Canadians will be politely sad if Burger King

Burger King is in the midst of a potential takeover of Canadian coffee and donut chain Tim Hortons. Canadians, while still a mild bunch, are not thrilled with the idea.

"It's our brand," Holly Cosgrey, a 60-year-old Torontonian told Bloomberg News. "Timmy's is always trying new things, adapting, they always have good service, and you always get your coffee fast no matter how long the lineup is. Burger King may screw it up."

To understand what the Tim Hortons purchase means in the United States, you need to dig into to the arcane tax policies about inversions. But understanding what a takeover of Timmy's (as the chain is known north of the border) means to a Canadian is a story about culture and pride. It's about an American fast food company taking over a beloved institution older than the Canadian flag itself.

Tim Hortons is Canada's largest restaurant chain. With more than 3,600 locations across the country, that works out to one Tim Hortons for every 9,500 Canadians. (By contrast, Starbucks maintains a paltry one coffee shop for every 28,000 Americans).

Tim Hortons is ubiquitous in Canada. Canadians spend an average of $150 at Tim Hortons annually, higher than spending at any other store. As of 2008, it controlled 62 percent of the country's coffee market. Some researchers use the proximity of the nearest Tim Hortons to measure whether an area of Canada is rural or not. Really.

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Before he was known for a massively successful coffee and donuts chain, Tim Horton was a professional hockey player. Yes, this story is really that Canadian.

Born in Ontario, he spent most of his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs; for decades, he held the record for most consecutive games played for the team (486, to be exact). In the middle of his hockey career, Horton got into the franchise business, opening his first store in April 1964 under the name Tim Donut.

Tim Hortons grew quickly, as you can see in this most excellent graphic from Victoria Bloomfield's article, "Tim Hortons: Growth of a Canadian Coffee and Doughnut Chain."

It's popular, and ingrained in national culture in a way to that's difficult to compare to any fast food chain in the United States.

Tim Hortons finds itself into official Canadian moments with shocking ease. Like take the time that the Royal Canadian Mint wanted to distribute a new, commemorative quarter in 2004. It distributed that new coin exclusively through Tim Hortons locations. Let that sink in: the federal government was distributing new currency through a donut shop chain. You couldn't go to a bank and get this quarter; you had to go to Tim Hortons.

The Canadian Oxford Dictionary has added the phrase "double-double" to its list — that would be Tim Hortons-speak for a coffee with two creams and two sugars. When former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Canada in 2006, the foreign minister took her to a Tim Hortons for coffee.

"The chain is celebrated as a 'national institution' and is connected to broader ideas of cultural identity, an iconic status only partially connected to memories of Tim as a Canadian hero," University of Toronto sociologist Steve Penfold writes in his book, "The Donut: A Canadian History."

In that book, Penfold quotes one independent donut shop owner on the popularity of Tim Hortons: "They'll go anywhere," he says. "They could survive in the middle of Lake Ontario."

Maybe it's the quality of the coffee (there 's a longstanding rumor in Canada that Timmy's puts nicotine in its coffee to make it addictive, which has, unsurprisingly, turned out to be false). Or maybe it's the donuts. But the significance of Tim Hortons seems to really come down to its place as a long-standing, home-grown business that is everywhere in Canada.

Canada is a relatively small country that shares a border with one of the world's largest; it's easy for Canadian culture to get overwhelmed by American brands.

And Tim Hortons is a rare exception to that trend. Because of it, Starbucks has barely been able to get a foothold in the Canadian coffee market (it's the second largest coffee chain in Canada, but only holds 7 percent of the market). Even when you live in Canada, it's rare to see a homegrown brand that is so dominant.

More than a coffee shop, Tim Hortons is something that feels uniquely Canadian — in a way not many outlets (not really much of anything, for that matter) do. The vast majority of large chains in Canada are American, perhaps with a little homage to their newly-annexed land. Breakfast chain Denny's, for example, replaces the apostrophe in its name with a maple leaf in signage at Canadian locations; Pizza Hut uses the same maple leaf to dot the "i" in pizza.

But that's not the case with Tim Hortons: it's a massively successful, homegrown, definitely Canadian success. One that could soon have uniquely un-Canadian ownership.

That translates into on-the-ground help such as location mapping, knowledge of regional competition and networks of local suppliers.

More importantly, though, the burger empire has the capital needed by the Canadian icon to market itself to consumers in the U.S. and abroad who are unfamiliar with the brand.

Burger King's know-how may be most crucial in the highly-competitive American market where Tim Hortons has struggled since entering in 1984 in New York state.

"The coffee shop segment is crowded and you've got two huge players that have very good, very strong customer loyalty [in the U.S.]," said David Henkes, vice-president of Chicago-based food industry consultancy Technomic.

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"Tim Hortons has sort of tried to figure out how to be that No. 3 player," but it's been a struggle in part because Americans don't understand "the brand heritage of Tim Hortons," says Henkes.

By 2018, the company plans to open 500 restaurants in Canada, with about half of them added this year alone. The company currently has more than 1,300 stores.

In the U.S., it hopes to expand its 850-strong network of stores with 300 more by 2018.

The company also has 38 restaurants in the Persian Gulf, where it's seen some success. There it hopes to add about 220 locations in the same time period.

Schwartz sees the Tim Hortons-Burger King deal as a "huge win" not only for the Canadian restaurant, but also for Canadian taxpayers in the long term.

The new merged company would be headquartered in Canada, where the corporate tax rates are substantially lower. The basic U.S. rate stands around 35 per cent, while Canada's is about 10 points lower, depending on the province.

"It would create a large world-class company based in Canada, paying taxes in Canada, increase the exposure of the Toronto stock market and potentially lead to more tax inversions of U.S. and foreign companies coming into Canada," said Schwartz. Tax inversions are the relocation of a company's headquarters to a country with lower taxes.

But ultimately, will it make any difference for the average Canadian?

No, says Middleton, not unless cost-cutting measures change the nature of Timmies.

"Canadians are very loyal, they don't change buying habits as fast as Americans, they're not as price seeking as Americans. They're more patient," said Middleton.

But if 3G takes it a step too far, they could find themselves faced with a profit-line that looks more like an inverted hockey stick, a sudden downward move, as Canadians say, "This is no longer my Tim's."

The new combined company would be based at the current headquarters of Tim Hortons, in Oakville, Ont. Burger King would continue to maintain its global home in Miami.

The deal is structured as follows:

3G Capital, the investment firm that owns Burger King, would pay $65.50 in cash for every Tim Hortons share already out there.

In addition to that cash, every Tim Hortons shareholder would get 0.8025 shares in the new, as yet unnamed company.

Shareholders also would have the right to choose an all-cash or all-stock option.


Tim Hortons CEO Marc Caira told CBC the deal is great news for the company, and for Canada. "There's nothing negative here about Tim Hortons in Canada," he said, adding there are no plans to have the two chains sell each others products — hamburgers in Tim Hortons and Tims coffee in Burger King, for example. "You're not going to see any interaction between the restaurants," Caira said.

Executives from the companies involved also poured cold water on theories that the move was an elaborate tax inversion chiefly designed to bring down Burger King's tax rate. Canada's basic corporate tax rate is about 26 per cent, while the U.S.'s is around 35 per cent.

But Burger King already managed to get its tax rate down to 27.5 per cent last year, company filings show. Tim Hortons paid 26.8 per cent tax in Canada last year, according the its annual report.

"We don't expect our tax rate to change materially" Burker King CEO Daniel Schwartz said on the call. Burger King will continue to pay federal, state and local taxes on U.S. earnings, as will Tim Hortons keep paying Canadian taxes, Schwartz reiterated — several times.

If the deal goes through as is, 3G would still control 51 per cent of the new company. Current Burger King shareholders would own 27 per cent, and current Tim Hortons shareholders would own the remaining 22 per cent.

Although Burger King has roughly twice as many locations as Tim Hortons, the Canadian chain takes in much more revenue from its stores.

Tims says it controls 28 per cent of fast food sales in Canada, including 75 per cent of all coffee and caffeinated beverage sales.

Although he didn't offer details, Schwartz says the combined company plans to pay a dividend — just as both the individual companies currently do.

The boards of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction. Two-thirds of Burger King is owned by 3G, so the deal has been consummated on that end, but Tim Hortons shareholders still have to approve it.

The deal is subject to numerous regulatory and anti-trust hurdles, including the Investment Canada Act. "The transaction ... is structured to bring significant benefits to Canada," Behring said, including the infamous "net benefit" test that has scuppered deals in the past.

Shares in the new company will list both on the TSX and NYSE.

Daniel Schwartz, CEO of Burger King, would also become CEO of the new company. Current Tim Hortons CEO Marc Caira would become a director of the new company, as well as its vice-chairman.

The new company's board would include the current eight Burger King directors and three Canadian directors to be appointed by Tim Hortons, including Caira.

Warren Buffett's company Berkshire Hathaway is helping finance the deal with $3 billion of preferred equity financing, but will not have a role in managing operations.

Burger King is in the midst

Burger King is in the midst of a potential takeover of Canadian coffee and donut chain Tim Hortons. Canadians, while still a mild bunch, are not thrilled with the idea.

"It's our brand," Holly Cosgrey, a 60-year-old Torontonian told Bloomberg News. "Timmy's is always trying new things, adapting, they always have good service, and you always get your coffee fast no matter how long the lineup is. Burger King may screw it up."

