Thursday, November 15, 2007

Random Misbehaviour (and Worse), 11-15

I. Dawg Bites

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Junior guard Billy Humphrey has been indefinitely suspended from the Georgia basketball team following his arrest for possession of a weapon on school property. . . .

The Bulldogs previously dismissed senior forward Takais Brown for violation of team policies. Guard Mike Mercer and forward Albert Jackson, both sophomores, are serving suspensions for violation of academic policies. . . .

At this rate Georgia will be suiting up its cheerleading squad in March.


II. Say it, don't spray it
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia quarterback Pat White accused Louisville linebacker Preston Smith of spitting in his face, even after the coaches for both teams downplayed the incident. . . .

West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez said Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe had phoned him about the matter.

"Steve talked to the player in question and the player assured him that they were jawing at each other but he didn't intentionally spit on him. I appreciate him calling me and talking about it," Rodriguez said on the weekly Big East coaches' conference call Monday. . . .

White didn't back down from his contention.

"He spit on me," White said Tuesday night. "I'm sure he doesn't want to admit that. It's a dirty thing to do. It's disrespectful."


III. Reggie Bush: Taking no Prisoners
Halfway through his second season in the NFL, Reggie Bush already ranks among the most recognizable and profitable faces in the league.

For that he owes thanks to Mike Ornstein, the sports marketing agent who guided him to millions of dollars in endorsement contracts for products ranging from sneakers to submarine sandwiches.

Ornstein is also the man Bush fired last week.

"Most athletes hope for a shoe deal and a little something beyond that, but Bush has got it all," one advertising executive said. "I don't know why he would get rid of his agent."

The split suggests something more than a business difference, with numerous sources pointing to a disagreement among Bush's advisors over how to handle allegations that he and his family took cash and gifts while he was still playing at USC.

The principles are not doing much talking but, based on interviews and information gathered over several months, it seems clear that Bush's advisors were split over whether to settle out of court with two would-be San Diego sports marketers who made the allegations. . . .

Sources say that Ornstein, worried about public relations fallout, argued for bringing the matter to a quiet end.

IV. Austin Scott Pleads Not Guilty
Suspended Penn State running back Austin Scott has waived today's scheduled arraignment and pleaded not guilty to felony charges of rape and sexual assault and a simple-assault charge and two counts of indecent assault, all misdemeanors.

A redshirt senior from Allentown, Scott's next court appearance is a pre-trial conference set for Jan. 17. Jury selection is scheduled for Feb. 4 before a formal trial begins.

Scott's waiver, which included his plea, was faxed yesterday to the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa.

"We expected a waiver since 90 percent normally waive the arraignment," Centre County assistant court administrator Barb Gallo said.

Scott, 22, was charged Oct. 12 in connection with the Oct. 5 encounter he had with a female student at his campus apartment. At an Oct. 17 preliminary hearing, Scott was bound over for trial.

The court issued a gag order to both sides Oct. 22 at the request of Centre County Assistant District Attorney Lance Marshall, who had accused lead defense counsel John Karoly of leaking information about the accuser's past to the media.


V. And more from State Penn. . .

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Penn State defensive tackle Chris Baker and backup linebacker Navorro Bowman were charged with assault Thursday over a campus fight in which authorities said a man was bloodied after being kicked and punched.

Baker, 20, of Windsor, Conn., and Bowman, 19, of District Heights, Md., were arraigned Thursday on charges including felony aggravated assault and two misdemeanors, simple assault and disorderly conduct. Each was also charged with summary harassment and stalking. . . .

In early October, several players had been demoted and/or lost playing time based upon our initial understanding of the facts regarding the incident," according to a statement Thursday from the football team. "Based upon today's information, Chris Baker, Navorro Bowman and Knowledge Timmons will not travel with the team to East Lansing." . . .

Police said they were called to the Hetzel Union Building early Oct. 7 to break up a fight during a dance party attended by at least a dozen players.

The lengthy 15-page complaint paints a chaotic scene, in which authorities said the victim, Varney Capehart, suffered a bloody nose and lip and other injuries to his face after being kicked, stomped and punched "by numerous people," authorities said. Capehart was treated at the scene by paramedics. . . .

A third player, cornerback Knowledge Timmons, will be issued a summons by mail for charges of disorderly conduct and defiant trespass, Centre County Assistant District Attorney Steve Sloane said. Timmons' charges were connected to an incident at the HUB after the fight, Sloane said. . . .

Baker, a sophomore, has played in every game this season, starting in seven of them and compiling 37 tackles and 41/2 sacks. He has emerged as solid contributor on Penn State's young defensive line.

He is also awaiting trial on charges for a separate fight at an off-campus apartment in April.
Mike at Black Shoes Diaries, a Penn State fanblog comments:

I hate this team. I still love Penn State football, but I hate this group of players. They are nothing more than a bunch of street thugs. There is nothing inspiring about them on the field, and nothing to like about them off the field.

I don't ever want to see Chris Baker in Blue and White again. He's a troublemaker. We have five other defensive tackles with NFL caliber talent. We don't need him. He needs Penn State, but he can't seem to keep that in mind.

Knowledge Timmons needs to go as well. He was rumored to be a major player in the April apartment fight with Baker but he never faced charges. He wasn't so fortunate this time, and now the rumors from April carry a little more weight. Kick them both off the team. Now.

AMEN. Get to it Joe Pa!


VI. Montana football gets in on the act

MISSOULA, Mont. -- Three University of Montana football players appeared in District Court Monday on felony charges stemming from a drug-related home invasion that occurred last week near campus.

Running back Greg Coleman, 22, defensive end Mike Shelton, 21, and running back Jeramy Pate, 19, appeared before District Judge John Larson over a video feed from jail. The hearing was unusual because Monday was Veteran's Day, a government holiday, and the courthouse was closed except for the single hearing.

Court records said six men broke into a house early on Nov. 5 with the intent of stealing marijuana, pistol-whipped a man and used a stun gun on him and tied up a woman with duct tape.

The three Grizzly players have been suspended from the team. They and two others have been arrested on felony charges of robbery, burglary and aggravated kidnapping. . . .

Their details have also disappeared from MontanaGrizzlies.com.

Police arrested the men Sunday, intercepting Coleman and Shelton at the Adams Center as the football team arrived home following Saturday's game at Idaho State. . . .

The arrests are the latest trouble for members of the UM football team.

In June, cornerback Jimmy Wilson surrendered to California authorities investigating the death of his aunt's 29-year-old boyfriend. Wilson has pleaded not guilty to murder in the case.

Later that same month, teammate Qwenton Freeman, who California authorities suspect witnessed the shooting, was arrested over allegations that he threw a beer bottle at a man outside a bar. He has been acquitted on the charge, but still has two cases pending -- one for slapping a 24-year-old woman outside a bar and another for choking his girlfriend and hitting her in the head. He has denied the allegations.

In September, cornerback Timothy L. Parks was arrested on charges that he pointed a gun at a woman's head and slapped her while trying to collect a debt.

Certainly not what head coach Bobby Hauck was looking for heading into the rivalry game with Montana State on Saturday, and a likely seed in the FCS playoffs.

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