It's never too early to promote the upcoming NFL season, even overseas.

This week, two of the NFL's most recognizable faces, LaDainian Tomlinson and Reggie Bush, were in London to promote October's game between Tomlinson's Chargers and Bush's Saints.

The Chargers and Saints will continue the NFL's new yearly tradition of playing a regular season game on foreign soil. While some players groan about the idea of having to fly across the pond during the season, Tomlinson is looking for lightning to strike twice.

The Giants played against Miami in London last season on their way to a Super Bowl winning season.

Thankfully, LARRY BROWN SPORTS doesn’t let us fall too far behind, as the Saints RB and L.A.’s booty queen could soon be strutting down the aisle together - at least according to Kimmy: (more…)

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• Reggie Bush is proving to be as elusive off the field as he is on it. The trial has been postponed. Again. [LA Times]
• However, Bush's side is seeking arbitration and that could involve a serious admission. [Yahoo!]
• In case I forgot to mention it earlier, a USC commit is officially the fastest in the state at the 100m and 200m. [LA Times]
• John David Booty is getting solid reviews. [NFL]
• Jeff Tedford has joined the blogosphere. It's less "bells and whistles" than Pete Carroll's, but also a bit more personal in tone. [Cal]
• Looking to get in a flame war with USC haters? Here ya' go. [Bleacher Report]

Hoops

• O.J. Mayo may sign with an agent from CAA. [Draft Express]
• Tim Floyd had a lot to say about O.J. Mayo, though nothing new to regular readers of this blog. [Timeberwolves]
• Kentucky transfer Derrick Jasper is looking at USC. [SLO]

Other Sports

• Another reminder that USC allegedly gave a really good baseball coach the boot. [LA Times]
• Basketball isn't the only sport struggling to hang onto talent. High school phenon Tim Beckham had signed to play baseball at USC, but was the #1 overall pick in yesterday's MLB draft. Don't expect to see him play an inning of college ball. [ESPN]
• Ditto for #14 Aaron Hicks. [MN Star Tribune]
• And #56 Jay Austin. [Houston Chronicle]
• And #110 Jon Pettibone. [News Journal]
• The women's tennis team had two All American nods, while the men equaled that and had the ITA Doubles Team of the Year. [USC]

• Kim Kardashian cut together a “private” calendar for Reggie Bush - and wouldn’t you know it, some of the photos have leaked out to the public!

• Were the Atlanta Hawks secretly loaded up with extra liquor the night before Game 7 vs. the Celtics?

• Think we’ll skip out on the peanuts & Cracker Jack next time we’re out at the ol’ ball game.

• Dog gone! A curious canine gets crushed on a Turkish F1 track.

• John Challis, the high school baseball player fighting terminal cancer, got to meet Mario Lemieux & Ben Roethlisberger at Sunday night’s Penguins game. He even had time to toss a quick zinger at the Pirates.

(more…)

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Believe it or not, we at Trojanwire all have mothers. So here's a photographic ode to all the Trojan Mamas out there. Happy Mother's Day!

Matt Leinart Kisses his mother Linda after '04 Rose Bowl Win, image from Picasa Web

Final draft [ESPN Insider]

Then the Jaguars double-dipped into the Trojan talent pool, grabbing runningback Chauncey Washington with the 6th pick of the 7th round. Washington came to the Trojans in the same '03 class as Lendale White and Reggie Bush. But injuries had him sidelined in '03 and redshirt in '04 and '05. But as they saying goes, patience ended up being Washington's greatest virtue.

With the departure of Bush and White to the NFL, and USC's tailback situation in question, Washington was the back who stepped up. He led the Trojans in rushing in 2006 with 744 yards and 9 TDs. Then in 2007, Washington kicked it up a notch. Even with young-uns Joe McKnight and Stafon Johnson as viable tailback options, Chauncey Washington was the choice for O.C. Sarkisian and Pete Carroll. Washington received more than double the carries as any other tailback, and led the Trojans with 969 yards and 10 TDs. 220 of his near 1,000 yards came from a remarkable career-high game, with Washington running all over a very soggy Cal Bears.

Washington is a sizable north-south runner with excellent vision, power and blocking ability, reminiscent of the Lendale White style of game. He should become a solid combo punch along with Jacksonville's Fred Taylor (1202 yards, 5 TDs in 2007) and Maurice Jones Drew (768 yards, 9 TDs).

Overall it has been an excellent two days for the Trojans, with 10 out of 12 players getting selected in the draft. Only guard Drew Radovich and center Matt Spanos remain undrafted. Both would be steals as free agent picks.

What happens when a regular dude, sponsored by an underwear company, challenges celebrities to inane tasks? Answer: Not that Much. But none the less, Hanes is promoting Dave's Detours, as part of a not-so-viral marketing blitz. Still, Dave has managed to challenge the likes of Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush to public duels. And somehow this Dave character always seems to lose the challenge.

• Reggie Bush gets caught in a Hornet’s nest of trouble between Kim Kardashian and an ex-flame at last night’s game in New Orleans.

• Introducing pretty Philly sportscaster Meredith Markovits.

• New Air Jordans are coming out in honor of Michael’s … baseball career?

• The Cubs’ conditioning coach can’t believe the pitching staff would prank him by pummeling his car.

(more…)

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Young, Rich & Infamous? Make Love With a Trojan...

Things seem to be heating up in sunny Southern California, and we're not just talking about the weather. It seems every time the tabloids snap a picture of celluloids' most scandalous young starlets, there's a USC student or graduate standing beside them. Take the latest silver-screen scandal of the moment: Lindsay Lohan. Her rap-sheet is nearly as long as her IMDB profile. There's the multiple speeding tickets, the running red-lights, a hit-and-run, D.W.I, the drinking, the alleged cocaine possession, the rehab, and the revealing Marylin Monroe photos. And who was that scruffy guy with her in all the tabloid photos? That's USC graduate Spencer Guilburt. Lohan's has been caught with her (now-ex) hubby-of-the moment - 24 year old Guilbert, a graphic artist/clothing designer, kissing around town.

Spears and Edie, photo from BritneyFans.org

Then there was Britney Spears and her suspected romance with ex-Trojan volleyball player and Realtor-to-the-stars, Robert Edie. Now I'm not even going to list Britney's problems, because if you have a TV and a pulse, you know things have turned straight-jacket-crazy in the pop-icon's life. But before she was suspected to be romantically involved with the Marshall business school grad, it was rumored she was playing tonsil hockey with Matt Leinart.

And that's not all! USC has been historically linked with silver-screen sex scandals since before there was even sound in cinema. The rumored encounters go all the way back into the 1920s...

The NCAA might soon have the impetus it needs to wrap up a nearly two-year-old investigation into improper benefits that Reggie Bush allegedly received while at USC. Bush, through his attorney, has agreed to give a deposition beginning Feb. 12 in the civil case involving former sports marketer Lloyd Lake… continue