To understand what the Tim Hortons purchase means in the United States, you need to dig into to the arcane tax policies about inversions. But understanding what a takeover of Timmy's (as the chain is known north of the border) means to a Canadian is a story about culture and pride. It's about an American fast food company taking over a beloved institution older than the Canadian flag itself.

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Canadians aren't likely to lose their beloved double-doubles or the Timbits that prove so perplexing to our American neighbours. But the planned acquisition of Canada's Tim Hortons by the U.S.-based Burger King will undoubtedly bring changes.

Tim Hortons agreed Tuesday to be bought by 3G Capital, the investment firm that owns Burger King. The Miami-based burger chain said the new combined company would be based at the current headquarters of Tim Hortons in Oakville, Ont.

The $94-a-share deal has been unanimously approved by the boards of both companies, but is still subject to a shareholder vote. Regulators in the U.S. and Canada will also likely want a say.

If completed, the deal would automatically give the merged entity more clout simply by making it the world's third-largest quick-service restaurant. The new company would have combined global sales of $23 billion and have 18,000 locations in 98 countries.

"Tim's won't die because of foreign ownership, they'll die because foreign ownership will bring forth ... death by a thousand cuts," says Alan Middleton, executive director of York University's Schulich Executive Education Centre.

The companies said Tuesday that Daniel Schwartz, CEO of Burger King, would become CEO of the new company. Current Tim Hortons CEO Marc Caira would become a director of the new company, as well as its vice-chairman. In a joint press release the two entities reassured customers that they'd continue to operate "as standalone brands," promising to preserve existing "iconic brands."

But such early day promises don't always last.

The majority owner of Burger King, 3G Capital, is a "ravenous" global investment firm based in Brazil, says Middleton, and it is one that tends to push for quicker profits than, say, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway or other leading acquisition firms.

On the other hand, Barry Schwartz, an investment manager at Baskin Financial in Toronto, says that 3G Capital's cost-cutting ways and focus on tight capital expenditures could be highly beneficial for Tim Hortons.

"3G has been extremely successful converting strong brands and making them even stronger," says Schwartz. "We think this is a huge, huge win for Tim Hortons' shareholders."

Canadians might remember the private equity firm 3G from another recent purchase.

In 2013, 3G and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, bought Heinz. That led to hundreds of residents of the small southern Ontario town of Leamington, known as the tomato capital of Canada, losing their jobs as the company sought to cut costs.

While back-office cuts are unlikely to matter to the customer at the counter, that focus on profits might eventually change the way Tim Hortons operates, perhaps leading them to test fewer new items.

"Tim's success is because of successful trial and error," said Middleton. "The fact that they have constantly so many [new items] is part of what keeps the Tim's franchise fresh in people's minds, because it's never exactly the same Tim's year to year."

One of the latest ventures of the chain, which celebrated its 50th year, is made-to-order paninis for the lunch-time crowd, a growing segment.

The coffee chain's experiments aren't always successful, though. A five-year partnership to sell Cold Stone ice cream in some of its stores ended earlier this year.

The latest addition to the Tim Hortons menu is its dark roast coffee, a bid to expand its reach in the lucrative coffee market.

It's too early to know whether that item will succeed. Tim Hortons already boasts selling eight out of 10 cups of coffee consumed in Canada, though McDonald's is slowly eating away at that huge lead.

Overall, the deal is expected to be a big win for Tim Hortons, particularly in its faltering attempts to expand globally.

Burger King, with its more than 13,000 locations in nearly 100 countries and territories, has tremendous reach and expertise around the world.

That translates into on-the-ground help such as location mapping, knowledge of regional competition and networks of local suppliers.

More importantly, though, the burger empire has the capital needed by the Canadian icon to market itself to consumers in the U.S. and abroad who are unfamiliar with the brand.

Burger King's know-how may be most crucial in the highly-competitive American market where Tim Hortons has struggled since entering in 1984 in New York state.

"The coffee shop segment is crowded and you've got two huge players that have very good, very strong customer loyalty [in the U.S.]," said David Henkes, vice-president of Chicago-based food industry consultancy Technomic.

"Tim Hortons has sort of tried to figure out how to be that No. 3 player," but it's been a struggle in part because Americans don't understand "the brand heritage of Tim Hortons," says Henkes.

By 2018, the company plans to open 500 restaurants in Canada, with about half of them added this year alone. The company currently has more than 1,300 stores.

In the U.S., it hopes to expand its 850-strong network of stores with 300 more by 2018.

The company also has 38 restaurants in the Persian Gulf, where it's seen some success. There it hopes to add about 220 locations in the same time period.

Schwartz sees the Tim Hortons-Burger King deal as a "huge win" not only for the Canadian restaurant, but also for Canadian taxpayers in the long term.

The new merged company would be headquartered in Canada, where the corporate tax rates are substantially lower. The basic U.S. rate stands around 35 per cent, while Canada's is about 10 points lower, depending on the province.

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"It would create a large world-class company based in Canada, paying taxes in Canada, increase the exposure of the Toronto stock market and potentially lead to more tax inversions of U.S. and foreign companies coming into Canada," said Schwartz. Tax inversions are the relocation of a company's headquarters to a country with lower taxes.

But ultimately, will it make any difference for the average Canadian?

No, says Middleton, not unless cost-cutting measures change the nature of Timmies.

"Canadians are very loyal, they don't change buying habits as fast as Americans, they're not as price seeking as Americans. They're more patient," said Middleton.

But if 3G takes it a step too far, they could find themselves faced with a profit-line that looks more like an inverted hockey stick, a sudden downward move, as Canadians say, "This is no longer my Tim's."

story of a star college football athlete

This is the story of a star college football athlete, an allegedly drowning child, a pair of sprained ankles — and two divergent narratives.

One cast star University of Southern California cornerback senior Josh Shaw as a hero who sprained both of his ankles leaping from a balcony to save his nephew drowning in a pool below. The other narrative calls into question that story of apparent valor, raising the possibility it was not only made-up — but deployed to obfuscate how Shaw really got hurt.

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Either way, no one’s quite sure what to make of the curious case of the sprained ankles. “We’re going to continue to vet [Shaw's story] and we’re looking at it,” said team coach Steve Sarkisian. On Tuesday, he said he had received “some calls” casting doubt on Shaw’s story. “I will say that Josh had never given us any indication not to believe his story. He’s been a kid of very high character for us, a team leader, elected team captain. I had no reason not to believe him.”

Still, there’s reason to wonder.

The saga opened Monday afternoon with a USC press release entitled “Shaw Suffers Injury While Rescuing Nephew.” The story drew on an interview with Shaw, who said he had been at a “family social function” at his cousin’s apartment in nearby Palmdale during the weekend when near-disaster struck. The clip said Shaw had “looked on” from the second floor balcony when he spotted his nephew, age 7, struggling in the pool below.

Shaw said he knew his nephew couldn’t swim. So, the report says, he “instinctively” leaped off the balcony, “landing painfully on the concrete below.” It said he brushed off the “intense pain in his legs” and was able to “crawl” to the pool, save his nephew, then grab hold of the ladder and haul himself out of the pool “with his upper body.”

The kid made it, but was nonetheless “traumatized,” Shaw told the press office. “I would do it again for whatever kid it was, it did not have to be my nephew,” Shaw explained, adding that he sustained two high ankle sprains that would “indefinitely” keep him out of the game. “My ankles really hurt,” he said, “but I am lucky to be surrounded by the best trainers and doctors in the world.”

Coach Sarkisian trumpeted the feat: “That was a heroic act by Josh, putting his personal safety aside. But that’s the kind of person he is.”

Shaw’s dad was not at the “function,” he explained in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, but assured that “that’s Josh for you. That’s about all you need to know about him.”

The NCAA smelled a story. One hour after the USC release, it tweeted out Shaw’s quotes and his picture to its 1.2 million followers.

But was it true? The college football masses have been had before.

And indeed, it turns out Shaw’s name had popped up on Saturday in circumstances beyond poolside heroism. Los Angeles Police spokesman Andy Neiman told the Associated Press that Shaw’s name was in a police report involving a break-in at a downtown apartment building. Cops heard word that night of a woman screaming in her downtown building, so they went to investigate. The woman told police, according to the AP, that someone had pried open a window to her apartment — then bolted. Several witnesses said a man had run across the third floor’s balconies.

One provided a description of the man, the Los Angeles Times reported. And a woman “responded to the description with words to the effect, ‘That sounds like my boyfriend, Josh Shaw,’” Neiman told the Times. Another individual told police Shaw was out to dinner that night, and the front desk attendant explained Shaw hadn’t been registered as a guest.

“There is mention of a Joshua Shaw in this report, but not in terms of him being a suspect,” the police told AP. “To make any link at this point would be premature.”

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This is the story of a star college football athlete, an allegedly drowning child, a pair of sprained ankles — and two divergent narratives.

One cast star University of Southern California cornerback senior Josh Shaw as a hero who sprained both of his ankles leaping from a balcony to save his nephew drowning in a pool below. The other narrative calls into question that story of apparent valor, raising the possibility it was not only made-up — but deployed to obfuscate how Shaw really got hurt.

