We don't know much about Jim Mora aside from his mediocre NFL head coaching record. We do know, however, that he approached UCLA about its head coaching vacancy, just like Karl Dorrell and Rick Neuheisel before him.

Ask yourself this question: What other college head coaching vacancies was Jim Mora being considered for? The answer to that question is the same as it was for Karl Dorrell and rick Neuheisel. (In fairness, Dorrell was technically "considered" by SDSU, but did not get the job).

In other words, Chianti Dan let a candidate come to him rather than proactively going out and finding a tier 1 replacement and figuring out a way to make it happen. And what does Chianti Dan know about Jim Mora that none of the other AD's looking for head coaches don't know?

It has been widely reported that UCLA has at least $4 million to spend on the right candidate. So, the question must be asked: Is Jim Mora the best that Chianti Dan can do for UCLA?

Continue reading this post »

Earlier Odysseus summarized the status of two PAC 12 programs that are in the process of replacing their head football coaches.

Well, ASU has decided not to wait for other programs (like UCLA) to resolve their coaching situations before making its move. USA Today is reporting that ASU has fired Dennis Erickson:

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Dennis Erickson is out as Arizona State's football coach, a university official told the Associated Press, after another season in which the results didn't meet the expectations for the Sun Devils.

And get this...ASU may be considering a shakeup of its Athletic Department due to, (get this) Athletic Director Lisa Love's "continuous support of Erickson":

It may seem rash but, considering how far ASU football was expected to go this year, it doesn't surprise. The program is now looking at going to a low-level bowl that won't bring in a lot of money or encourage fans to pack up their bags to see their team.

Love has come under harsh criticism at times this season, thanks to her continuous support of Erickson and her handling of numerous other things, including a baseball program that was forced to vacate wins and violated numerous NCAA rules.

Any of this sound familiar?

Continue reading this post »

Nestor has already pointed out that Chianti Dan is hell bent on sabotaging UCLA's chances to hire a proven, top tier head coach to replace Neu. Odysseus observed that the PAC 12 hot stove is heating up while our Chianiti swilling feckless bureaucrat AD makes idiotic statements about "signature wins."

Guerrerror's refusal to immediately fire Neu is inexplicable. In fact, he should have done it immediately following the UA debacle.

However, there is one person that can take that decision out of Chianti Dan's hands--Neu himself.

Neu has to realize that he has lost this team as well as the greater Bruins Nation. What is the point to prolonging the inevitable? If Rick has any pride in his alma mater, he would submit his resignation immediately so that UCLA can get on with its search for his replacement.

Here in the framework the BCS will utilize in determining whether the Trogans' 2005 Championship should be vacated (from the BCS website)(emphasis added)

While no final determination can be made without a concrete set of facts, in evaluating whether an institution's participation in a BCS bowl game should be vacated, the conferences and institutions will be guided by the following principles:

1. When the NCAA or a conference makes a finding of one or more major violations of its rules and determines that the violations provided an institution with a material competitive advantage, we will presume that vacation of participation in a BCS bowl game is warranted.

2. When the NCAA or a conference makes a finding of violations, whether major or secondary, and imposes a sanction of forfeiture or vacation of contests in which an ineligible student-athlete participated, we will presume that vacation of participation in a BCS bowl game is warranted if: (a) the student-athlete was ineligible at the time the bowl game was played and participated in such game; or (b) taking account of the forfeiture or vacation of any regular season contests mandated by NCAA or conference sanctions, it appears unlikely that such institution would have been eligible for selection to play in a BCS bowl game.

3. When the NCAA or a conference makes a finding of only secondary violations and determines that: (a) a student-athlete, while technically ineligible for participation in athletic contests during the period of violation, should be reinstated or be eligible for reinstatement; or (b) the institution should not be subject to the sanction of forfeiture or vacation of games in which such student-athlete participated, we will presume that vacation of participation in a BCS bowl game is not warranted.

4. When the NCAA or a conference makes a finding of only secondary violations and determines that the violations provided the institution with no material competitive advantage, then the we will presume that vacation of participation in a BCS bowl game is not warranted.

Based on their criteria, we should have an announcement anytime.

