased from their 'friend' Michael Michaels,” said Watkins, who used the word “friend” sardonically. The disagreement between Michaels and Bush's family began when Bush decided to hire another agent (Joel Segal) and another marketing representative (Ornstein). Watkins said he and Michaels were upset that Ornstein told the Los Angeles Times in New York this week that Michaels was a “longtime family friend of Bush's stepfather and mother” who offered to put them up in their house while they were having financial problems. Bush, a former Helix High star, is expected to be the No. 1 pick tomorrow in the NFL draft. “Michael Michaels didn't even know them,” Watkins said. “Lloyd Lake and the Lake family are their friends. Lloyd Lake introduced Reggie to Michael Michaels. They don't even know Michael Michaels.” Michaels, who also goes by the name Michael Pettiford, said he was approached by LaMar Griffin and Lake, who is now in federal prison in Victorville, to invest in a sports marketing company they were starting. They would share ownership in the company, New Era, and Bush was to be their primary client. It is a violation of NCAA rules for an athlete, or his relatives or friends, to accept benefit from prospective agents “even if the agent has indicated that he or she has no interest in representing the student-athlete in the marketing of his or her athletics ability or reputation,” according to NCAA regulations. If an athlete or his family commits such a violation, he would be ruled ineligible, even if it's retroactively. Watkins said the idea for a sports marketing agency was conceived during the 2004 season, when USC went undefeated en route to the national championship. It was before Bush became a household name in college football and the darling of almost every sports and marketing agency in the nation. Watkins said Griffin sought to line up possible endorsement deals for Bush, including one from the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians. Michaels works for Sycuan as director of economic development. Sycuan General Counsel George Forman said last weekend he recalls Griffin making a pitch to Sycuan about joining a business venture, but that there was no interest from Sycuan. Watkins also said Sycuan was not interested. Sycuan spokesman Adam Day said Sycuan had nothing to do with any potential deal involving Bush or Griffin. The backgrounds of Michaels and Lake raised a red flag among NFL officials, who Wednesday questioned Bush about his relationship with them. Two general managers said yesterday the NFL sent a memo to each team in which Bush denied knowing about the backgrounds of Michaels and Lake. He also denied having an agreement with New Era. Michaels was arrested under the name Michael Pettiford in October 1999 on felony charges of making terrorist threats and discharging a firearm in a negligent manner in an incident involving current Sycuan Tribal Chairman Daniel Tucker. Charges were dropped in 2000 for lack of evidence, records show. Michaels' connection with Lake, a former Helix High basketball player with a history of gang and drug ties, goes back several years, FBI agent Allan Vitkosky wrote in a sworn affidavit in 2002. Lake, 32, has had a series of drug and firearm arrests, including felony convictions for false imprisonment in 1993 and possession of marijuana for sale in 1996. San Diego Police Street Gang Unit records reveal that Lake was a documented member of the Emerald Hills Blood/Upside Sic street gang, according to Vitkosky's affidavit.

Using a bondsman requires ~10% of the total, so 'someone' probably came up w/20K to get him out.

Hehe! No kidding. I love the guy, but bless his heart, you can't go out with much better a game than the last one he called, so I don't blame him one bit.

He Ain't Got No Handles

USC Offensive Line Mean Height: 6'4.2" Mean Weight: 322 lbs Arizona Cardinals Offensive Line Mean Height: 6'4.8" Mean Weight: 329 lbs

Proud Mama! Good luck, Nick!

That is funny, right there.

It's improved very dramatically. You wouldn't recognize the place on game day now.

Riiiight. UT is having trouble filling their schedule. LSU will flat out not play them right now. No SEC team in it's right mind wants to have another tough game against a national power when they go into conference and have all they can handle.

I certainly don't disagree. Everything I've read about Pete Carroll screams "class". Hopefully for SC, this will turn out to be nothing, but if anything happens, it'll probably fall under the dreaded 'lack of institutional control' heading.

LA Times

"My point of view on Vince is real simple," said the man known as "Mattress Mack." "I saw what he did against USC, and for me, it's kind of like the gospel at church last Sunday. When Thomas stuck his hand on Jesus' side, he believed. Well, I believe in Vince."

I thought he was a UNT grad?

He won't if he plays LB like he practices. The UT coaches love him down there.

Preach on, brother. My wife sees this day in, day out. Yesterday, a 4 year old called his schoolmate a b*tch right there in class. I didn't even learn that word until I was 8.

Very astute observations. I totally agree, and think that this also means that UNT needs to take advantage of this situation while they can.

Northwest High. 1982. Go Texans!

Very plausible scenarios.

Of course it does. Why would a blue-chipper from Houston--who could have his momma and daddy see him play on regional TV every weekend if Arkie had been in the B12--want to go to Fayettenam now? That was one of the ONLY "perks" their SWC affiliation afforded them. They also played roughly half of their schedule in Texas every year, as well. Now Arkie has no Texas-based games in order to recruit here. Texas HS football players couldn't care less about them. Arkansas committed recruiting suicide when they joined the SEC. And now the aardvarks have to recruit against the east-coast SEC teams, and recruit the same areas. Not many Florida recruits want to go to Hooterville to play football, when they can just as easily pick Tallahassee, Tampa, Miami, SC, etc. This is where you're right about Fayettenam being a drawback. On topic: in the long run, these same factors are what work in UNT's favor, and hamper other SBC schools, IMO.

Et Tu, Bush?

Whatever.

And here's the latest from OSU's campus rag: ************************************* "Adrian Peterson was seen rolling around OU’s campus in a Lexus provided by Norman’s Big Red Sports & Imports. Does this represent an illegal player benefit, or does Peterson have a secret CFL contract? MH: Here’s an interesting bit of Oklahoma State trivia: Want to know why Cowboy fans jingle their keys during football games? It’s a taunt that was begun during a Bedlam match during the 1950’s, when OU’s legendary Bud Wilkinson roamed the sidelines in Norman. Back then, OU players were under a lot of fire from coaches across the country for receiving illegal “benefits” like money, clothing, housing, and, of course, cars. Looks like some things never change... SM: I think Peterson tried to purchase a car he couldn’t afford, found out he made a big mistake, and took it back. I also think that I will probably cure all cancer within the next 10 years and create a new form of gas that is derived from sea water and enables cars to get 80 miles to the gallon. Seriously though... a Lexus? You could have picked a more plausible vehicle to “buy,” like a Geo or a Beetle. Who mistakenly buys a Lexus?"

One other thing of note is that during this "5 month investigation", the dealership was sold (apparently to Hudiburg), and the individual who made the deal w/Peterson "quit or was fired". Have a feeling that that sound you hear emanating from Norman is a paper shredder working overtime.

I think they have a "must love animals...and we do mean LOVE animals" requirement.