Either way, no one’s quite sure what to make of the curious case of the sprained ankles. “We’re going to continue to vet [Shaw's story] and we’re looking at it,” said team coach Steve Sarkisian. On Tuesday, he said he had received “some calls” casting doubt on Shaw’s story. “I will say that Josh had never given us any indication not to believe his story. He’s been a kid of very high character for us, a team leader, elected team captain. I had no reason not to believe him.”

Still, there’s reason to wonder.

The saga opened Monday afternoon with a USC press release entitled “Shaw Suffers Injury While Rescuing Nephew.” The story drew on an interview with Shaw, who said he had been at a “family social function” at his cousin’s apartment in nearby Palmdale during the weekend when near-disaster struck. The clip said Shaw had “looked on” from the second floor balcony when he spotted his nephew, age 7, struggling in the pool below.

Shaw said he knew his nephew couldn’t swim. So, the report says, he “instinctively” leaped off the balcony, “landing painfully on the concrete below.” It said he brushed off the “intense pain in his legs” and was able to “crawl” to the pool, save his nephew, then grab hold of the ladder and haul himself out of the pool “with his upper body.”

The kid made it, but was nonetheless “traumatized,” Shaw told the press office. “I would do it again for whatever kid it was, it did not have to be my nephew,” Shaw explained, adding that he sustained two high ankle sprains that would “indefinitely” keep him out of the game. “My ankles really hurt,” he said, “but I am lucky to be surrounded by the best trainers and doctors in the world.”

Coach Sarkisian trumpeted the feat: “That was a heroic act by Josh, putting his personal safety aside. But that’s the kind of person he is.”

Shaw’s dad was not at the “function,” he explained in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, but assured that “that’s Josh for you. That’s about all you need to know about him.”

The NCAA smelled a story. One hour after the USC release, it tweeted out Shaw’s quotes and his picture to its 1.2 million followers.

But was it true? The college football masses have been had before.

And indeed, it turns out Shaw’s name had popped up on Saturday in circumstances beyond poolside heroism. Los Angeles Police spokesman Andy Neiman told the Associated Press that Shaw’s name was in a police report involving a break-in at a downtown apartment building. Cops heard word that night of a woman screaming in her downtown building, so they went to investigate. The woman told police, according to the AP, that someone had pried open a window to her apartment — then bolted. Several witnesses said a man had run across the third floor’s balconies.

One provided a description of the man, the Los Angeles Times reported. And a woman “responded to the description with words to the effect, ‘That sounds like my boyfriend, Josh Shaw,’” Neiman told the Times. Another individual told police Shaw was out to dinner that night, and the front desk attendant explained Shaw hadn’t been registered as a guest.

“There is mention of a Joshua Shaw in this report, but not in terms of him being a suspect,” the police told AP. “To make any link at this point would be premature.”

The kid made it, but was nonetheless

The kid made it, but was nonetheless “traumatized,” Shaw told the press office. “I would do it again for whatever kid it was, it did not have to be my nephew,” Shaw explained, adding that he sustained two high ankle sprains that would “indefinitely” keep him out of the game. “My ankles really hurt,” he said, “but I am lucky to be surrounded by the best trainers and doctors in the world.”

Coach Sarkisian trumpeted the feat: “That was a heroic act by Josh, putting his personal safety aside. But that’s the kind of person he is.”

Shaw’s dad was not at the “function,” he explained in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, but assured that “that’s Josh for you. That’s about all you need to know about him.”

The NCAA smelled a story. One hour after the USC release, it tweeted out Shaw’s quotes and his picture to its 1.2 million followers.

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But was it true? The college football masses have been had before.

And indeed, it turns out Shaw’s name had popped up on Saturday in circumstances beyond poolside heroism. Los Angeles Police spokesman Andy Neiman told the Associated Press that Shaw’s name was in a police report involving a break-in at a downtown apartment building. Cops heard word that night of a woman screaming in her downtown building, so they went to investigate. The woman told police, according to the AP, that someone had pried open a window to her apartment — then bolted. Several witnesses said a man had run across the third floor’s balconies.

One provided a description of the man, the Los Angeles Times reported. And a woman “responded to the description with words to the effect, ‘That sounds like my boyfriend, Josh Shaw,’” Neiman told the Times. Another individual told police Shaw was out to dinner that night, and the front desk attendant explained Shaw hadn’t been registered as a guest.

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"Josh Shaw, first and foremost, is a good person and a good kid," Sarkisian said after Tuesday's practice. "He came to us with what had occurred Saturday night, and I have no reason and no history to not believe Josh and his story and what has occurred. Within the last few hours or so, we've gotten a few phone calls contradicting what Josh said occurred Saturday night, so we're going to continue to vet. We're looking at it. Beyond that, I only know what I know. Josh is adamant with what occurred, and we'll continue to vet some of the other stories that have come across our desk and our phones and see where we can go from there."
When Sarkisian was asked who had called and made him second-guess Shaw's story, he said, "I don't want to get into who's calling us. I'd just appreciate it if you guys gave us some time to vet it and look into it so that we can give you a real solid answer instead of more hearsay and what might have or what might not have occurred."

Multiple sources told ESPNLA.com that school officials were skeptical of Shaw's story before releasing a statement about it along with quotes from Shaw and Sarkisian on Monday. Their skepticism grew larger by Tuesday as the story gained steam and multiple media outlets wanted to talk to Shaw, the 7-year-old nephew he rescued and family members who were at the party.

Lt. Andy Neiman of the Los Angeles Police Department also said Tuesday afternoon that a man named Joshua Shaw was mentioned -- but not as a suspect -- in a report involving a Saturday night break-in at a downtown apartment building.

LOS ANGELES -- USC football coach Steve Sarkisian said the school has received several calls questioning the authenticity of Josh Shaw's story about saving his nephew from potentially drowning and is investigating the matter.

Shaw said he suffered a pair of high ankle sprains Saturday night after jumping from the second story of an apartment complex to save his 7-year-old nephew, who was struggling in the pool. Shaw said his nephew did not know how to swim.

 

Southern California cornerback Josh Shaw

Southern California cornerback Josh Shaw has admitted to lying to school officials about how he sprained his ankles last weekend, retracting his story about jumping off a balcony to save his drowning nephew.

Shaw has been suspended indefinitely from all of the Trojans' team activities after acknowledging his heroic tale was "a complete fabrication," the school announced in a statement Wednesday.

The school didn't explain how Shaw actually was injured, but USC officials say they regret posting a story on their website Monday lauding Shaw's story about a second-story jump onto concrete to rescue his 7-year-old nephew.

"We are extremely disappointed in Josh," USC coach Steve Sarkisian said. "He let us all down. As I have said, nothing in his background led us to doubt him when he told us of his injuries, nor did anything after our initial vetting of his story."

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Shaw is a fifth-year senior, a team captain and a key starter in USC's defensive secondary, widely regarded as a solid teammate and an important team leader for the 15th-ranked Trojans, who begin their first season under Sarkisian at the Coliseum on Saturday against Fresno State.

Shaw issued a short statement through an attorney on Wednesday after being suspended.

"On Saturday, August 23, 2014, I injured myself in a fall," Shaw said. "I made up a story about this fall that was untrue. I was wrong not to tell the truth. I apologize to USC for this action on my part. My USC coaches, the USC athletic department and especially Coach Sarkisian have all been supportive of me during my college career and for that, I am very grateful."

Within hours after Shaw's tale was made public, the football program received phone calls contradicting Shaw's version of his injuries. Sarkisian has not said who made the calls, but the school acknowledged the discrepancies Tuesday morning and began investigating Shaw, who initially stuck to his story.

"I appreciate that Josh has now admitted that he lied and has apologized," Sarkisian said. "Although this type of behavior is out of character for Josh, it is unacceptable. Honesty and integrity must be at the center of our program. I believe Josh will learn from this. I hope that he will not be defined by this incident, and that the Trojan Family will accept his apology and support him."

Shaw didn't attend practice Wednesday, missing his second straight day of workouts.

Sarkisian insisted the situation won't be a distraction for the Trojans, but still allowed only two of Shaw's defensive teammates to speak with the media after practice Wednesday morning.

Linebacker Hayes Pullard and defensive lineman Leonard Williams both acknowledged surprise at the situation that developed after Shaw's account was challenged, but remained supportive of their fifth-year senior captain.


"We were pretty shocked," said Williams, who hasn't spoken to Shaw. "Josh Shaw is a pretty loyal guy. I would never expect him to make up a story. I would never expect that out of him as a team leader."

Shaw's leadership and character were widely praised throughout his first two seasons of play at the school. He transferred back to his native Los Angeles area from Florida, in part to help out his ailing grandfather with the family landscaping business.

"Josh has been a great guy," Pullard said. "He has great character. I've never known him to lie about anything … so it's surprising. This is exactly when our leadership roles come in. We talk to guys and let them know what's expected, and we'll keep us focused on our team."

Sarkisian hadn't even coached his first game at USC before the high-profile program presented another challenge for its fourth head coach in less than a year.

Sarkisian, a former USC baseball player and a longtime football assistant coach to Pete Carroll, knows all about the extra attention paid to the Trojans, who are in the final year of extensive NCAA sanctions for violations committed under Carroll, and he remains confident he can handle the latest round of extracurricular troubles.

Josh Shaw, a USC defensive back with a possible NFL future went from hero Monday to LIARFRAUDZERO in less than 24 hours after his story about jumping from a balcony to save his drowning 7-year old cousin fell apart and was exposed. It’s still unclear what exactly happened Saturday, but in the last few hours the police released a statement, TMZ is throwing around talk of a burglary, and as usual, rumors are flying on twitter.