Props to the WWL for covering the passing of Coach Wooden with the respect befitting our Intergalactic treasure.

Lots of good commentary in the ESPN video, but I thought legendary UCLA broadcaster Dick Enberg said it best:

"The man was a sports Abraham Lincoln"

NFLFanhouse.com has a piece on the AP voters' decision to allow former Trogan and alleged confirmed steroid user Brian Cushing to hold on to his ill gotten 2009 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Of particular interest is an opinion of Cushing from an anonymous NFL GM, who offered the following insight:

One NFL general manager, requesting anonymity, offered this scorching view: "We did our research on him before the draft last year and we concluded he was a chronic steroid user dating back to high school. More than a few people were surprised when he passed the steroid tests at the combine. I think the guy became a pro at masking it, until he was caught. I definitely would have taken my vote back on that award if I had one."

Continue reading this post »

This story may have been mentioned here before, but I think it is worth revisiting on the eve of another Angels-Red Sox post season matchup: 

In a 405-page book that hits stores today, Johnson, the company’s former chief operating officer, describes another Alcor employee allegedly whacking Williams’ head with a monkey wrench while trying to free it from its perch atop a BumbleBee tuna can.

link

How in the world can the mishandling of the most famous Red Sock's cryogenically preserved noggin not put a curse on the Sox going forward?

DC had 18 points in the first quarter before he rolled his ankle on a drive to the basket. He was being guarded by first rounder Johnny Flynn from Syracuse, but DC was having his way with him. The crowd was buzzing about some of his drives to the basket. Hopefully the ankle isn't too serious. DC is going to have a solid NBA career.

"The signing of O.J. Mayo pretty much ruined the USC basketball program."

ROFL

USC picked up Boyd in a limousine during his visit and put him and other recruits up in the downtown L.A. Marriott.

link

Sound familiar?

Having already told USC he was not interested in taking an official visit, USC assistant Ken Norton Jr. - a former UCLA player - called Price last month and tried to get him to check out the campus on an official visit. After some joking on the phone, Norton asked if Price would prefer to be picked up in a Mercedes-Benz or a Chevy Tahoe, and Price said he jokingly told Norton he preferred the Tahoe, but then declined the trip altogether.

The following day, Price said, he was pulled out of his fourth-period art class by a guidance counselor who informed him a limousine was waiting in front of Crenshaw High for him. When he got to the front, the driver asked Price to get in and they were going to USC.

With school officials declining to release Price without parental permission, Frank Price came to the school. They called Norton, who instructed the two to hop in and come to the campus, despite Brian and Frank repeatedly telling USC coaches they were not interested in taking the trip.

"He didn't get it through his head, and I had to keep on telling him no," said Brian Price, who grew up a USC fan. "I wasn't falling for it. "That wouldn't look right for UCLA. I'm the face of UCLA football right now. I already know I would not be the face of the USC team. Me taking that trip would be giving UCLA a bad name."

After they sent the limo away, both said they have not been contacted by USC
since. USC coaches are not allowed to comment on Price, since he is still a recruitable athlete until he signs.

While it's being reported that the use of a limo in recruiting is a violation of NCAA rules, Carroll told the LA Times that the school uses Town Cars, not limos. Price's father is quoted as saying the car was much longer than a limo.

Pearson at PE blog

The NCAA is very clear about the use of limousines in recruiting student athletes:

13.5.2 Excessive Entertainment. A member institution may not arrange or permit excessive entertainment of a prospect on the campus or elsewhere (e.g., hiring a band for a dance specifically for the entertainment of the prospect, a chauffeured limousine, a helicopter).

13.5.2.1 General Restrictions. A member institution may pay the prospective student-athlete's actual round-trip transportation costs for his or her official visit to its campus from any location, provided the prospective student-athlete returns to the original point of departure, or if return transportation is provided to the prospective student-athlete's home, educational institution or site of competition, the cost does not exceed round-trip expenses from the prospective student-athlete's original point of departure. Use of a limousine or helicopter for such transportation is prohibited. (Revised: 1/9/06, 5/26/06)

Now, I'm sure this is all a big understanding and that the limo was really a "Towncar. "

Cheat on Peter and Kenny.

