The Wiz of Odds

Henderson Reportedly Wants Out of Letter of Intent

Seantrel Henderson, who was regarded as the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2010, reportedly wants out of his letter of intent to USC after the Trojans were penalized earlier this month by the NCAA. One problem: USC doesn't want to release the manchild offensive lineman.

Larry Brown Sports reports that Trojan coaches made a second trip to Minneapolis this week to put pressure on the former Cretin-Derham Hall standout to honor his letter of intent. The trip comes a week after coach Lane Kiffin, recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron, offensive line coach James Cregg and assistant Monte Kiffin flew to Minneapolis following Henderson's failure to show for orientation at USC.

It's unclear what promises USC's staff had made to Henderson during the recruiting process, but if Kiffin's recruitment of running back Bryce Brown a year earlier is any indication, Henderson probably has reason to question the Trojans' sales pitch.

More Downs Than Ups for Key Figures in Bush Case

It's time to tally up the winners and losers in the Reggie Bush scandal now that the NCAA has layeth the smacketh down on USC.

Brent Schrotenboer of the San Diego Union-Tribune tracked down the whereabouts of key figures in the case that had its beginning five years ago. For some, life has gotten much better, including Bush's parents — LaMar and Denise Griffin.

They are living in a new house in Chula Vista, Calif., about 11 miles from the home in Spring Valley that served as the starting point in the NCAA investigation that led to USC's penalties.

Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner, has no worries. He signed a six-year contract with the New Orleans Saints in 2006 that guaranteed about $26 million.

Others have not fared as well. Former sports marketing investor Michael Michaels, who was the Bush's landlord when they lived in Spring Valley, has faced federal and state tax trouble. Today he works at Sycuan Casino.

Stanford's 'What's the Deal' Ticket Plan

Remember that exchange between Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll after Stanford's 55-21 bludgeoning of USC last November?

"What's your deal? What's your deal?" Carroll asked Harbaugh at midfield. The Trojan coach was angry with Harbaugh, who decided to go for two with a 27-point lead.

"What's your deal?" Harbaugh retorted.

Now Stanford is using that exchange to sell tickets, according to Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News.

USC's Lane Change

Like him or not, Lane Kiffin, all of 34 years old, is back at the scene of his prime.

USC opens spring practice Tuesday, its first with Kiffin as head coach. As a six-year assistant, Kiffin helped USC roll to the best of times, including a victory over Oklahoma in the 2004 Bowl Championship Series title game.

"This is a unique place," says Kiffin, who has a 12-21 record as coach.

He's happy to be out of the Knoxville fishbowl, where it was impossible to make a trip to the market or dine at a restaurant. Demands for autographs and photos would keep him occupied for hours.

Kiffin Kind of Tries to Tell Tennessee He Might Be Sorry

Lane Kiffin says he regrets how his departure from Tennessee came down, and if he had to do it over again, there would be a farewell news conference that would last longer than one minute.

"I really tried to do the right thing with the media there," Kiffin told the Knoxville News-Sentinel. "When you look around the nation, when coaches leave places, they don't address the media at the places they're leaving. They usually talk to their team and they get out of there.

"That kind of backfired on me. I guess I would have done that different and do what everybody else does, and just takeoff."

Kiffin said he planned for the news conference to go longer, but a disagreement between Tennessee's sports information department and a local TV station ended any chance of an extended conversation.

According to reports, live cameras were barred from the news conference and Kiffin wanted to allow only 30 seconds of video from the event. WBIR and WATE refused to abide by that restriction.

Lane Kiffin and Sarah Palin — Bridges to Nowhere?

Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle says he stands in awe of USC's Lane Kiffin.

"The man has become a celebrated coach without doing anything. There's nobody quite like him. Or is there?

"I was talking with KNBR's Brian Murphy, who mentioned that Kiffin is exactly like another public figure who skyrocketed to national prominence despite an almost complete lack of credentials, but with confidence bordering on arrogance. Assets: Nice hair, gift of gab, refusal to be deterred by being in over one's head in terms of job qualification.

"Yes, Kiffin is the Sarah Palin of sports."