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[Update: Josh Shaw told USC he fabricated the story, and is suspended indefinitely.]

What we know: When USC began getting calls about Shaw, they were not positive, because the media showed up for his HERO press conference, and Shaw wasn’t present. New Trojans coach Steve Sarkisian said the school was vetting the story, and since then, the school has said nothing.

As the media rushed to call the police and find out what the hell happened, the Southwest Division of the LAPD began an investigation. Minutes ago, they told ESPN’s Shelley Smith, “We are still digging.” LAPD released this statement to the media earlier: “We’ve got no record of us having a run in with him. That’s not to say something didn’t happen. We have no record of anything happening.”

So … something might have happened, but there’s no record. Hmmmm. Were police called? Who called them? Why? Oh, wait, TMZ chimed in:

Did the woman know Shaw was in the building? Was he running? What was he doing there if he wasn’t with his girlfriend? (Maybe this theory will be correct.) Could his girlfriend have called the police over an incident the two had, and he took by jumping off a balcony? Then she clammed up when the police showed up? (That’s a very popular theory. The LA Daily News has now picked up that angle.)

Bottom line: We don’t know. Other than Josh Shaw, nobody knows what happened. But when he’s ready to return from injury, the 22-year old team captain is going to have to a) take back his story, b) admit he lied, c) have USC protect him so he never faces the media again.

USC'S Josh Shaw admits lying about saving nephew

Southern California cornerback Josh Shaw has admitted to lying to school officials about how he sprained his ankles last weekend, retracting his story about jumping off a balcony to save his drowning nephew.
Shaw has been suspended indefinitely from all of the Trojans' team activities after acknowledging his heroic tale was "a complete fabrication," the school announced in a statement Wednesday.

The school didn't explain how Shaw actually was injured, but USC officials say they regret posting a story on their website Monday lauding Shaw's story about a second-story jump onto concrete to rescue his 7-year-old nephew.

"We are extremely disappointed in Josh," USC coach Steve Sarkisian said. "He let us all down. As I have said, nothing in his background led us to doubt him when he told us of his injuries, nor did anything after our initial vetting of his story."

http://www.remo.com/forum/user/info?uid=15578

Shaw is a fifth-year senior, a team captain and a key starter in USC's defensive secondary, widely regarded as a solid teammate and an important team leader for the 15th-ranked Trojans, who begin their first season under Sarkisian at the Coliseum on Saturday against Fresno State.

"On Saturday, August 23, 2014, I injured myself in a fall," Shaw said. "I made up a story about this fall that was untrue. I was wrong not to tell the truth. I apologize to USC for this action on my part. My USC coaches, the USC athletic department and especially Coach Sarkisian have all been supportive of me during my college career and for that, I am very grateful."

Within hours after Shaw's tale was made public, the football program received phone calls contradicting Shaw's version of his injuries. Sarkisian has not said who made the calls, but the school acknowledged the discrepancies Tuesday morning and began investigating Shaw, who initially stuck to his story.

"I appreciate that Josh has now admitted that he lied and has apologized," Sarkisian said. "Although this type of behavior is out of character for Josh, it is unacceptable. Honesty and integrity must be at the center of our program. I believe Josh will learn from this. I hope that he will not be defined by this incident, and that the Trojan Family will accept his apology and support him."

Shaw didn't attend practice Wednesday, missing his second straight day of workouts.
Sarkisian insisted the situation won't be a distraction for the Trojans, but still allowed only two of Shaw's defensive team

Linebacker Hayes Pullard and defensive lineman Leonard Williams both acknowledged surprise at the situation that developed after Shaw's account was challenged, but remained supportive of their fifth-year senior captain.

"We were pretty shocked," said Williams, who hasn't spoken to Shaw. "Josh Shaw is a pretty loyal guy. I would never expect him to make up a story. I would never expect that out of him as a team leader."
Shaw's leadership and character were widely praised throughout his first two seasons of play at the school. He transferred back to his native Los Angeles area from Florida, in part to help out his ailing grandfather with the family landscaping business.

"Josh has been a great guy," Pullard said. "He has great character. I've never known him to lie about anything … so it's surprising. This is exactly when our leadership roles come in. We talk to guys and let them know what's expected, and we'll keep us focused on our team."

Sarkisian hadn't even coached his first game at USC before the high-profile program presented another challenge for its fourth head coach in less than a year.

Sarkisian huddled with school officials before addressing the media Tuesday and took only football questions for the first five minutes before addressing Shaw.

http://www.resilience.org/group-detail/2014-07-12/SEO-Backs

"I'm not surprised," Sarkisian said when asked about the contradictory phone calls he received. "I get calls on a lot of different things. We have to do our due diligence and vet everything, and we'll handle it internally. We'll see what happens with this one and move forward and give you guys an update."

Shaw was not available to the media, nor will he be until USC officials find out exactly what happened, Sarkisian said.

"Josh won't be available until we find out," Sarkisian said. "I just don't want to put him in a situation of answering questions that we really don't have all the answers to."

The one aspect of Shaw's injury Sarkisian could confirm was that the cornerback did suffer two high ankle sprains and would be out indefinitely.

"I will say the X-rays and MRIs we have taken on him have come back negative," Sarksian said. "So far we don't see anything structurally wrong with him but he is very sore."

Sarkisian said he wanted to put the situation behind him but wanted to get all the facts straight first.
"I think it's important to know your team," Sarkisian said. "I think it's important to know your players. Josh Shaw has been a good leader for us. He's given me no reason to not believe what's occurred but you need to know."

A transfer from Florida, Shaw has six interceptions in two seasons at USC. He was voted a team captain last weekend and is expected to be a major part of the Trojans secondary after starting all 14 games in 2013.

Josh Shaw's story questioned

LOS ANGELES -- USC football coach Steve Sarkisian said the school has received several calls questioning the authenticity of Josh Shaw's story about saving his nephew from potentially drowning and is investigating the matter.

Shaw said he suffered a pair of high ankle sprains Saturday night after jumping from the second story of an apartment complex to save his 7-year-old nephew, who was struggling in the pool. Shaw said his nephew did not know how to swim.

http://www.newstatesman.com/users/iknowuall

"Josh Shaw, first and foremost, is a good person and a good kid," Sarkisian said after Tuesday's practice. "He came to us with what had occurred Saturday night, and I have no reason and no history to not believe Josh and his story and what has occurred. Within the last few hours or so, we've gotten a few phone calls contradicting what Josh said occurred Saturday night, so we're going to continue to vet. We're looking at it. Beyond that, I only know what I know. Josh is adamant with what occurred, and we'll continue to vet some of the other stories that have come across our desk and our phones and see where we can go from there."

When Sarkisian was asked who had called and made him second-guess Shaw's story, he said, "I don't want to get into who's calling us. I'd just appreciate it if you guys gave us some time to vet it and look into it so that we can give you a real solid answer instead of more hearsay and what might have or what might not have occurred."

Multiple sources told ESPNLA.com that school officials were skeptical of Shaw's story before releasing a statement about it along with quotes from Shaw and Sarkisian on Monday. Their skepticism grew larger by Tuesday as the story gained steam and multiple media outlets wanted to talk to Shaw, the 7-year-old nephew he rescued and family members who were at the party.

Lt. Andy Neiman of the Los Angeles Police Department also said Tuesday afternoon that a man named Joshua Shaw was mentioned -- but not as a suspect -- in a report involving a Saturday night break-in at a downtown apartment building.

Sarkisian huddled with school officials before addressing the media Tuesday and took only football questions for the first five minutes before addressing Shaw.

"I'm not surprised," Sarkisian said when asked about the contradictory phone calls he received. "I get calls on a lot of different things. We have to do our due diligence and vet everything, and we'll handle it internally. We'll see what happens with this one and move forward and give you guys an update."

Shaw was not available to the media, nor will he be until USC officials find out exactly what happened, Sarkisian said.

"Josh won't be available until we find out," Sarkisian said. "I just don't want to put him in a situation of answering questions that we really don't have all the answers to."

http://www.frontiersin.org/people/YoruhRega/173137/profile


The one aspect of Shaw's injury Sarkisian could confirm was that the cornerback did suffer two high ankle sprains and would be out indefinitely.

"I will say the X-rays and MRIs we have taken on him have come back negative," Sarksian said. "So far we don't see anything structurally wrong with him but he is very sore."

Sarkisian said he wanted to put the situation behind him but wanted to get all the facts straight first.

"I think it's important to know your team," Sarkisian said. "I think it's important to know your players. Josh Shaw has been a good leader for us. He's given me no reason to not believe what's occurred but you need to know."

A transfer from Florida, Shaw has six interceptions in two seasons at USC. He was voted a team captain last weekend and is expected to be a major part of the Trojans secondary after starting all 14 games in 2013.

USC's Josh Shaw -- Named In Burglary Report

More fishy information surrounding the story of USC football player Josh Shaw who says he seriously hurt both of his ankles in an alleged heroic rescue of his drowning nephew.

TMZ Sports spoke with the L.A. County Fire Dept. in Palmdale and the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. in Palmdale -- and both say they never got an emergency call about a drowning or a trauma incident involving Shaw or his nephew.