At least he is according to Heyman/Verducci:

The Red Sox made a play to re-acquire Marlins superstar Hanley Ramirez after losing out to the rival Yankees for star free agent Mark Teixeira, league sources tell SI.com. But while the Marlins listened to Boston's overtures, Florida isn't anxious to trade its best player, and talks apparently have been aborted after no agreement could be reached.

The Marlins were said to be most interested in a center fielder, and discussions apparently centered on Boston's promising youngster Jacoby Ellsbury, talented pitching prospect Clay Buchholz and others in a package for Ramirez, who began in Boston's organization.

I know it's the longshot of longshots, but how sweet would it be if the Halos put a package together and swooped in on HR right in Theo's face?

Just in case you were wondering whether Boras was using the Angels as leverage to drive up the price on Tex, the big picture of these negotiations is now coming into focus:

But when the Angels pulled out of the bidding on Sunday night, and the Red Sox failed to reach an agreement after their owner traveled all the way to Dallas to meet with him and agent Scott Boras, the Yankees suddenly became more interested.

It was then learned that Teixeira had favored the Yankees all along and according to sources he conveyed that to them this week.

link

Looks like Tex never had any intention of signing with the Angels (at least for a reasonable offer). While it's hard to begrudge Tex for getting all that he can get, it's hard not to feel at least a little disdain towards him for using our team as leverage. F-him: he is the enemy now. F-the Yankees, F-the Red Sox, F-Scott Boras too.

Here's too Kowbell and Wood coming up huge in 2009.

Could it be that Boras is advising Tex to hold off on a decision, hoping that the Yanks jump into the fray? If the Yanks jumped in, you'd think that the Sox would be pressured to do whatever it would take to keep him out of NY.

Boras set the number at 10 years/$200 million from the beginning. Could getting the Yanks invovled help him get there?

It certainly would not help the Halos' chance of resigning Tex if the Yanks got invovled.

Two high-ranking baseball officials predicted that star free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira just might hit the reputed $200-million asking price.

At least two teams and perhaps more are believed to have already bid $160 million, and at least four teams still appear to be in the running. The Red Sox, Angels, Nationals and Orioles appear to be among the serious suitors for the switching-hitting star. Angels owner Arte Moreno told SI on Tueesday, "Teixeira's my guy,'' meaning he remained their top target.

Is it going to take 10 years/ $200m for Tex?

link

Not that I'm breaking any news that he is a TrOJan groupie, but I thought his show was way overboard this morning. 

First, I'm pretty sure he was drunk.

Second, I could have sworn that UCLA was hosting the game this year. So why is it that the TrOJand skanks--I mean song girls and SuC band---were performing during the show? Not to mention his breathless and constant fellating of everything TrOJan.

Keep up the good work ESPN.

The Angels and Dodgers both made huge trades in the last few days to grab two of the best hitters in baseball.

The Angels, who recently swept the Red Sox at the Big A then again at Fenway, went out and got Mark Teixeira from the Braves in return for fan favorite Casey Kotchman and minor league pitcher Stephen Marek. Look for Arte Moreno, the best owner in all of MLB, to make a serious push at signing Teixeira long term. The Angels were already poised to make a deep run in to October. Now they have the bat to protect Vlad that they have been missing.

Not to be outdone, the Dodgers jumped at the opportunity to land the best right handed hitter of this generation and future HOF, Manny Ramirez. Manny's famous for his eccentric and at times kooky behavior, but nobody can deny that the guy can flat out mash. The NL West is up for grabs, and the addition of Manny may be enough to push the Azul over the top. Manny has already publicly announced that he'd like to finish his career in Dodger Blue. (As an Angels fan, I'm just happy he's out of the AL so he can no longer torment Angel pitchers.)

The addition of Mark Teixeira and Manny Ramirez to the Angels and Dodgers is sure to guarantee an exciting play off run.

How sweet is it to see Tex slotted in the #3 hole? If only Soth would get Rivera in for HGH...

Red Sox suck.

Red Sox suck.

Red Sox suck.

Red Sox suck.

Red Sox suck.

 Red Sox suck.

At least according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Wolves could take Love at #3 if they decide to go with a C. It's also interesting that the Wolves have Love or Brook Lopez.

Either way, we know that 2 Bruins are going to make alot of money on 6/26. Hopefully there is a team out there who recognizes LRM's unique defensive abilities and takes him high enough to provide some financial security as well.

Did we just get a glimpse of Franky's replacment tonight? The kid has the stuff with his 95 mph fastball and developing split finger. It is going to be interesting to see how JA develops as a pitcher both physically and mentally while he is getting these types of opportunities.

I love Franky, and his stuff has looked a lot better in the past few weeks, but we sure could use the money that he's going to demand to put towards Vlad's heir apparent.

Thoughts?

The Bruin baseball and softball teams were in action Saturday, and both came up with meaningful W's behind two stellar pitching performances. The Bruin softball team is squaring off against UGA at Easton Staduim in the super regionals with a berth in the CWS at stake. The Bruins turned to their ace, Angelica Seldon, who baffled UGA hitters with a dominant performance to lead the Bruins to a 6-1 victory:

Selden allowed just one run and four hits with no walks in her team-leading 24th complete game of the season to improve to 27-3. The 11 strikeouts marked her 12th double-figure strikeout game of the year and the 66th of her career.

In case you missed it, the game was televised nationally on ESPN. Check out the details of the game here.

Meanwhile, the UCLA baseball team seems to be heating up at just the right time. Today, it was Charles Brewer's turn to lead the Bruins to a huge late season W:

The UCLA baseball team registered its second shutout at No. 15 California in as many days, posting a 7-0 victory Saturday afternoon at Evans Diamond. Bruin right-hander Charles Brewer (8-4) earned his team-leading eighth win, scattering just three hits while striking out four in 5.2 scoreless innings.

...

The Bruins, who have won each of their last five Pac-10 contests, took advantage of 10 walks and three hit-by-pitches issued by the host Golden Bears. Shortstop Brandon Crawford led UCLA's offensive charge, going 3-for-4 with one double, three RBI and two runs. Catcher Ryan Babineau was 2-for-4 with two RBI, and second baseman Alden Carrithers went 2-for-4 with two runs. Center fielder Blair Dunlap went 2-for-5, and designated hitter Cody Decker reached base safely in three of six plate appearances.

The official site has the whole recap and box score.

Go Bruins!

Way back in October, 2006, presumably while OJ Mayo was finalizing arrangements with the BDA agency, Gregg Doyel at CBS Sportsline penned the above entitled article stating a fact that was obvious to everyone involved in the college basketball scene: OJ Mayo and his "mentor" Rodeny Guillory were poison.

Remember, this was written almost 2 years ago:

Still stinging from 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush's collegiate dealings with agents and marketing reps, Southern California can expect more NCAA scrutiny if star basketball recruit O.J. Mayo becomes a Trojan in 2007.

Mayo, who is expected to sign with USC in the spring if not during the early signing period next month, is being mentored by a Los Angeles-area promoter whom the NCAA labeled as an agent's representative in 2000. That was the year Mayo's new mentor, Rodney Guillory, helped get two college basketball players -- including one from USC -- suspended for several games.

Guillory told CBS SportsLine.com his relationship with Mayo is blameless. The relationship has, however, helped put money in Guillory's pocket, with the potential for a much larger profit down the road.

Guillory wants to become Mayo's marketing rep. Sound familiar? It was another marketing rep -- Mike Ornstein -- whose relationship with Bush triggered an NCAA investigation into USC.

Though the USC football team faces the possibility of having to vacate its 2004 national championship, pending the results of the NCAA's investigation, the USC basketball team faces the possibility of adding a player sure to draw the NCAA's attention. And people at USC don't want to talk about it.

USC athletic director Mike Garrett didn't return numerous calls and e-mails for this story. But Garrett did get the message to the USC coaching staff -- and eventually to Guillory himself -- that CBS SportsLine.com was investigating Mayo's relationship with Guillory.

How do I know? Guillory told me. Guillory also told me that he doesn't work for an agent, and that he has done nothing to compromise Mayo's eligibility.

