Losing Prestige
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by Cheezer
In mid-January 2008, Simon and Schuster publishing house will be releasing a book by Don Yeagar and Jim Henry. The book, titled “Tarnished Heisman”, details the improper benefits that New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush allegedly received while playing running back at USC.
Included in the book will be transcripts of conversations where Bush confirms that he owed money to the financiers of a new sports marketing firm, New Era Sports & Entertainment. In addition to the transcripts, the book will include extensive interviews with officers of New Era and their family members.
According to sources and documents obtained by Yahoo Sports, Bush agreed to join New Era in exchange for certain benefits and partial ownership of the company. He backed out of that agreement and never repaid what he was advanced, sources said.
Lately, the NCAA has gotten involved. Over the past week, they have interviewed three people with knowledge of the cash (~$300k) and other benefits that Bush received from New Era. The list of benefits is long and diverse. It includes items such as: spending money, money for a car, Bush’s family living rent free in a new San Diego home for one year, free furniture, paid hotel stays, travel expenses covered and paid meals.
The NCAA also met with family and friends of Lloyd Lake, a New Era financier. Barbara Gunner and Lisa Lake, his mother and sister spoke to the NCAA about how they helped Lake by lending him money to get New Era started. They also discussed encountering Bush and his family, including stepfather LaMar Griffin and mother Denise Griffin.
The NCAA interviewed Lloyd Lake in November, listening to a portion of the recordings he made of conversations between himself, Bush and LaMar Griffin.
Members of Yahoo Sports, who originally broke this story back in April 2006 have also heard a portion of the recorded conversations.
One of the authors, Don Yaeger said he believes the book could prove to promote the NCAA investigation and ultimately lead to Bush losing the Heisman. "My belief is that Heisman voters will have another decision to make in the near future," Yaeger said.
The other author, Jim Henry said he was convinced Bush and his family received the improper benefits after he heard the recorded conversations and examined the documents for himself. Henry stated, "At the end of the day I asked myself did I believe Lloyd Lake and his family. The answer was yes."
In the book, Lloyd Lake discusses how he first met Bush when the running back was a prep athlete at Helix High in San Diego. Over the years, they maintained a relationship and in 2004, they allegedly agreed to start the sports marketing company. Due to the timing of this relationship, the USC Trojans could lose their 2004 national championship title. Also in jeopardy are the victories from 2005 when the Trojans lost the national title to the Texas Longhorns.
Lake filed suit against Bush in San Diego County Court in October, alleging Bush, his stepfather and mother promised to repay money that was advanced to them. In a related note, Bush reached a settlement with one of the other financiers in March 2007, paying him between $200,000 and $300,000.
Hattip: Yahoo Sports