One law enforcement official told us .. "Let me put it to you this way: A drowning or a near drowning is a big deal. And our officials would know about it."

USC head football coach Steve Sarkisian addressed the media moments ago and said the school would be investigating Shaw's story -- saying, "He came to us with what had occurred Saturday night. I have no reason, no history, to not believe Josh and his story with what has occurred."

http://www.archgoadaman.org/concord/node/65562

FYI -- Shaw went on the record and said he lept from a 2nd story balcony at his cousin's Palmdale apartment complex to rescue to his 7-year-old nephew who was struggling in a pool.

This is the story of a star college football athlete, an allegedly drowning child, a pair of sprained ankles — and two divergent narratives.

One cast star University of Southern California cornerback senior Josh Shaw as a hero who sprained both of his ankles leaping from a balcony to save his nephew drowning in a pool below. The other narrative calls into question that story of apparent valor, raising the possibility it was not only made-up — but deployed to obfuscate how Shaw really got hurt.

Either way, no one’s quite sure what to make of the curious case of the sprained ankles. “We’re going to continue to vet [Shaw's story] and we’re looking at it,” said team coach Steve Sarkisian. On Tuesday, he said he had received “some calls” casting doubt on Shaw’s story. “I will say that Josh had never given us any indication not to believe his story. He’s been a kid of very high character for us, a team leader, elected team captain. I had no reason not to believe him.”

Still, there’s reason to wonder.

The saga opened Monday afternoon with a USC press release entitled “Shaw Suffers Injury While Rescuing Nephew.” The story drew on an interview with Shaw, who said he had been at a “family social function” at his cousin’s apartment in nearby Palmdale during the weekend when near-disaster struck. The clip said Shaw had “looked on” from the second floor balcony when he spotted his nephew, age 7, struggling in the pool below.

Shaw said he knew his nephew couldn’t swim. So, the report says, he “instinctively” leaped off the balcony, “landing painfully on the concrete below.” It said he brushed off the “intense pain in his legs” and was able to “crawl” to the pool, save his nephew, then grab hold of the ladder and haul himself out of the pool “with his upper body.”

The kid made it, but was nonetheless “traumatized,” Shaw told the press office. “I would do it again for whatever kid it was, it did not have to be my nephew,” Shaw explained, adding that he sustained two high ankle sprains that would “indefinitely” keep him out of the game. “My ankles really hurt,” he said, “but I am lucky to be surrounded by the best trainers and doctors in the world.”

Coach Sarkisian trumpeted the feat: “That was a heroic act by Josh, putting his personal safety aside. But that’s the kind of person he is.”

Shaw’s dad was not at the “function,” he explained in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, but assured that “that’s Josh for you. That’s about all you need to know about him.”

The NCAA smelled a story. One hour after the USC release, it tweeted out Shaw’s quotes and his picture to its 1.2 million followers.

But was it true? The college football masses have been had before.

And indeed, it turns out Shaw’s name had popped up on Saturday in circumstances beyond poolside heroism. Los Angeles Police spokesman Andy Neiman told the Associated Press that Shaw’s name was in a police report involving a break-in at a downtown apartment building. Cops heard word that night of a woman screaming in her downtown building, so they went to investigate. The woman told police, according to the AP, that someone had pried open a window to her apartment — then bolted. Several witnesses said a man had run across the third floor’s balconies.

One provided a description of the man, the Los Angeles Times reported. And a woman “responded to the description with words to the effect, ‘That sounds like my boyfriend, Josh Shaw,’” Neiman told the Times. Another individual told police Shaw was out to dinner that night, and the front desk attendant explained Shaw hadn’t been registered as a guest.

https://help.ksu.edu.sa/node/21612


“There is mention of a Joshua Shaw in this report, but not in terms of him being a suspect,” the police told AP. “To make any link at this point would be premature.”

This is the story of a star college football athlete, an allegedly drowning child, a pair of sprained ankles — and two divergent narratives.

One cast star University of Southern California cornerback senior Josh Shaw as a hero who sprained both of his ankles leaping from a balcony to save his nephew drowning in a pool below. The other narrative calls into question that story of apparent valor, raising the possibility it was not only made-up — but deployed to obfuscate how Shaw really got hurt.

Either way, no one’s quite sure what to make of the curious case of the sprained ankles. “We’re going to continue to vet [Shaw's story] and we’re looking at it,” said team coach Steve Sarkisian. On Tuesday, he said he had received “some calls” casting doubt on Shaw’s story. “I will say that Josh had never given us any indication not to believe his story. He’s been a kid of very high character for us, a team leader, elected team captain. I had no reason not to believe him.”

Still, there’s reason to wonder.

The saga opened Monday afternoon with a USC press release entitled “Shaw Suffers Injury While Rescuing Nephew.” The story drew on an interview with Shaw, who said he had been at a “family social function” at his cousin’s apartment in nearby Palmdale during the weekend when near-disaster struck. The clip said Shaw had “looked on” from the second floor balcony when he spotted his nephew, age 7, struggling in the pool below.

Shaw said he knew his nephew couldn’t swim. So, the report says, he “instinctively” leaped off the balcony, “landing painfully on the concrete below.” It said he brushed off the “intense pain in his legs” and was able to “crawl” to the pool, save his nephew, then grab hold of the ladder and haul himself out of the pool “with his upper body.”

The bizarre case of Josh Shaw’s

Either way, no one’s quite sure what to make of the curious case of the sprained ankles. “We’re going to continue to vet [Shaw's story] and we’re looking at it,” said team coach Steve Sarkisian. On Tuesday, he said he had received “some calls” casting doubt on Shaw’s story. “I will say that Josh had never given us any indication not to believe his story. He’s been a kid of very high character for us, a team leader, elected team captain. I had no reason not to believe him.”

Still, there’s reason to wonder.

The saga opened Monday afternoon with a USC press release entitled “Shaw Suffers Injury While Rescuing Nephew.” The story drew on an interview with Shaw, who said he had been at a “family social function” at his cousin’s apartment in nearby Palmdale during the weekend when near-disaster struck. The clip said Shaw had “looked on” from the second floor balcony when he spotted his nephew, age 7, struggling in the pool below.

Shaw said he knew his nephew couldn’t swim. So, the report says, he “instinctively” leaped off the balcony, “landing painfully on the concrete below.” It said he brushed off the “intense pain in his legs” and was able to “crawl” to the pool, save his nephew, then grab hold of the ladder and haul himself out of the pool “with his upper body.”

https://www.drupal.org/u/whereuknow

The kid made it, but was nonetheless “traumatized,” Shaw told the press office. “I would do it again for whatever kid it was, it did not have to be my nephew,” Shaw explained, adding that he sustained two high ankle sprains that would “indefinitely” keep him out of the game. “My ankles really hurt,” he said, “but I am lucky to be surrounded by the best trainers and doctors in the world.”

Coach Sarkisian trumpeted the feat: “That was a heroic act by Josh, putting his personal safety aside. But that’s the kind of person he is.”

Shaw’s dad was not at the “function,” he explained in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, but assured that “that’s Josh for you. That’s about all you need to know about him.”

The NCAA smelled a story. One hour after the USC release, it tweeted out Shaw’s quotes and his picture to its 1.2 million followers.

But was it true? The college football masses have been had before.

And indeed, it turns out Shaw’s name had popped up on Saturday in circumstances beyond poolside heroism. Los Angeles Police spokesman Andy Neiman told the Associated Press that Shaw’s name was in a police report involving a break-in at a downtown apartment building. Cops heard word that night of a woman screaming in her downtown building, so they went to investigate. The woman told police, according to the AP, that someone had pried open a window to her apartment — then bolted. Several witnesses said a man had run across the third floor’s balconies.

One provided a description of the man, the Los Angeles Times reported. And a woman “responded to the description with words to the effect, ‘That sounds like my boyfriend, Josh Shaw,’” Neiman told the Times. Another individual told police Shaw was out to dinner that night, and the front desk attendant explained Shaw hadn’t been registered as a guest.

“There is mention of a Joshua Shaw in this report, but not in terms of him being a suspect,” the police told AP. “To make any link at this point would be premature.”

More fishy information surrounding the story of USC football player Josh Shaw who says he seriously hurt both of his ankles in an alleged heroic rescue of his drowning nephew.

TMZ Sports spoke with the L.A. County Fire Dept. in Palmdale and the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. in Palmdale -- and both say they never got an emergency call about a drowning or a trauma incident involving Shaw or his nephew.

One law enforcement official told us .. "Let me put it to you this way: A drowning or a near drowning is a big deal. And our officials would know about it."

USC head football coach Steve Sarkisian addressed the media moments ago and said the school would be investigating Shaw's story -- saying, "He came to us with what had occurred Saturday night. I have no reason, no history, to not believe Josh and his story with what has occurred."

FYI -- Shaw went on the record and said he lept from a 2nd story balcony at his cousin's Palmdale apartment complex to rescue to his 7-year-old nephew who was struggling in a pool.

http://gefoko.net/node/1922


USC football player Josh Shaw was named in a burglary report ... stemming from an incident that went down Saturday night ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ Sports.

We're told Shaw was NOT named as a suspect in the burglary.
Here's the breakdown -- we're told someone called police to report a suspicious person "shimmying" down the side of a building in downtown L.A. near the USC campus. The tipster gave a description of the suspicious person to police.

