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Sports Outside the Beltway

USC’s Aryan Brotherhood

USC just isn’t having the best of times lately, they have a slew of football players making and acting out some really stupid decisions. The latest was starting a Facebook group dedicated to White Power as a joke. Of course they appear to be skipping English class or lack the mastery of cutting edge technology like spell check.

The racist Facebook group was created by a USC football player and showed a graphic of a black baby in handcuffs. Junior linebacker Clay Matthews created the group, “White Nation,” which featured a graphic with the caption, “arrest black babies before they become criminals.” Teammates David Buehler, Brian Cushing, Dan Deckas and Dallas Sartz joined the group.

“This group is not for the faint of heart,” read the group’s description. “All members are athletes of Caucasion (sic) descent. DISCLAIMER: In no way are the following memebers (sic) intolerant of others, we are just doing our duty of protecting the Arian (sic) brotherhood.”

These guys need to learn the difference between funny and stupid. Deadspin thinks “This should do wonders for USC’s recruiting“.

The time has come for Carroll to swing the hammer and get these guys in line, pretty soon USC will be entering the reputation territory of schools like Miami and Nebraska.

 

USC Hockey Player Moons BYU Fans

Sometime you have to wonder what does through college students brains and why would you do it in Logan, Utah of all places.

A University of Southern California hockey goalie put on a show, but it had nothing to do with stopping shots.

Mickey Meyer rode his stick like a horse, dropped his bulky pants, mooned the crowd and slapped his buttocks during a game against Brigham Young University, police said.

He was ejected and ticketed for lewdness, a misdemeanor, after an officer who was working security at the rink said he witnessed the scene Saturday.

“I had my fill of these refs,” Meyer said on an Internet broadcast of the game, according to The Herald-Journal of Logan.

Meyer’s antics occurred while play was stopped and referees were trying to sort out penalties in the third period of a consolation game in the ACHA West Regional tournament at Eccles Ice Center.

The junior from Clinton, N.Y., was “riding his hockey stick like a horse and slapping his butt,” North Park Officer Mike Stauffer said in a report.

After pulling down his pants, Meyer slapped his bare bottom several times, Stauffer said.

 

Danelo’s Brother: “I don’t believe that’s what happened.”

Reacting to Monday’s autopsy report, Joey Danelo, brother of Mario Danelo believes the police ruled out foul play too quickly. ESPN has the story:

Mario Danelo’s brother isn’t convinced the Southern California kicker fell to his death last month, despite the findings of law enforcement.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office said in an autopsy report released Monday that Danelo was legally drunk at the time of his death but couldn’t reach other conclusions.

“Nobody knows what happened to him that night,” Joey Danelo told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Tuesday. “I don’t believe that he fell from the top of that cliff — no way. That’s just my personal opinion. I don’t believe that’s what happened.

Suspicion with police reports are nothing new. Whenever a young person dies unexpectedly or under unusual circumstances, finding out exactly what happened is always paramount. Unfortunately, discovering that without witnesses or much forensic evidence will prove very difficult.

 

Will USC Lose its National Titles?

If one is to pass judgement based on pass history of the NCAA, based on this report, Reggie Bush may of just cost himself the Heisman Trophy and his team two National Championships:

The existence of taped conversations between Reggie Bush or members of his family and an investor in a failed sports marketing agency could confirm the New Orleans Saints running back received cash and gifts while playing for Southern California, Yahoo.com reported Wednesday.

A federal investigation into extortion claims by Bush and his family revealed the existence of the taped conversations, according to the Yahoo.com report.

Lake told Yahoo in August 2006 that he contributed a portion of the cash and gifts allegedly given to Bush and his family as part of an agreement to represent the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner when he signed an NFL contract. In September, Yahoo.com reported Ornstein also supplied Bush and his family with gifts while he was still at USC.

According to Yahoo.com, nearly $280,000 in cash, rent and gifts was allegedly given to Bush and his family.

The Pac-10 Conference and the NCAA are investigating whether Bush or his family broke NCAA rules and compromised his eligibility during the 2004 and ’05 seasons by taking extra benefits.

If Bush is found to have violated NCAA rules, USC, which won a national title in ’04 and played for the ’05 championship, could be sanctioned.

Also, the Heisman Trophy Trust requires players be in good standing with the NCAA to be eligible for the award given to college football’s top player. If Bush is ruled ineligible by the NCAA, he could be in danger of having his Heisman taken away.

If true this would be a black-eye to Reggie’s College Career and USC Football. Its a shame that the actions of one stupid person would wipe away the achievements of an entire team, but as many College Programs, like Michigan (Chris Weber), have learned it is the way the NCAA handles these incidents. Only time will tell if these tapes really exist and the damage it will do to two National Championship seasons for USC. It won’t affect Reggie Bush much as he makes millions in the NFL, but for all the other players who didn’t make millions in the NFL and for the school his stupidity could end up wiping their achievements from the record books and hurt the image of an excellent football program for years. But only time will tell how the NCAA handles this.

 

Dolphins add Pete Carroll as candidate

The Palm Beach Post is reporting that Dolphin owner Wayne Huizenga went to Costa Rica on Saturday. That’s where the USC coach is on vacation.

The Dolphins have added Southern California coach Pete Carroll to their list of head-coaching candidates, a source said Sunday, and team officials might already have talked to Carroll.

Carroll, according to a Los Angeles Daily News report, is on vacation in Costa Rica, and a plane owned by Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga was in Costa Rica on Saturday.