...

Given Guillory's history, USC -- or whichever school signs Mayo -- will want to worry just a little bit.

...

Before Mayo signs, USC would be wise to look hard -- very hard -- at the Guillory connection. Looking the other way may have helped put USC knee-deep in the Ornstein-Bush mess; sources say Ornstein found his way onto the sideline for USC football games as a guest of Dana and David Pump, Adidas kingpins who once used Ornstein as an auctioneer for their annual fundraiser.

Connect the dots. One way or another, Ornstein met Bush and ultimately became his marketing rep. Bush signed with Adidas. The NCAA is looking into what illegal benefits, if any, Bush received from Ornstein while still at USC.

Now Mayo -- the Trojans' top basketball recruit since Paul Westphal -- is being advised by Guillory. And Guillory not only was once labeled by the NCAA as an agent's representative, but helped get a former USC player (Trepagnier) suspended.

Irony doesn't begin to describe this situation.

Read the whole article here. It's quite entertaining given what we now know.

Now USC athletic director Mike Garrett and head basketball coach Tim Floyd claim to have had no idea as to what was happening with OJ Mayo, Guillory, and BDA . If the OJ/Guillory/BDA arrangement was common knowledge in the MSM two years ago, Southern Cal's claim of plausible deniability is laughable on its face.

Eric Patten at Sports Hub LA arrives at the obvious conclusion based on the facts that have been unveiled regarding Southern Cal's engagement of OJ Mayo's services:

But shouldn’t USC face a heap of criticism as well?

It was less than a year ago that we were excusing the university from any misconduct in the Reggie Bush-Lloyd Lake case. If Bush took money and the school didn’t know about it, how can they be punished?

However, now it appears likely that Mayo also took money while he was a student.

Once again, USC denies any wrongdoing.

But how many times, with how many high profile players, are they to be excused? The university prides itself on running pro style programs, but it’s still collegiate athletics. There are rules, and Mike Garrett and Co. should understand that if they’re going to have elite athletes on campus, they have to ramp up their compliance efforts, not shrink back to better avoid responsibility if anything should go wrong.

Plausible deniability isn’t a good defense. At least not the second time around.

For the record, the NCAA hasn't "excused" Southern Cal or Bush over that whole arrangement quite yet. I'm optimistic that we have not heard the end of Bushgate. However, Bushgate should only serve to bolster the NCAA's case against Southern Cal. Something about a complete lack of institutional control.

Stay tuned.

Bumped. GO BRUINS. -N

USC knew Guillory's reputation from 2000, when the NCAA identified him as a runner for an agent and said he illegally provided airfare to former USC guard Jeff Trepagnier. The compliance office was so scared that it banned Guillory from receiving Mayo' s tickets to home games.

But the basketball office was a different story.

This is where Floyd perplexed even some of his admirers. After Guillory told the Daily News that Floyd was "heartbroken" over the ticket ban, Floyd claimed he never spoke to Guillory.

This is the same Guillory who was practically allowed to live in the USC basketball offices, had his run of the school's basketball facilities last summer and accompanied Mayo on his official and unofficial campus visits.

There can be no denial of the cozy relationship, all in the name of securing the player billed as the best in USC history.

A few more examples of that relationship: When USC point guard Angelo Johnson became eligible, Guillory told the Daily News first because he said Floyd told him. If you watched Guillory escape an ESPN reporter during Sunday's report, he does it by slipping into the basketball offices.

USC was aware of the risks associated with Guillory. But that is the business of basketball these days. The potential for winning outweighs character or ethical risks.

Emphasis added throughout. Read Wolf's whole article here. I'll throw this part in just for comedy:

Rap star Romeo Miller gets a scholarship despite the fact no other college offered him one because he is best friends with blue-chip recruit DeMar Derozan. It's a package deal, but Floyd denies it.

ROFL at the gap closers. Is there a more pathetic, desperate excuse for an athletic program in all of the NCAA? As for the NCAA coming down on Southern Cal, here is what we know:

1. OJ took money from a BDA bag man before and during his time at Southern Cal.

2. While attending Southern Cal, OJ could be seen around campus wearing expensive clothes and shoes, and had a flat screen TV in his on-campus dorm room.

