Reggie Bush Ordered To Testify In June (1 Viewer)

[Andy Herron]

From today's USA Today-

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/foo...on_N.htm?csp=34

The gist of it is-

After months of legal wrangling, New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush finally will have to testify under oath about allegations that he received $291,000 in illegal cash and benefits from San Diego businessman and fledgling sports marketer Lloyd Lake. Superior Court Judge Joan Lewis on Friday ordered Bush to give his deposition June 23. Lewis denied Bush's request to have armed security at the depositions. Furthermore, Lewis denied Bush's request for his deposition to remain confidential, which means it can be released to the NCAA and the news media. If Bush admits wrongdoing while he was a student-athlete, it could have major repercussions for USC's football program.

It would appear he's squirming over this just a bit, don't you think?

 

[gump]

Reggie thought he walked on water obviously. It'll be interesting to see how the NCAA reacts if it the money is admitted to.

 

[redman]

Friggin' idiot. They've got him dead to rights and he knows it.

 

[Banger]

That's great. I saw the Real Sports piece on this situation and it was very well done. Reggie's guilty big time.

 

[QUEZILLA]

If USC isn't suspended for a year it's

 

[redman]

If USC isn't suspended for a year it's

I've said before, I think if USC is held responsible here it's unless you can show they knew or were wilfully blind in the face of evidence suggesting a problem. This was a player's family with some agent with zero ties to the university, not some boosters, for example, paying money as usually happens. I just don't see how any university can be expected to police this stuff.

 

[jonessed]

If USC isn't suspended for a year it's

I've said before, I think if USC is held responsible here it's unless you can show they knew or were wilfully blind in the face of evidence suggesting a problem. This was a player's family with some agent with zero ties to the university, not some boosters, for example, paying money as usually happens. I just don't see how any university can be expected to police this stuff.

If USC had knowledge of it then a suspension might be in order, but if Bush did this on his own then I don't see how USC can be held responsible.

 

[gump]

If USC isn't suspended for a year it's

I've said before, I think if USC is held responsible here it's unless you can show they knew or were wilfully blind in the face of evidence suggesting a problem. This was a player's family with some agent with zero ties to the university, not some boosters, for example, paying money as usually happens. I just don't see how any university can be expected to police this stuff.

We've debated this before...but like I've always said...the NCAA just needs to believe that USC knew...they don't need proof. You have to wonder if this gets under the legal spotlight if a coaches name, etc pops up somewhere.Also like I've always said...I hate the NCAA and the way they police.

I would also think a schooly cutback would hurt USC less than any school in the country because of the quality of recruit they get...but would still hurt nonetheless.

 

[Gravity]

Would the NCAA strip bush of his Heisman?

 

[The Kansas Comet]

Would the NCAA strip bush of his Heisman?

The NCAA doesn't award the Heisman - it's the Downtown Athletic Club that does it. They might take it away if he's found to have done the things he's been accused of.

 

[Bri]

What happens if he just pleads the 5th?

contempt of court charge, then what?

 

[Bri]

If USC isn't suspended for a year it's

I've said before, I think if USC is held responsible here it's unless you can show they knew or were wilfully blind in the face of evidence suggesting a problem. This was a player's family with some agent with zero ties to the university, not some boosters, for example, paying money as usually happens. I just don't see how any university can be expected to police this stuff.

That'll be the next step, apparently. USC proving they had no clue. It would seem hard to prove you didn't know something though

 

[redman]

What happens if he just pleads the 5th?contempt of court charge, then what?

You can only plead the 5th if you are at risk of criminal prosecution. What would he be prosecuted for? Also, validly pleading the 5th won't lead to a contempt charge because it's the exercise of a Constitutional right (again, within the parameters I described).

 

[Holy Schneikes]

What happens if he just pleads the 5th?contempt of court charge, then what?

You can only plead the 5th if you are at risk of criminal prosecution. What would he be prosecuted for? Also, validly pleading the 5th won't lead to a contempt charge because it's the exercise of a Constitutional right (again, within the parameters I described).

Tax evasion? That's what they seem to get everyone on eventually.

 

[redman]

What happens if he just pleads the 5th?contempt of court charge, then what?

You can only plead the 5th if you are at risk of criminal prosecution. What would he be prosecuted for? Also, validly pleading the 5th won't lead to a contempt charge because it's the exercise of a Constitutional right (again, within the parameters I described).

