Report: Taped talks in Bush book
editor1 |Jan 11,2008
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LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Damaging details have emerged from a
forthcoming book about the alleged improper benefits paid to
former Heisman Trophy winning tailback and New Orleans Saints
star Reggie Bush.
Secretly taped conversations between Bush's stepfather and a
would-be sports marketer appeared in a story on the Los Angeles
Times on Thursday.
The release of the book, "Tarnished Heisman," was announced last
month and it details Bush's relationship with financiers of a
failed sports marketing company. Ultimately it could hurt
Bush's chances of keeping the Heisman Trophy.
Bush allegedly received thousands of dollars in cash and new car
from Lloyd Lake and Michael Michaels while at Southern
California, as they attempted to lure him to their marketing
agency "New Era Sports & Entertainment."
Yahoo! Sports first reported that the book was forthcoming last
month. It should be noted that Lake is a convicted felon.
On Thursday, the Times posted the details of conversations
between Lake and Bush's stepfather LaMar Griffin that appear in
the book. The authors of the book, Don Yaeger and Jim Henry,
told the paper that Lake was compensated for his full
cooperation.
"No, me and (Michaels) worked it out," Lake said. "I got to
take care of Reggie, Chief (Michaels) takes care of you guys."
After Griffin agreed, Lake continued.
"So everything Chief (Michaels) was doing, he was doing out of
his pocket," he said. "Everything for Reggie, I was doing out
of mine. So whenever Reggie needed money, because we're looking
at it like we're partners and we are going to prosper together
with the business."
The paper stated that in another section, Griffin seems unaware
of the extent of alleged payouts to his stepson.
"Yeah, I mean we're going up there and we're talking," Lake
said. "I'm giving him money."
"See, that's why I said," Griffin said. "Now see, I'm way out
of this matter now, because if that's what was going on, I don't
know nothing about it."
Bush has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. According to the
paper, his attorney, David Cornwell, could not be reached for
comment.
Copies of the records used for the book are scheduled to appear
soon at tarnishedheisman.com, according to the report.
Yaeger and Henry both told Yahoo! Sports last month that they
believe the book could ultimately lead to Bush losing his
Heisman, which he won in 2005. No player ever has been stripped
of the award, the most prestigious in college sports.
The Heisman Trust has the ability to strip the award from a
player and likely will determine Bush's fate.
"My belief is that Heisman voters will have another decision to
make in the near future," Yaeger told the web site.
According to multiple sources in an ongoing Yahoo! Sports
investigation, nearly $300,000 in cash, rent and gifts was
allegedly given to Bush and his family.
Lake and Michaels both said in August 2006 that they planned to
file a lawsuit against Bush. Bush eventually settled out of
court with Michaels, while the Lake case in ongoing.
Bush and USC could face penalties from the NCAA and Pac-10
Conference, which are conducting ongoing investigations into
reports of extra benefits. In jeopardy could be USC's national
title in 2004 and Bush's Heisman Trophy the following season.
New Era lost Bush when he signed with agent Joel Segal and
marketing agent Mike Ornstein in January of 2006. In April
2006, Yahoo! Sports first revealed allegations that Bush and his
family received extra benefits.
Subsequently, over the next six months, Yahoo! Sports reported
that Bush's family accepted money to pay pre-existing debt,
benefits worth more than $100,000 for two groups of marketing
agents and $18,000 to purchase a car used while Bush was at USC.
According to the paper, there is limited evidenced that USC
officials were aware of the situation.
However, Lake also is quoted in the book as saying that he was
visiting the Griffins when USC coach Pete Carroll "returned a
telephone call to (LaMar) Griffin and discussed the family's
housing arrangements."
Bush has struggled through a somewhat disappointing second
season with the Saints, rushing for 581 yards and four
touchdowns while hauling in 73 receptions for 417 yards and two
scores.
He missed the final four games of the 2007 season because of a
torn PCL ligament in his left knee.
The second overall selection in the 2006 NFL draft, Bush enjoyed
a phenomenal rookie season, helping the Saints reach the NFC
championship game for the first time in team history.
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