We're told cops went to the building to investigate  -- and spoke to a woman who lived in the building. Cops gave the woman the description of the suspicious person and asked if she had seen anyone who matched the description.

We're told the woman said, "Yes, that sounds like my boyfriend Josh Shaw."

Cops took a "burglary report" -- even though nothing was reported stolen -- and in it, mentioned the connection to Shaw.

Cops later spoke with Shaw on the phone and the USC football player denied ever being at the building.

USC says it's investigating Shaw's claims that he saved his nephew from drowning Saturday night -- and injured his ankles jumping off a 2 story building to rush to his nephew's aid.

Cops tell us they're going to re-interview everyone involved in light of new information.

Josh Shaw admits he lied

And so it seems the Josh Shaw saga at USC has reached its conclusion.

The school announced Wednesday evening that Shaw admitted to athletic department officials that he fabricated his story about hurting his ankles while saving his nephew in a pool and he's been suspended indefinitely.

Shaw injured himself in a fall from a balcony, according to a statement he released through his attorney, Donald Etra. "There is no criminal aspect to this whatsoever," Etra told USA Today, and also said there was no alcohol involved in the incident.

"We are extremely disappointed in Josh," said USC coach Steve Sarkisian in a release. "He let us all down. As I have said, nothing in his background led us to doubt him when he told us of his injuries, nor did anything after our initial vetting of his story.

"I appreciate that Josh has now admitted that he lied and has apologized. Although this type of behavior is out of character for Josh, it is unacceptable. Honesty and integrity must be at the center of our program. I believe Josh will learn from this. I hope that he will not be defined by this incident, and that the Trojan Family will accept his apology and support him."

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USC originally reported that Shaw had suffered his ankle injury while rescuing his nephew on Monday, but by Tuesday Sarkisian announced that the school had received calls contradicting Shaw's story and would be vetting the account. Earlier Wednesday Sarkisian said campus authorities were investigating the story.

Shaw released his own statement through his lawyer Wednesday night.

"On Saturday August 23, 2014, I injured myself in a fall," said Shaw. "I made up a story about this fall that was untrue. I was wrong not to tell the truth. I apologize to USC for my action on this part.

"My USC coaches, the USC athletic department, and especially coach Sarkisian have all been supportive of me during my college career and for that, I am very grateful."

USC opens its season against Fresno State on Saturday.

TMZ Sports spoke with the L.A. County Fire Dept. in Palmdale and the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. in Palmdale -- and both say they never got an emergency call about a drowning or a trauma incident involving Shaw or his nephew.

One law enforcement official told us .. "Let me put it to you this way: A drowning or a near drowning is a big deal. And our officials would know about it."

USC head football coach Steve Sarkisian addressed the media moments ago and said the school would be investigating Shaw's story -- saying, "He came to us with what had occurred Saturday night. I have no reason, no history, to not believe Josh and his story with what has occurred."

FYI -- Shaw went on the record and said he lept from a 2nd story balcony at his cousin's Palmdale apartment complex to rescue to his 7-year-old nephew who was struggling in a pool.


SC cornerback Josh Shaw admitted to school officials that he had fabricated a story about rescuing a nephew from drowning and lied about how he suffered ankle injuries, the school announced Wednesday.

Shaw, who has been the focus of controversy the last two days, was suspended from the team indefinitely.

"We are extremely disappointed in Josh," USC Coach Steve Sarkisian said in a statement. "He let us all down. As I have said, nothing in his background led us to doubt him when he told us of his injuries, nor did anything after our initial vetting of his story."

In a statement released through attorney Donald Etra, who the school said had been retained by the player as legal counsel, Shaw acknowledged lying but did not say what actually happened.

“On Saturday, August 23, 2014, I injured myself in a fall. I made up a story about this fall that was untrue. I was wrong to not tell the truth. I apologize to USC for this action on my part.

“My USC coaches, the USC Athletic Department, and especially Coach Sarkisian have all been supportive of me during my college career and for that, I am very grateful.”

USC's statement did not include an explanation of how Shaw was injured, either. The school said Shaw had apologized for misleading his coaches, teammates, athletic department officials and the public.

“I appreciate that Josh has now admitted that he lied and has apologized,” Sarkisian said. “Although this type of behavior is out of character for Josh, it is unacceptable. Honesty and integrity must be at the center of our program. I believe Josh will learn from this. I hope that he will not be defined by this incident, and that the Trojan Family will accept his apology and support him.”

http://www.qsnuts.com/UserProfile/tabid/470/userId/650/Default.aspx


USC plays its opener against Fresno State on Saturday at the Coliseum.

Shaw trended nationally Monday after USC posted a story on its website of the alleged rescue of his nephew last Saturday night, a tale that included leaping from a second-story balcony at an apartment in Palmdale.

Media outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, immediately responded with reports of Shaw's courageous act and the story went viral on social media.

The story turned Tuesday when Sarkisian announced the school was investigating Shaw’s account after it received phone calls contradicting the story.

The Los Angeles Police Department later disclosed that Shaw’s name had been included in a report from an incident that occurred at a downtown apartment complex Saturday night.

Around 10 p.m., police said they were called to the Orsini Apartments on North Figueroa Street, responding to reports of a woman heard screaming. When no one answered the door at the third-floor unit, officers forced entry but found no one inside.

One neighbor reported seeing a man run across or scale a balcony and gave a general description of the individual. Another resident, given that description, told officers that it sounded like her boyfriend, Josh Shaw. She added that Shaw was at dinner with friends.

Lt. Andrew Neiman, an LAPD spokesman, said Wednesday that the department had nothing new to add to the statements it made a day earlier, when Neiman said Shaw was not a suspect in any crime.

Another LAPD official, speaking anonymously because he was not authorized to comment on the situation, said authorities were attempting to work through USC to speak with Shaw and his girlfriend.
cComments

After practice on Wednesday morning, Sarkisian had said the school was “somewhat in a holding pattern,” regarding the Shaw situation.

“It’s pretty clear there’s quite a few conflicting stories out there,” he said. “Any information that we’ve been provided up to this point we’ve pushed along to campus authorities. We’re really going to let it play out in their hands.”

Shaw requested a meeting with USC officials Wednesday afternoon, a school spokesman said. With Etra, a criminal defense attorney whose previous clients include Rhianna and Snoop Dogg, and family members present, Shaw told athletic department officials that he had lied, the spokesman said.

A short time later, the school made its announcement. In its release, USC said it regretted posting the original story.

Officer Jane Kim of the Los Angeles

Officer Jane Kim of the Los Angeles Police Department said Wednesday night that Josh Shaw was mentioned -- but not as a suspect -- in a report involving a Saturday night break-in at a downtown apartment building.

"On August 23, at around 10:40 p.m., officers responded to a radio call of a screaming woman at the 500 block of Figueroa," Kim told ESPNLA. "They met witnesses who directed them to the apartment. After knocking on the door there was no response and officers made entry. No one was home. When they looked at the apartment they observed that the rear window had been pried open. Witnesses identified a male, black with dreadlocks leaving the apartment from the balcony. During the investigation the person who lives in the apartment returned and talked about her roommate and boyfriend, Josh Shaw, but he is not named as a suspect."

A source told ESPNLA.com that witnesses told police an individual matching Shaw's description was seen jumping off of a three-story balcony at the Orsini Apartments near USC's campus where Shaw's girlfriend lives.

http://www.10pmdev.com/UserProfile/tabid/61/userId/179664/Default.aspx


Donald Etra, Shaw's lawyer, said on Wednesday night Shaw's injury was suffered while falling off the balcony at the Orsini Apartments on Saturday night.

"My understanding is that there is nothing criminal about this whatsoever," Etra told ESPNLA. "There is no criminal activity whatsoever."

Etra said he was hired by Shaw on Wednesday to give him advice. When asked why Shaw would need a criminal defense lawyer, Etra said, "Intelligent people hire lawyers." When asked if he would try to get Shaw reinstated on the team he said, "If he asks my advice, I'm certainly ready, willing and able to give it."

A transfer from Florida, Shaw has six interceptions in two seasons at USC. He was voted a team captain last weekend and is expected to be a major part of the Trojans' secondary after starting all 14 games in 2013.

"Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious."

Actually Doug, I think it should be on the table that he be dismissed from the team, depending on what the truth is when it finally comes out.

Hey if Ad Sanders (nice name) and DeCoste wanna jerk each other off on this message board we'll all get out of here

Browns star wide receiver Josh Gordon has been suspended the entire NFL season for another violation of the league's substance abuse policy.

The league announced Wednesday that arbitrator Harold Henderson upheld Gordon's suspension, which the Pro Bowler appealed. Gordon met with league officials in New York on Aug. 4 and he and the Browns had been patiently awaiting a resolution.

Gordon's suspension is effective immediately and he will have to apply for reinstatement following the season. Gordon is not allowed to practice with the team, attend meetings or other club functions.

Gordon served a two-game suspension for a drug violation.

"I'd like to apologize to my teammates, coaches, the Cleveland Browns organization and our fans," Gordon said in a statement. "I am very disappointed that the NFL and its hearing office didn't exercise better discretion and judgment in my case. I would like to sincerely thank the people who have been incredibly supportive of me during this challenging time, including my family, my agent, my union, my legal team, and the Cleveland Browns staff."