3. The bag man, Guillory, was implicated in a previous inappropriate agent-student athlete relationship.

4. Southern Cal's basketball offices provided Guillory, the previous offender who was known to Southern Cal's compliance office, unfettered access to the basketball program.

5. Mayo immediately signed with BDA after declaring.

What more does the NCAA need to know to prove that Southern Cal knew or should have known that OJ was getting paid?

Los Angeles - The UCLA Athletic Department has announced that freshman forward Nikola Dragovic (Belgrade, Serbia) has been ruled ineligible to compete in the first 10 regular season games of the 2006-07 season.

The ruling of ineligibility is because Dragovic competed on a team that the NCAA defines as a professional team due to the fact that some of the members of the club team, Mega Ishrana, received compensation.

While Dragovic never received compensation for the 10 games in which he played, an indeterminate number of members of the team did receive money.

Dragovic will be reinstated in time for the Bruins' 11th game of the season, a home contest with the University of Michigan on Dec. 23, 2006.

"Nikola (Dragovic) and his father (Vitomir Dragovic) tried to do everything the right way to keep his amateur status," UCLA head coach Ben Howland said. "They were unaware that anyone on the team had accepted money. This is very unfortunate, but we will comply with the NCAA's ruling."

So, the NCAA's definition of a professional team is one where "some of the members...receive compensation?"

You mean like houses, cars, and bling? You mean like clothes and flat screen TV's?

How exactly are the Southern Cal FB and BB programs different than Mega Ishrana?

Hypocrite much?

Bumped.  Go Bruins.  -M

Both Mayo and the Trojans issued pathetic denial statements on Sunday. Sadly, Mayo is by now beyond the arm of the NCAA; he declared for the draft and signed with Andrews in April. USC, on the other hand, deserves to fry for this. A postseason ban, loss of scholarships, and a complete voiding of the 2007-08 season is in order. Even if no money was ever exchanged between the USC camp and Guillory -- and you have to at least wonder, if he was on the take from BDA, why not the Trojans as well? -- the Mayo saga is worthy of that dreaded NCAA label, "Lack of Institutional Control".

Luke Winn lays it all out

Winn also blasts Floyd for feigning ignorance of Guillory, who Southern Cal had allegedly blacklisted from the program:

Floyd, in that Times story [see bluestreet's post above] in March 2007, conveniently portrayed Guillory as a mystery man. This was comical. Not only had Guillory already been making above-board cash off of the nation's No. 1-ranked recruit as a promoter, he had also been busted in 2000 for serving as a runner for another agent. One of the players for whom Guillory had impermissibly purchased airfare was a 6-foot-4 guard named not Mayo but Jeff Trepagnier. The school he played for was none other than USC.

Even though he wasn't in L.A. during the Trepagnier trouble, Floyd isn't dumb enough to not have connected the dots and known that Guillory-arranged goods would be dirty. Nor is the Trojans' coach naive enough not to know that agents had been hovering around Mayo since middle school. Floyd invited Mayo and Guillory into his program -- the latter was seen hanging around the USC locker room during the '06-07 season, a year before Mayo arrived -- and hoped the situation would not implode. Now it has, and a plea of ignorance from Floyd and the Trojans, even if they deliberately tried to ignore the dealings between Mayo, Guillory and BDA, is not an acceptable excuse.

Nice to see the MSM finally acknowledge what we have been saying for years.

It's finally go time. This week didn't drag on, did it?

Last time the Bruins met the Tigers in the Tournament, the nation (small "n") stood witness to the beauty of Coach Howland's in-your-shirt defense and how it completely shut down the more athletic Memphis squad. After the game, we had to hear the pundits, some of which still won't go away, about how "ugly" the Ben Ball Warriors made that game.

To the Nation it was a thing of beauty, and you certainly cannot argue with the result:

Bruins embracing the ugliness

Here is to more "ugliness" and more of the same results.

Let's stick with the same MOJO combination from our last game:

It's great to be a Bruin right about now.

This is your official National Semi-Final open-game thread. Have at it.

Go Bruins!