LOS ANGELES -- A sports marketer will give NCAA
investigators financial records and other evidence linking
Reggie Bush and his family to nearly $280,000 in benefits while he was
enrolled at Southern California, according to a report Wednesday.
Lloyd Lake, who allegedly provided improper benefits to Bush in
2005, has agreed to meet with NCAA officials and give them evidence
to help their investigation, Yahoo! Sports reported on its Web
site, citing two unidentified sources.
Yahoo! Sports also reported it had acquired confidential e-mails
from officers of New Era Sports & Entertainment, a marketing agency
founded by Lake and Michael Michaels with cooperation from Bush and
his stepfather, LaMar Griffin. The e-mails show the agency
soliciting marketing and memorabilia deals on the running back's
behalf, Yahoo! Sports reported.
Both Yahoo! Sports and The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday
that Lake is expected to file a civil lawsuit in San Diego against
Bush later this month, seeking to recoup money allegedly given to
Bush and his family.
Lake's attorney, Brian Watkins, told The Associated Press on
Tuesday he couldn't confirm or deny the reports. Watkins declined
to comment about the details mentioned in Wednesday's article, only
to say, "The story is very accurate."
Lake and Michaels claimed more than a year ago that they
provided money to Bush's family as well as a home for which the
family had failed to pay more than $50,000 in rent. The conflict
was made public after Bush signed with another sports agent.
Bush, the Heisman Trophy winner as a junior in 2005, is in his
second year with the New Orleans Saints, having signed a contract
reportedly worth up to $60 million. He has said repeatedly that
neither he nor his family did anything wrong in dealings with
Michaels and Lake.
A phone message left for Bush's attorney, David Cornwell, on
Wednesday also wasn't immediately returned.
Michaels reached a settlement with Bush and his family last
April. Yahoo! Sports said the settlement was for between $200,000
and $300,000.
If Bush is found to have received improper benefits, USC could
be forced to forfeit games. The school could face other sanctions
if it's proven that coaches knew or should have known about the
alleged benefits.
Also, if Bush is found to have broken NCAA rules during his
Heisman-winning season, the award could be revoked.