Tax evasion? That's what they seem to get everyone on eventually.

I thought what they gave was characterized as a "loan" or an "advance", and didn't the benefit go to his parents anyway? Regardless, I'm not aware of any effort to prosecute for this.

 

[RUSF18]

What happens if he just pleads the 5th?contempt of court charge, then what?

You can only plead the 5th if you are at risk of criminal prosecution. What would he be prosecuted for? Also, validly pleading the 5th won't lead to a contempt charge because it's the exercise of a Constitutional right (again, within the parameters I described).

Tax evasion? That's what they seem to get everyone on eventually.

I thought what they gave was characterized as a "loan" or an "advance", and didn't the benefit go to his parents anyway? Regardless, I'm not aware of any effort to prosecute for this.

No one had made an effort to prosecute Mark McGwire before he stepped in front of Congress, correct? I don't believe he specifically said "I plead the 5th" but I seem to recall one of the Congressmen asking him if that's what he is doing. I'm no lawyer, but I think any admission by someone of receiving money illegally (and not reporting it as income) would open him up to charges. After all, perjury is a charge that is only applicable after-the-fact right? I don't see why this would be any different but if it is, please explain.

 

[Chase Stuart]

What happens if he just pleads the 5th?contempt of court charge, then what?

You can only plead the 5th if you are at risk of criminal prosecution. What would he be prosecuted for? Also, validly pleading the 5th won't lead to a contempt charge because it's the exercise of a Constitutional right (again, within the parameters I described).

Tax evasion? That's what they seem to get everyone on eventually.

I thought what they gave was characterized as a "loan" or an "advance", and didn't the benefit go to his parents anyway? Regardless, I'm not aware of any effort to prosecute for this.

No one had made an effort to prosecute Mark McGwire before he stepped in front of Congress, correct? I don't believe he specifically said "I plead the 5th" but I seem to recall one of the Congressmen asking him if that's what he is doing. I'm no lawyer, but I think any admission by someone of receiving money illegally (and not reporting it as income) would open him up to charges. After all, perjury is a charge that is only applicable after-the-fact right? I don't see why this would be any different but if it is, please explain.

It's not against the law to receive money.Not reporting it as income would be a crime, of course, but it's not clear that the money is "income" for tax purposes, and even if it is, the government could compel him to testify by granting Bush immunity.

 

[GregR_2]

What happens if he just pleads the 5th?contempt of court charge, then what?

You can only plead the 5th if you are at risk of criminal prosecution. What would he be prosecuted for? Also, validly pleading the 5th won't lead to a contempt charge because it's the exercise of a Constitutional right (again, within the parameters I described).

Tax evasion? That's what they seem to get everyone on eventually.

I thought what they gave was characterized as a "loan" or an "advance", and didn't the benefit go to his parents anyway? Regardless, I'm not aware of any effort to prosecute for this.

Even if he does find a way in which he could plead the 5th, the fact he pleaded the 5th can be used as evidence against him in the civil lawsuit or by the NCAA. In a criminal trial the fact you plead the 5th can't be used against you... but in a civicl case those inferences drawn from having plead the 5th are fair game.

 

[kingmalaki]

Don't schools usually get some type of punishment whether they knew about the shady activity or not? If they didn't, then what would stop every program from simply playing dumb?

 

[FantasyTrader]

Don't schools usually get some type of punishment whether they knew about the shady activity or not? If they didn't, then what would stop every program from simply playing dumb?

Evidence and witness testominy

 

[Max Power]

IMO USC is a dirty school. First Bush, now O.J. Mayo.

It is hard for me to believe that an institution can be so blind to "students" getting hundreds of thousands over the years

 

[ruelvis]

He should have done what Lendale White did - spend it all on doughnuts = no hard evidence

(before some of u get your boxers in a bunch that was a joke)

 

[T Bell]

IMO USC is a dirty school. First Bush, now O.J. Mayo. It is hard for me to believe that an institution can be so blind to "students" getting hundreds of thousands over the years

Ignorance is bliss.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Friggin' idiot. They've got him dead to rights and he knows it.