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Gordon reportedly told the league that the positive drug test was the result of second-hand marijuana smoke, according to CBSSports.com. He also pointed out that his failed "A" sample was only one nanogram per milliliter above the league's threshold of 15 nanograms per milliliter while the "B" sample measured below the threshold at 13.63.

The Browns have been waiting four months for a resolution to Gordon's case. The talented 23-year-old led the league with 1,646 yards receiving last season despite being banned for the first two games for a failed drug test. He became the first player in league history to record consecutive 200-yard games.

Gordon's loss is a crippling blow to Cleveland's offense, depriving the Browns of their best big-play threat. He averaged 18.9 yards per catch in 2013.

The Browns took a risk in selecting Gordon in the 2012 supplemental draft. He failed at least three drug tests in college for marijuana.

Meet new Patriots tight end Tim Wright

The Patriots got a relatively unknown tight end from Tampa Bay when they dealt Logan Mankins to the Buccaneers Tuesday.

It’s Tim Wright.

Here’s a rundown:

■ He is 24 years old. He played for Rutgers and was signed by the Bucs as an undrafted free agent in 2013.

■ He played in 16 games last season (eight starts), catching 54 passes for 571 yards and five touchdowns.

■ He is listed at 6 feet 4 inches and 220 pounds.

■ He becomes the fifth player on the New England roster who played at Rutgers — along with Steve Beauharnais, Duron Harmon, Devin McCourty, and Logan Ryan.

■ He hasn’t had the best preseason, drawing criticism from Bucs coach Lovie Smith for dropping balls in training camp and not blocking effectively.

“Tim’s a good player,” Smith said recently. “He just hasn’t played as well as he needs to lately.”

But four days after throwing out that critique of the Neptune, N.J., native, Smith seemed to change his tune.

“I love Tim Wright as a football player,” said the coach. “You go through spells where you don’t play your best ball for a short period of time. When I talked [previously], there was a little period of time where Tim hadn’t played his best ball.

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“But, you look at the big picture, Tim Wright has been a good football player for us.”

Wright has had just two catches for 11 yards and hasn’t been targeted much in exhibition games.

■ He played receiver for Rutgers, but switched to tight end for the Bucs, forcing a jersey change from No. 18 to No. 81.

■ He had 50 catches for 596 yards and four touchdowns in his last two seasons (2011-12) for the Scarlet Knights. He showed the ability to make big catches, like the one-handed grab in the video below in 2012, but he also dropped two crucial balls in a 20-17 loss to Louisville later that season.


Wright has been groomed to be a barber since he was a kid, first picking up clippers at about 12 years old to cut his own hair. He was the unofficial team barber at Rutgers, shaping up about 30 of his teammates by his senior year, so many that coach Kyle Flood installed a barber chair in the Scarlet Knights’ team facility for Wright.

The New England Patriots made somewhat of a surprising move on Tuesday, trading offensive lineman Logan Mankins to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for tight end Tim Wright and a fourth-round pick. Wright, an undrafted free agent out of Rutgers, had a productive rookie season, recording 54 catches for 571 yards and a touchdown.

The Patriots wanted to clear up cap space and chose to move Mankins when he did not agree to a pay cut. Wright gives Tom Brady another potential weapon to work with, while the Bucs get a much-needed upgrade to their interior line with the veteran Mankins.

Fantasy impact: Mankins should be a boost to Doug Martin's fantasy prospects, but Wright is the real wild card in this move. He has athletic tools but isn't much of a blocker and has just over a week to learn a new offense before the regular season begins.

Wright is worth a waiver claim at the least, and could surprise people once he gets acclimated into the new offense, but people expecting him to be the new Aaron Hernandez next to Rob Gronkowski will be disappointed. That duo will likely never be recreated again, and lots of fantasy owners got burned chasing the Zach Sudfeld hype last year. Wright is an intriguing talent, but probably won't be able to help your team right out of the gate.

Josh Shaw is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State.

USC senior cornerback Josh Shaw has admitted to lying about how he suffered his ankle injuries last weekend and has been suspended indefinitely, the school said in a statement Wednesday.

Shaw said he suffered a pair of high ankle sprains Saturday night after jumping from the second story of an apartment complex to save his 7-year-old nephew, who was struggling in the pool. Shaw said his nephew did not know how to swim. He admitted to team officials on Wednesday that the story was a complete fabrication.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian said Tuesday the school received several calls questioning the authenticity of Shaw's story and had been investigating the matter.

"We are extremely disappointed in Josh," Sarkisian said in the statement. "He let us all down. As I have said, nothing in his background led us to doubt him when he told us of his injuries, nor did anything after our initial vetting of his story.

"I appreciate that Josh has now admitted that he lied and has apologized. Although this type of behavior is out of character for Josh, it is unacceptable. Honesty and integrity must be at the center of our program. I believe Josh will learn from this. I hope that he will not be defined by this incident, and that the Trojan Family will accept his apology and support him."

The school did not specify in its statement how Shaw actually sustained his injuries. Shortly after USC issued its statement, Shaw's attorney released his own statement in which Shaw said he injured himself "in a fall."

"I made up a story about this fall that was untrue," Shaw said. "I was wrong not to tell the truth. I apologize to USC for this action on my part. My USC coaches, The USC Athletic Department, and especially coach Sarkisian have all been supportive of me during my college career and for that, I am very grateful."

Earlier in the day, Sarkisian had said the school's investigation into the authenticity of Shaw's story was in a "holding pattern" and was being handled by campus authorities.

After Wednesday's practice, only two players -- Leonard Williams and Hayes Pullard -- were made available to the media and both players said they had not seen nor spoken to Shaw since the story broke and had not tried to reach out to him. Team leaders held a short meeting with Sarkisian on the field after practice about dealing with the situation.

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"None of the players really know about the Josh Shaw situation," Williams said. "[Sarkisian] basically told us to stay focused and don't let it affect us on Saturday. We've had to deal with so much more adversity the past years even before this. Our team has adjusted to playing through adversity."

Williams and Pullard said they saw no need to reach out to Shaw and discover for themselves what really happened the night he was injured.

"I really don't know," Pullard said when asked why neither he nor any of the teammates he has talked to has reached out to Shaw. "He and Sark had a meeting together and we haven't seen him since that day. We're just leaving it to Coach Sark, he's the head man and that's who we answer to."

Sarkisian addressed reporters for only five minutes after practice. He spent two minutes addressing the Shaw situation before only taking football questions.

Shaw was on campus Tuesday but not at practice and had numerous in-person discussions with campus officials. He was not seen on campus Wednesday but continued to be in contact with campus officials before finally admitting later that afternoon that he had lied to them.

Sons of Guns following a disturbing update

Discovery Channel has decided to pull the plug on Sons of Guns following a disturbing update on star Will Hayden.

The 44-year-old gunsmith and shop owner has been charged for raping his 12-year-old daughter, according to documents obtained by E! News, therefore prompting the network to put a stop to the series.

"Given the serious and horrific nature of the charges against Will Hayden, we have decided to halt further production of Sons of Guns and cancel the series," Discovery tells E! News.

Hayden was arrested Tuesday evening and booked on Wednesday for aggravated rape of a 12-year-old child, after the alleged victim told deputies with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office that since March 2013, Hayden had raped her almost daily, according to the documents.

Hayden is currently still in jail.

The victim says Hayden took her virginity when she was 11-year-old and would allegedly take her into "his bedroom where the Defendant removed victims clothing and raped her orally and then vaginally." The victim told authorities that this occurred almost daily but did not report the acts because she received "threats of physical abuse from the Defendant."

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Additionally, the victim said she didn't disclose any information because Hayden allegedly told her, "Don't tell them nothing, because I'm all you got."

The Sons of Guns star was initially arrested and booked in Louisiana on Aug. 9 on charges of molestation of a juvenile and aggravated crimes against nature. The details behind the arrest had been sealed pursuant to a court order, and Hayden was released after posting $150,000 bond.

At the time, Hayden insisted that the claims were all coming from a bitter ex-girlfriend who is seeking revenge for ending their relationship.

Additionally, the reality star's oldest daughter, Stephanie, had spoken out in her dad's defense, saying, "There was never any impropriety in our home. He was and is a good father."

Joshua Caleb Gordon is an American football wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Browns in the second round of the 2012 NFL Supplemental Draft. He played college football at Baylor.

 Josh Gordon will miss the entire 2014 season after the NFL upheld the Cleveland Browns star's suspension for another violation of the league's substance-abuse policy.

The NFL announced Wednesday that arbitrator Harold Henderson upheld the suspension for a failed test for marijuana. The Pro Bowler had appealed the ruling and met with Henderson and other league officials in New York on Aug. 4.

Gordon's suspension is effective immediately, and the league said in its statement that his "eligibility for reinstatement will be determined following the 2014 season." Gordon does remain under the care of medical professionals in the NFL treatment program, which includes counseling and rehab, if necessary. He also remains subject to random testing.

In the meantime, Gordon is not allowed to practice with the Browns, attend team meetings or other club functions.

Gordon served a two-game suspension for a drug violation last season but still led the league in yards receiving and emerged as one of the game's top players.

"I'd like to apologize to my teammates, coaches, the Cleveland Browns organization and our fans," Gordon said in a statement released by the NFL Players Association. "I am very disappointed that the NFL and its hearing office didn't exercise better discretion and judgment in my case. I would like to sincerely thank the people who have been incredibly supportive of me during this challenging time, including my family, my agent, my union, my legal team, and the Cleveland Browns staff."

