USC Responds to Allegations By Former Head Coach

This USC vs Sark thing may take a while.

It seems just like yesterday USC hopefuls began to forget about former head coach Steve Sarkisian.  Now like a thief in the night, he’s back with a vengeance, and this time the Trojans may lose again.

Sarkisian filed a $30 million dollar lawsuit against his former team, citing the reason for his behavior is because of a disability, which they did not properly address, and wrongfully fired him.

Immediately the Trojans defended themselves, saying Sarkisian’s accusations are untrue.

Statement from Carol Mauch Amir, USC General Counsel on the Steve Sarkisian lawsuit: https://t.co/HKJiR7QLF6 pic.twitter.com/lZzD1Hw5sf

— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) December 8, 2015

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThis is a bad time for the Trojans to be under the microscope again.  There’s still people out there that think the Reggie Bush case was just the tipping point of the institutional troubles. 

Pat Haden will now have to venture into uncharted territory after navigating a rough program through the Lane Kiffin and Ed Orgeron days.

If you don’t remember, let me remind you.

Kiffin was given his walking papers in the midst of the team getting off their flight to the team bus. Yea, he couldn’t even get a ride back to campus.

Despite ending the 2013 season by going 6-2 and winning their bowl game, Orgeron lost to the Bruins and some felt he wasn’t a good fit for the program.

Clay Helton was recently named the permanent head coach after taking over for Sarkisian in October, finishing 5-3 and getting the team into the Holiday Bowl against the Wisconsin Badgers on Dec. 30.

USC gained some respectability back after defeating crosstown rival UCLA and returned to the Pac-12 championship.  They lost that game to Stanford 41-22 last Saturday.

The lawsuit, whether it goes to court or not, will just put more added drama on a complicated situation.  Already USC supporters have voiced their opinions.

Haven’t been at a computer or even a phone most of today, due to sitting in jury selection all day. Wishing I could be on Sark’s jury. “$0”

— USC Football News (@USCFootballNews) December 7, 2015

SMU Banned From 2016 Postseason, Larry Brown Suspended

The NCAA has banned Southern Methodist University’s basketball team from the 2016 postseason and, suspended head coach Larry Brown for 30-percent (9 games)  of this season’s games due to a lack of head coach control.

The school will also lose nine scholarships over the next three years.

SMU has been hit with a postseason ban for this season & Larry Brown suspended for 10 percent of this season’s games, source told ESPN.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) September 29, 2015

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThis marks the third time a Brown-coached team has been sanctioned by the NCAA, the others happening at Kansas and UCLA.

The investigation involved former basketball administrator and ex-assistant coach Ulric Maligi in helping SMU player Keith Frazier become eligible last season.

Despite the sanctions, SMU is expected to be a preseason Top 25 team and a contender for the American Athletic title.

Brown took over at SMU in 2012. The Mustangs lost to UCLA last year in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

UCLA 4-Star Recruit Cordell Broadus Quits Football

Cordell Broadus, son of rapper Snoop Dogg, has made the decision to end his football career early after enrolling into UCLA this past summer.

Broadus was a four-star recruit out of Bishop Gorman Las Vegas and would have been an incoming freshman, but hadn’t reported to UCLA’s fall camp in San Bernardino , which started on Monday.

According to sources, he hadn’t contacted the UCLA staff or players informing them of his decision.

Broadus, who was pushed to play football by his father was considering quitting once entering college.  It was just a matter of time before he ” wanted to do his own thing” which did not involve football at all.

It something about rapper’s kids and UCLA. P. Diddy’s son Justin Combs also plays for the Bruins.

[Scout.com]

 

UCLA Will Offer “Additional Scholarship Aid” To Athletes

 

College Football is ruled by five conferences: Pac-12, Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 and the ACC.

In January, the NCAA approved a legislation amongst these elite conferences to offer cost-of-attendance scholarships.

Starting this academic year, UCLA will give $5,500 or more of additional scholarship aid to student-athletes.

Scholarships were known to only cover tuition, fees, room and board and books.  And it was up to the student to find their way around town for a meal and rarely did scholarships help when you live off-campus.

Considering how many athletes are coming out of high with an “one-and-done” mindset if they go to college, questions have arisen about what does an actual “full ride” include?

UCLA will give athletes living off-campus $5,624 including health insurance, and $4,925 to student who choose to get a dorm on-campus.

Payments will begin Aug. 1.

[OC Register]

Diddy Will Not Face Charges For UCLA Incident

Rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who was arrested  on UCLA’s campus Monday for an incident involving an kettle-bell weight, will not face any felony charges.

Combs was arrested by UCLA police after alleged getting into an altercation with strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi.  The former bad boy claims he was defending himself and his son, Justin Combs, a little-used defensive back with the team.

Alosi told the younger Combs to “get off the field, not just for the rest of the day but for the rest of the summer.”  That’s when Diddy confronted the coach in his office and the scuffle started from there.

