Former New Era Investor Files Lawsuit Against Bush, Family

Former New Era Sports & Entertainment investor Lloyd Lake filed a civil lawsuit yesterday in San Diego County (CA) against Saints RB Reggie Bush and his family, alleging they "accepted more than $291,600 over the course of roughly a year” while Bush was at USC, according to David Wharton of the L.A. TIMES. Lake’s attorney, Brian Watkins, said Lake will talk to NCAA investigators about the issue Friday. Bush’s attorney, David Cornwell, could not be reached for comment, but Bush “has repeatedly said that neither he nor his parents did anything wrong.” The controversy began in spring ’06 when Lake and fellow New Era investor Michael Michaels “alleged they had sought to create a sports marketing agency … with Bush as their star client.” But New Era “began to fall apart” when Bush signed with marketing agent Mike Ornstein. In January, a source said that Lake “had tape-recorded conversations with Bush and his stepfather talking about cash and gifts.” If investigators find that Bush “received improper benefits while in college, USC could be forced to forfeit games,” and Bush “could be asked to return the Heisman Trophy” (L.A. TIMES, 10/31). When asked if Lake had tried to reach a “similar settlement” to the one Michaels received in April, Watkins said, “Yes, but we were unable to do so.” He added that a settlement is “never a dead issue” (USA TODAY, 10/31). The suit “does not break down specific dollar amounts paid to Bush and his family.” An investigation last year found that the family lived rent-free in a new $757,000 house owned by Michaels before being evicted (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/30).

REPERCUSSIONS: YAHOO SPORTS’ Dan Wetzel wrote, “Due to the NCAA’s lack of subpoena power, historically its biggest cases have come from civil or criminal lawsuits where its investigators can use evidence gathered from depositions and other parts of the judicial process. It was that way in the Fab Five case at Michigan.” The lawsuit for USC is a "terrible development," one that can "imperil both the past and future and send [coach Pete] Carroll scurrying back to the NFL” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/30).

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USA Swimming promoted Managing Dir of Financial Affairs JIM HARVEY to CFO (USA Swimming)....U.S. Lacrosse named BRIAN REESE Dir of Sport Development. Previously, Reese was the first GM for the MLL Denver Outlaws (U.S. Lacrosse).

EXECS: The AHL Chicago Wolves promoted Exec Dir of Sponsorship & Marketing MIKE BERNDT to Exec VP/Business Operations and Dir of Operations COURTNEY MAHONEY to VP/Operations (Wolves)....Turner Network Sales promoted Network Marketing Manager ALEXIS HAMBRICK to Dir of Entertainment Networks & Sports Marketing (Turner)....The National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) named ALBIN HANDY to its BOD (NAYS)....The Nets named AMOS VARON Managing Dir of Corporate Sales, JASON ODDO Dir of Finance and LAURA PARKER Senior Dir of Marketing. Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment named JOE STETSON Senior Dir of Marketing (Nets).

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Global Management Group agent ALVIN KEELS is profiled by Ed Miller of the Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT, which notes the 29-year-old helped negotiate the five-year, $43.2M contract Chiefs RB LARRY JOHNSON signed before the season, making him the highest-paid back in NFL history. While a publication described Keels as “Johnson’s wet-behind-the-ears agent,” Keels said, “It wasn’t my first big deal. It wasn’t even my first deal with the Chiefs.” Keels: “I’m at the point where no deal is too big. I’m well-connected in the league and I know how the process goes. I was prepared; I was ready to roll” (Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 10/30).

DARN IT ALL: Chiefs coach HERM EDWARDS was a guest on FSN’s “BDSSP” last night, but the show was renamed “Best Darn Sports Show Period” because of Edwards’ disdain of profanity. After naming a star after him with the Int'l Star Registry, presenting him various sports teams' tickets, having a T-shirt made for him and offering to change the name of the show, Edwards agreed to appear on the show for an interview. Edwards, on FSN changing the show's name for the night, “Change is good. It’s called growth. It took you six years to do it, but it’s good” (FSN, 10/30).

DeBartolo (c) On Preliminary List Of Pro Football HOF Nominees

NAMES: Former 49ers Owner EDDIE DEBARTOLO JR. is among the 124 people on a preliminary list of nominees for induction into the Pro Football HOF next year (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/31)....Actor COLIN FERGUSON will play a former NFLer “whom a young boy bonds with” in the upcoming film “THE EGG FACTORY” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 10/31)....The N.Y. POST’s Page Six reports LANCE ARMSTRONG and actress ASHLEY OLSEN were seen together at the Gramercy Park Hotel Monday night. A source said, “They came together with a group of friends. Ashley drank red wine, sat on his lap and they were making out all night” (N.Y. POST, 10/31).

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