The Browns have been waiting four months for a resolution to Gordon's case, which hung over him and the team. He continued to practice and played in Cleveland's first three exhibition games.

"While we may have strong feelings on the timing and the process of this decision, we have also consistently communicated that we will focus on what we can control in our day to day approach," general manager Ray Farmer said in a statement. "Right now that is preparing our team for the 2014 season and at the same time, supporting Josh however we are able under NFL guidelines during his suspension."

Gordon fought the suspension, hiring attorney Maurice Suh to represent him at the appeal hearing.

Suh, who had successfully gotten a suspension reduced for Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman, argued that Gordon tested positive for marijuana due to secondhand smoke, sources told ESPN last month. Gordon's representatives also said test results of his samples were inconsistent and should be thrown out.

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There was speculation that the NFL might go softer on Gordon following the public outcry after Baltimore running back Ray Rice was suspended for two games on a domestic violence charge. Instead, the league is putting Gordon on the sideline for all 16 games and will wait to see how he behaves before deciding whether to let him play again.

The talented 23-year-old set the Browns' single-season franchise record with a league-leading 1,646 receiving yards last year despite the two-game suspension. It was his second known violation, but Gordon said he had inadvertently taken codeine contained in a prescription cough syrup. The breakout performance included one dazzling four-game stretch where Gordon had 36 receptions for 774 yards and five touchdowns.

"We will continue to support Josh and we understand that there is accountability for one's actions," coach Mike Pettine said in a statement. "Our job and that of the team is to focus on what we can control. Our philosophy in building this team and the mentality we're establishing is that we're going to have to overcome challenges and situations throughout the course of a season. We'll continue to be relentless in our approach, in how we work and focus on our goal of returning winning football to Cleveland."\

The Browns took a risk in selecting Gordon in the 2012 supplemental draft, forfeiting a second-round pick to take the speedy 6-foot-3, 225-pounder who failed at least three drug tests in college for marijuana abuse.

The team has vowed to do all it can to help and support Gordon, who recently posted a photo on Instagram of him catching a pass from rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel. Gordon captioned the photo, "Only place I can find peace."

NFL upholds one-year suspension

"Sons of Guns" star Will Hayden lost his reality show, his company and his freedom when he was arrested Wednesday on rape charges.

Hayden was booked on an aggravated rape charge at Louisiana's East Baton Rouge Parish jail on Wednesday, pending $200,000 bail, according to jail records.

The arrest comes two weeks after Hayden was released on a $150,000 bond after his arrest on charges of child molestation and a crime against nature, according to Casey Rayborn Hicks, public information director of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office.

Because of the nature of the arrest, further details on the charges have been sealed by court order.

The Discovery Channel, which did not comment on the first arrest on August 13, immediately canceled Hayden's show when news of Wednesday's arrest broke

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"Given the serious and horrific nature of the charges against Will Hayden, we have decided to halt further production of 'Sons of Guns' and cancel the series," the channel's statement said.

The show is based on Red Jacket Firearms, a custom weapons company Hayden founded and ran in Louisiana. The show ended its fifth season in May.

The gun company posted a statement on its website Wednesday saying it has "initiated and received full legal separation as an entity" from Hayden: "With heavy hearts, we will be continuing to operate and ensure the fulfillment of new customer orders, back orders and to provide support to those affected by these new developments. WE are the Heart and Soul of Red Jacket and will remain steadfast in our commitment to quality and our customers, for years to come."

At last, we know.

More than three months after reports surfaced that the NFL was suspending Browns receiver Josh Gordon for a year for violating the substance abuse policy, the league upheld that suspension Tuesday.

"I'd like to apologize to my teammates, coaches, the Cleveland Browns organization and our fans," Gordon said in a statement through the NFLPA. "I am very disappointed that the NFL and its hearing office didn't exercise better discretion and judgment in my case. I would like to sincerely thank the people who have been incredibly supportive of me during this challenging time, including my family, my agent, my union, my legal team, and the Cleveland Browns staff."

Notice this line in Gordon's statement: "I am very disappointed that the NFL and its hearing office didn't exercise better discretion and judgment in my case."

That must stem from the NFL deciding that Gordon's appeal wasn't convincing. Gordon reportedly told the league that the positive drug test was the result of second-hand marijuana smoke. He also pointed out that his failed "A" sample was only one nanogram per milliliter above the league's threshold of 15 nanograms per milliliter while the "B" sample measured below the threshold at 13.63.

Gordon was suspended last year for two games for breaking the league's rules -- Gordon said he used a cough medicine that contained codeine -- but he still managed to lead the NFL in receiving yards. In May, though, it was reported that Gordon had failed yet another drug test and would lose a year.

On Wednesday, the league confirmed it.

"Appeals officer Harold Henderson has upheld the suspension for the 2014 NFL season of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. The suspension is effective immediately," the league said in a statement.

The Browns have to be worried about Gordon's future without the structure of his team around him, particularly since he's failed multiple drug tests and was charged with a DUI this offseason.
 
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"While we may have strong feelings on the timing and the process of this decision, we have also consistently communicated that we will focus on what we can control in our day to day approach," Browns general manager Ray Farmer said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon. "Right now that is preparing our team for the 2014 season and at the same time, supporting Josh however we are able under NFL guidelines during his suspension."

Said coach Mike Pettine: "We will continue to support Josh and we understand that there is accountability for one's actions. Our job and that of the team is to focus on what we can control. Our philosophy in building this team and the mentality we're establishing is that we're going to have to overcome challenges and situations throughout the course of a season. We'll continue to be relentless in our approach, in how we work and focus on our goal of returning winning football to Cleveland."

Reportedly, the team tried to convince the league that Gordon should still be allowed to be around team headquarters during the ban, but NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports the league denied that request.

Josh Shaw is an American football defensive tackle

More fishy information surrounding the story of USC football player Josh Shaw who says he seriously hurt both of his ankles in an alleged heroic rescue of his drowning nephew.

TMZ Sports spoke with the L.A. County Fire Dept. in Palmdale and the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. in Palmdale -- and both say they never got an emergency call about a drowning or a trauma incident involving Shaw or his nephew.

One law enforcement official told us .. "Let me put it to you this way: A drowning or a near drowning is a big deal. And our officials would know about it."

USC head football coach Steve Sarkisian addressed the media moments ago and said the school would be investigating Shaw's story -- saying, "He came to us with what had occurred Saturday night. I have no reason, no history, to not believe Josh and his story with what has occurred."

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FYI -- Shaw went on the record and said he lept from a 2nd story balcony at his cousin's Palmdale apartment complex to rescue to his 7-year-old nephew who was struggling in a pool.

With no one around, Shaw jumped from the balcony onto the concrete below and crawled to the pool, where he pulled Carter to safety, he said. Unable to step out of the pool because of the pain in his ankles, Shaw lifted himself up the ladder with his upper body.

"I would do it again for whatever kid it was, it did not have to be my nephew," Shaw told the team website. "My ankles really hurt, but I am lucky to be surrounded by the best trainers and doctors in the world. I am taking my rehab one day at a time, and I hope to be back on the field as soon as possible."

Shaw was taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed with two high ankle sprains and will be out indefinitely. He said Carter was traumatized, but physically in good shape.

"That was a heroic act by Josh, putting his personal safety aside," Trojans coach Steve Sarkisian said. "But that's the kind of person he is. It is unfortunate that he'll be sidelined for a while and we will miss his leadership and play, but I know he'll be working hard to get back on the field as soon as possible."

With no one around, Shaw jumped from the balcony onto the concrete below and crawled to the pool, where he pulled Carter to safety, he said. Unable to step out of the pool because of the pain in his ankles, Shaw lifted himself up the ladder with his upper body.

"I would do it again for whatever kid it was, it did not have to be my nephew," Shaw told the team website. "My ankles really hurt, but I am lucky to be surrounded by the best trainers and doctors in the world. I am taking my rehab one day at a time, and I hope to be back on the field as soon as possible."

Shaw was taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed with two high ankle sprains and will be out indefinitely. He said Carter was traumatized, but physically in good shape.

"That was a heroic act by Josh, putting his personal safety aside," Trojans coach Steve Sarkisian said. "But that's the kind of person he is. It is unfortunate that he'll be sidelined for a while and we will miss his leadership and play, but I know he'll be working hard to get back on the field as soon as possible."


Southern California senior cornerback Josh Shaw injured both ankles after leaping from a second-story balcony to save his 7-year-old nephew from drowning in a pool.

Shaw was named a team captain on Saturday and later that night was attending a family function at a cousin's apartment in his hometown of Palmdale when he saw his nephew, Carter, who can't swim, struggling in the pool.

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We will not rush to judgment, but if the story were made up, that would obviously be terrible. Our site will pass along more information as it becomes available.

Update: In the video up-top, USC head coach Steve Sarkisian says: “Josh Shaw, first and foremost is a good person. He’s a good kid. He came to us with what occurred Saturday night, and I have no reason or history to not believe Josh’s story. Obviously, within the last few hours or so, we’ve gotten a few phone calls contradicting what Josh said Saturday night. We’re going to continue to vet it. Beyond that, I only know what I know. Josh is adamant with what occurred, and we’ll continue to vet some of the other stories.”