It spilled out into the adjacent weight room where a few interns were drawn to the action. UCLA has not yet released information regarding the incident.

Combs was released on $160,00 bail within a few hours of his arrest.   Diddy is counting to say his actions were all in self-defense. \

“What we can say now is that any actions taken by Mr. Combs were solely defensive in nature to protect himself and his son,” a spokeswoman for the rapper and producer said in a statement.

[LA TIMES]

 

Report: P. Diddy Involved In On-Campus Fight At UCLA

Rap mogul P. Diddy, better know as Sean Combs,  was reportedly arrested at UCLA’s campus Monday afternoon for getting into a fight with a Bruins’ assistant coach, TMZ first reported the story.

Diddy’s son, Justin Combs, plays defensive back for UCLA, was being screamed at by a coach and Diddy “confronted and grabbed the coach.”

Joey Kaufman of the Orange County Register confirmed TMZ’s report.

UCLA police source confirms TMZ report that P. Diddy was arrested on campus. Declined to provide further info. http://t.co/xXnCcxsXRp

— Joey Kaufman (@joeyrkaufman) June 22, 2015

Combs, a 5-foot-7, 170 pound redshirt junior played in a combined seven games for UCLA.

P. Diddy was arrested and is currently sitting in the campus jailhouse.

 

South Carolina officials, coaches call for Confederate Flag to come down

The state of South Carolina was thrown into the spotlight for all the wrong reason last week when Dylan Roof,21, opened fire at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church killing nine people.

Immediate outrage and anger from both the black community and the rest of the world turned its’ attention to the southern state’s most polarizing symbol: their confederate flag.

Is there not some other place for the Confederate flag? A place that would unify our people rather than divide us. via @HarrisPastides

— U of South Carolina (@UofSC) June 22, 2015

It is time to remove the flag. We are ONE !! #CharlestonStrong#Gamecocks

— Ray Tanner (@RayTannerSC) June 22, 2015

I am on vacation out of the country but I applaud and support @RayTannerSC@HarrisPastides@nikkihaley@SteveBenjaminSC proud 2 stand with u

— Frank Martin (@FrankMartin_SC) June 22, 2015

Head football coach Steve Spurrier has already spewed his disgust about the South Carolina Flag back in 2007.  Now that all eyes have locked in on the southern state, maybe some real change will come of this.

 

NBA Draft Lottery: Lakers Should Think Twice In Their Pick

Usually around this time the Lakers are preparing to do battle for another NBA championship, but for the past two seasons, they have clashed with the fact that they are not the best team in L.A right now.

Around this time last year they were awarded the seventh overall pick in the NBA Draft and chose Kentucky power forward Julius Randle.   Randle got hurt in his NBA debut and Lakers’ fans had to wait and see a return on their investment.

The Lakers have a healthy roster so far, and a few options in free agency.   So landing that dynamic player in this year’s upcoming NBA draft is crucial in there rebuilding process.

Let’s forget about the numbers for a minute and let’s say the Lakers get the third overall pick.

Who do you draft?  Assuming he is still available  do you go get Duke’s Jahlil Okafor? An Okafor/Randle front-court would be ideal in a post-Kobe Bryant era.

Do you get the best point guard in the draft in Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell?  Head coach Byron Scott did emphasize how the team needs a point guard who can run the team.

Or do you go rogue and draft Kentucky’s Justise Winslow, and hope he can turn into what Jimmy Butler is for the Chicago Bulls.

The Lakers are in no position for a deep playoff run, so the least they can do when Bryant walks away is develop an identity within the organization.

The big men that are currently on the Lakers roster, excluding Randle, would make it difficult  for a team known for hanging championship banners in their arena.

Robert Sacre was supposed to be a reliable figure in the Lakers rotation, but he is still having a difficult time adjusting to the pro game.  Jordan Hill is a good player but could serve better coming off the bench.

Russell is projected to be the floor general that the Lakers need.  He sees the floor well, can create his own shot and has a certain mentality about him that is contagious on a team.

Jordan Clarkson, who recently was voted to the All-Rookie 1st Team, was a steal for the Lakers last season.  Even though Clarkson emerged as a hidden gem, is he what the team needs going forward?

The Lakers need a point guard bad.  Steve Nash turned out to be a bust, Jeremy Lin is still trying to find his way and Ronnie Price just isn’t talented enough.

Winslow emerged as a late bloomer for Duke, and was a key figure in them winning the national championship. Some have said he reminds them of a James Harden or Trevor Ariza.

Wesley Johnson has not quite lived up to expectations at the wing position and could possibly be left of the Lakers roster this upcoming season. Nick Young signed a new contract with the team before the season started, but is still trying to find himself after that horrible season he just had.

The Lakers need a lot of things right now, but first it starts with a good draft pick.

If for some strange reason the Lakers are bounced out of a Top-5 lottery pick, the team still has three picks in the draft.  So it will be interesting to see what the purple and gold do on Tuesday night.