Yeah, cause he's the only guy that ever might have done this.Save the "I never said..." I know I know....but you come across with such arrogance like this could never happen to you. Not many of us in here know what it is really like to go thru college like Reggie Bush, and I don't feel bad for him or USC, but it's tough to get overly upset and grind an axe on him because I know it runs rampant in college football. You got a bunch of kids that typically come from poor backgrounds a lot of the time, and we expect them to just act like choir boys when they start getting a lot of notariety. I really think the universities need to do a better job of educating their players on the dangers that are lurking around the corner...not just a 3 hour class, really train these guys to have their guard up against these types of things. They spend millions and raise hundreds of millions in these football programs...would it kill them to pay a few people $50,000 a year to do nothing but council and stay on these guys while they are at the University?

 

[brock]

IMO USC is a dirty school. First Bush, now O.J. Mayo. It is hard for me to believe that an institution can be so blind to "students" getting hundreds of thousands over the years

usc is not setting these things up, but if they're looking the other way and know it's happening then they do have fault.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

IMO USC is a dirty school. First Bush, now O.J. Mayo. It is hard for me to believe that an institution can be so blind to "students" getting hundreds of thousands over the years

usc is not setting these things up, but if they're looking the other way and know it's happening then they do have fault.

You sell your soul to the Devil in order to win a National Championship...Miami in the 80s, Free Shoes Univ, Alabama early 90s, Ohio State would have been caught but they used Maurice Clarett like a 5 dollar whore, now add USC...very hard to win a lot of titles, beat out everyone in recruiting year in and year out and not expect this type of thing. West Virginia to a lesser degree but I always thought Rich Rodriguez was as dirty as they come, and I expect him to either fail at Michigan since he can't bend the rules as much, or he will lead them down a similar path to the schools I just mentioned.

 

[T Bell]

Friggin' idiot. They've got him dead to rights and he knows it.

Yeah, cause he's the only guy that ever might have done this.Save the "I never said..." I know I know....but you come across with such arrogance like this could never happen to you. Not many of us in here know what it is really like to go thru college like Reggie Bush, and I don't feel bad for him or USC, but it's tough to get overly upset and grind an axe on him because I know it runs rampant in college football. You got a bunch of kids that typically come from poor backgrounds a lot of the time, and we expect them to just act like choir boys when they start getting a lot of notariety.

I really think the universities need to do a better job of educating their players on the dangers that are lurking around the corner...not just a 3 hour class, really train these guys to have their guard up against these types of things. They spend millions and raise hundreds of millions in these football programs...would it kill them to pay a few people $50,000 a year to do nothing but council and stay on these guys while they are at the University?

You're lecturing someone about arrogance? This isn't about "education", it's about greed, and no amount of training is going to fix that. So yes, Reggie Bush is a greedy idiot.

You have to have financial repercussions for the people responsible, and for that you to source of the money. Sue the athletes too, especially those that make some money after college. If people are afraid to get sued if they give money to college athletes, they won't give money. That's the way the world works.

 

[cstu]

IMO USC is a dirty school. First Bush, now O.J. Mayo. It is hard for me to believe that an institution can be so blind to "students" getting hundreds of thousands over the years

usc is not setting these things up, but if they're looking the other way and know it's happening then they do have fault.

You sell your soul to the Devil in order to win a National Championship...Miami in the 80s, Free Shoes Univ, Alabama early 90s, Ohio State would have been caught but they used Maurice Clarett like a 5 dollar whore, now add USC...very hard to win a lot of titles, beat out everyone in recruiting year in and year out and not expect this type of thing. West Virginia to a lesser degree but I always thought Rich Rodriguez was as dirty as they come, and I expect him to either fail at Michigan since he can't bend the rules as much, or he will lead them down a similar path to the schools I just mentioned.

You're pushing it with the "sell your soul to the devil" stuff. While it's supposed to be academic athletics there's no way it's going to be that way with how much money is involved. It's next to impossible to become a BCS team with breaking the rules - or at least looking the other way when it happens. I'd bet most coaches really don't care that players get paid as long as they are doing everything they are supposed to. This is all about the NCAA trying to protect it's money-maker by vilifying the players. It's a good part of the reason I have next to no interest in college football outside of following my alma mater's lousy team.All that said, players like Bush need to own up and face the music when it comes out that they violated the rules. That's the chance they take.

 

[gump]

USC's biggest problem now IMO is...the NCAA's ego.

Regardless of what happens from here, most of America has made up their mind that USC is guilty of something. Will the NCAA let an entity this high-profile skate through and be perceived as having USC one-up them? I have a hard time imaging that.