Rotoworld: Oregon RB LaMichael James and Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon among top 10 players who are being overhyped for the 2012 draft.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
The Detroit Red Wings equaled an NHL record with their 20th straight win at home, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 Sunday night on the strength of Johan Franzen's tiebreaking goal early in the third period.
PBT: Boston's Rajon Rondo continues to be named in trade talks, which is madness. The Celtics guard creates offense and makes everyone around him better, which was evident in Sunday's win over the Bulls.
Arc: Syracuse is among a solid group of No. 1 seeds in our latest tournament projections, but the middle of the pack is much more murky.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods greeted their Sunday pairing at Pebble Beach with optimism. But the day would end happily only for one.
The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Tessa Worley of France fought off gusting winds to win a second consecutive World Cup giant slalom Sunday in the Andorran Pyrenees. Overall leader Lindsey Vonn was more than a second behind and finished eighth.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
APThe NCAA is investigating whether the living arrangement violated rules prohibiting student-athletes and their families from receiving extra benefits from agents or their representatives.
Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen said earlier this week that a Pac-10 investigation could start soon, but gave no specific time frame. USC could forfeit its 2005 Pac-10 football title if Bush is ruled ineligible, he said.
Any violation could also put Bush in a precarious position with the organization that awards the Heisman Trophy; the award ballot states that the winner must be in compliance with NCAA rules. Heisman officials have said they will wait until the Pac-10 investigation is complete before deciding if any action needs to be taken.
USC coach Pete Carroll, reached late Thursday night, said: “I don’t know the details of it, so I have no comment about it.”
According to Watkins, the scenario began when LaMar Griffin, Bush’s stepfather, approached Lake during the player’s sophomore season in the fall of 2004 with a proposal to form a sports management business. Watkins described Lake — a documented gang member from El Cajon who is now serving time in prison for a probation violation — as a longtime friend of the Bush family.
Griffin and Lake teamed up with Michaels to form New Era, he said. Michaels was a close associate of Lake’s, according to a 2002 FBI affidavit filed in support of arrest warrants for Lake and other accused San Diego gang members.
At one point, San Diego-based sports agent David Caravantes joined the team, with the plan being that New Era would market Bush and Caravantes would represent him.
Because Michaels is a member of the Sycuan Indian tribe, the group approached the tribal council in search of more investments.
The tribe declined to join the venture, said Adam Day, Sycuan’s assistant tribal manager.
Around then, Watkins told the Times, the Griffins started asking for money.
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The falling out between Michaels and Bush’s family began when the player hired another marketing representative — Mike Ornstein — and another agent — Joel Segal.
The Bush controversy is not the only public relations problem facing the Southern California football program.
Backup quarterback Mark Sanchez was released from jail Thursday as police continued to investigate a female student’s accusation he sexually assaulted her.
Rotoworld: Oregon RB LaMichael James and Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon among top 10 players who are being overhyped for the 2012 draft.
Rotoworld: Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill among the 10 players who will slip down draft boards, but probably shouldn't.
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Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