Huizenga’s plane, which has a Dolphins logo on its tail, was used to take the owner to interviews in Atlanta, San Diego, Chicago and Pittsburgh.

The Dolphins interviewed six candidates on Thursday and Friday: former Atlanta Falcons coach Jim Mora, Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey, San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, Chicago Bears coordinators Ron Rivera (defense) and Ron Turner (offense), and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt.

Messages left for Carroll’s representatives were not returned.

Carroll, 55, recently completed his sixth season as head coach of the Trojans. He has a 65-12 record and has led USC to two consecutive national championships.

Before heading to the college ranks, Carroll was an NFL head coach with the New York Jets (1994) and New England Patriots (1997-99), compiling a 33-31 regular-season record, 34-33 overall.

I’ve been sick for four days(and am still not 100%) and during that time I got to watch lots of television. One sports commentator dismissed the idea of Carroll returning to the pros. One reason being the coach would be dealing with prima donnas rather than college recruits. Plus Carroll could tell potential USC Trojans that an a former USC QB dated Paris Hilton. I guess Carroll doesn’t use as a sales pitch the story of a former USC RB and Heisman trophy winner who one June 1994 night…..

Ok, I’m losing my mind and it has nothing to do with the antibiotics I’m taking. I wouldn’t mind Carroll on the Dolphin sideline next fall but something tells me he likes the college ranks. Pete has had a taste of the Pros and Miami is in for a rebuilding project. For what possible reason would Carroll leave USC for Miami? Miami doesn’t need so much a head coach with a winning record, as one who is good at evaluating talent. Look at the top Dolphin draft selections dating back to 1996. Miam’s record is terrible and this has to be reversed.

 

Saban Continues Building Staff: Fisher Out, Applewhite In?

Nick Saban is working the phones to put together his staff, which will likely not include LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher.

Thomas Murphy of the Mobile Press-Register reports that “Saban has so far hired Kevin Steele, likely as defensive coordinator, Lance Thompson and Kirby Smart, who will probably handle defensive backs” as well as “Todd Alles, a former program assistant for Ohio State, to be the director of football operations, one source said. Randy Ross, a 17-year veteran on the UA staff, had previously held the post, though a school is not limited to one coach in such an off-the-field position.”

Offensive coordinator is, of course, the most pressing need and there appear to be multiple irons in the fire. “Saban has approached his former assistant at LSU, Jimbo Fisher, as well as Rice offensive coordinator Major Applewhite, Southern California offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin and possibly others to gauge their interest in joining his first Crimson Tide staff.” Applewhite is especially intriguing, as he “is seen as one of the brightest young offensive minds in the game. The former Texas quarterback and Baton Rouge, La., native, helped lead Rice to its first bowl berth in 45 years this season.”

There is a growing consensus that Fisher won’t take the job. He’s hemmed and hawed around long enough that Florida State has withdrawn its offer. Ian Rapoport reports that the biggest obstacle is the desire by both Alabama and FSU to sign him to a contract with a buyout clause, whereas he wants to keep his options open in case the NFL carousel creates an opening at Georgia Tech, in addition to the already-open Louisville job.

Paul Gattis mentions some other candidates for staff openings: “Steve Marshall, who most recently coached the offensive line with the NFL’s Houston Texans. And Mississippi State assistant Shane Beamer, son of Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, has interviewed with Saban.”

 

Mario Danelo, USC Kicker, Found Dead

Mario Danelo, USC’s kicker, was found dead today at the foot of a cliff, ESPN reports.

Danelo’s body was found at the bottom of White Point Cliff in San Pedro, according for a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department. Police did not release further details.

Danelo, a redshirt junior, walked on with the Trojans in 2003 and earned a scholarship in 2005, according to the USC athletic department’s Web site. He was 15-for-16 on field goals this season and made 44 of 48 PATs, leading the team in scoring with 89 points.

Danelo is the son of former NFL kicker Joe Danelo.

Horrible news. The cause of death is not known at this time.

 

USC Starting Point Guard Ryan Francis Killed in Louisiana

From AP

LOS ANGELES – Southern California freshman point guard Ryan Francis was shot and killed early Saturday while riding in a car in Louisiana, where he was visiting his mother.

The 19-year-old Francis was killed about 3:30 a.m. in Baton Rouge, said Tim Tessalone, USC’s director of sports information.

“We understand he was in a car and somebody shot into the car,” Tessalone said.

*****

Francis was USC’s starting point guard and averaged more than seven points a game.

*****

“We’re all devastated,” said USC coach Tim Floyd. “We’ve lost a special young man who in his short time at USC made an impression that will last forever.”

How sad.

 

NFL Draft 2006 – Round 1 #10 – Arizona Cardinals – QB Matt Leinart

The Cardinals can’t pass on Leinart. They’d be getting a top 3 player in the 10th slot. Denny Green is no idiot.

ESPN has Matt Leinart on the phone. That’s a good sign. Time to end his agony.

Pick: Leinart.

The bad news is that Leinart stayed in school, didn’t get a second Heisman or a third national championship, and fell nine spots in the draft. The good news, though, is that he’s going to a well run team and a smart head coach.

This draft is humming along fast. The last couple years, it seemed like all the teams took every second they had available. We’ve gone through ten guys in 97 minutes.

Leinart is putting a positive spin on things with Susie Kolber. There are indeed worse things that can happen than being picked later in the 1st round than one had expected.

 
 


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