Cheap Seats
Father Flanagan strikes again
A guard fired from California State Prison for brutality has been hired by Fresno State to help student athletes ease into college life.
Roscoe Pondexter, who played college basketball at Long Beach State, was fired after being accused of dragging an inmate from his cell and beating him, helping another guard attack an inmate, and assaulting a guard during an officers basketball game, state records show.
Athletic director Al Bohl said he hired Pondexter on the recommendation of men’s basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, Mr. Second Chance himself.
“Perhaps the term role model is overused, but it is a perfect way to describe Roscoe,” Bohl said.
School for slime
Oily sports agent Drew Rosenhaus convinced Sports Illustrated to put him on its cover when it had planned a story on the 12 most powerful agents. Now he’s put a new spin on self promotion.
“I want to dominate this business unlike anybody in history,” Rosenhaus said. “I’m a little concerned, because I’m not sure if there is ever going to be enough for me.”
Despite an NFL client list lacking a superstar, Rosenhaus has the temerity to stage a “Sports Agent Seminar” this weekend in Miami. He’s attracted 30 wanna-bes willing to pay $495, and will make close to $15,000 by talking for four hours about himself and his clients.
“Most of the people taking the seminar are local attorneys,” Drew says. “I hope they’ll all be dorks, so I don’t create any competition for myself.”
Drew, the dorks are your clients.
On the flip side…
Sports agent Leigh Steinberg has made a reputation as Mr. Clean - a posture enhanced when golden girl gymnast Kerri Strug picked him to sift through all the endorsement offers. So if it was beyond an embarrassment last week when Steinberg was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol (he rear-ended another vehicle), he quickly tried to defuse the situation with a public apology.
“For my entire career, I have been advocating role modeling and community awareness,” said Steinberg. “I did not act as a role model should. Because role models have to address their failures as well as their achievements … please know that I intend to take responsibility for my actions.”
Meaning, presumably, we won’t be seeing Strug and Johnny the “I love you, man” guy shilling Bud Light anytime soon.
A veiled Schott at Marge
Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench made a wonderful gesture during a ceremony honoring him last week. He introduced equipment manager Bernie Stowe, who has been with the Reds for 50 years and never received acknowledgment from owner Marge Schott.
Bench called Stowe onto the field and presented him with a Rolex watch, two round-trip tickets to Las Vegas and an oil painting of Bench. Interestingly, of all the people Bench introduced, none was Schott.
The last word …
“I imagine the toughest task for the person in charge of community relations for the Rams is keeping Lawrence Phillips away from the community.”
- Michael Ventre, Los Angeles Daily News
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo