USC job could be trouble

ESPN college basketball writer Andy Katz drew up a short list -- that includes former UNLV star Reggie Theus -- of potential candidates for the Southern California coaching job.

Whoever takes the post had better insist on a long-term contract. Otherwise, it's career suicide.

Coach Tim Floyd resigned Tuesday after allegations had surfaced that he paid cash to steer former star player O.J. Mayo to the Trojans. The potential NCAA fallout could be a mess for USC's next coach, who might need several years to make the program viable again.

In addition to wondering why Floyd walked away without a fight, Katz speculated about the reasons behind USC's decision to grant a release to recruit Noel Johnson -- who is being wooed by UNLV -- and allow Renardo Sidney out of his oral commitment. Also, forward Marcus Johnson, granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, opted to turn pro rather than stick around at USC.

Still, Katz said, there are enough positives to make the USC job attractive. In addition to Theus, Bob Knight, Oregon State's Craig Robinson (President Obama's brother-in-law) and Saint Mary's Randy Bennett could be candidates, Katz said.

But, as he noted on ESPN.com, it's too early to truly discuss who could be next, writing "the fear of the unknown, with the possibility of sanctions, makes this a tough call for anyone in a secure situation."

No doubt they're broken up about this at UCLA.

• BRANDED -- Orlando Magic reserve Marcin Gortat sports a Michael Jordan/Nike logo tattoo on his right leg. But he has a shoe contract with Reebok, which has asked him to find a way to cover the tattoo.

Gortat declined, telling Fanhouse.com, "I've been wearing it four to five years now, and it helped me get to the NBA. They didn't say anything about it when I signed the contract, so it's not going anywhere. I don't think they are paying me enough to take it off.''

• CHILD'S PLAY -- Trying to get youth interested in sports is a noble pursuit. But WGN reporter Pat Tomasulo embarrassed himself on the air by taunting a 5-year-old, dunking, taunting him some more, then making him cry.

A WGN anchor is heard saying, "What's the matter with you?"

The boy's mother then picks up her son to dunk, yells "In your face!" at Tomasulo and tells him he should leave.

Unfazed, Tomasulo says, "Kids these days are soft and they need to be toughened up."

While still standing in the offended family's driveway, he makes an uncomfortable segue to an update on the Chicago Cubs -- a franchise known for making people of all ages cry.

• HAIR-RAISING FEAT -- Bob Molinaro of the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot wrote: "Baseball being all wrapped up in stats the way it is, somebody should be able to tell us how many of Randy Johnson's 300 wins came in the post-mullet era."

COMPILED BY MARK ANDERSON LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL