So, as you may have heard, Southern Cal running backs coach Todd McNair has been facing the music after our very own Meriones turned up some disturbing revelations about his history of animal abuse.  Those revelations set off a bit of a fire storm, as you well know.

As the story developed, some of us here wondered if the Trojan faithful would react to the disturbing facts being uncovered like we did with respect to Eric Scott.  Would Pete Carroll and his band of saints do the right thing?

Well, we have our answer.  After the MSM was "hopelessly outflanked" by Meriones, we see the Trojan strategy.  Fight blog with blog.

So, we have Southern Cal's lapdog, Ben Malcolmson, with a pseudo-journalistic blogpost purporting to clear the air.

But, before you read it, let me tell you something I have no first hand knowledge of, but know (or at least suspect) to be 100% true.  Bengie did not write this "article."  Maybe he typed it, or posted on his "blog."  But this, my friends, is the product of a, sadly, quite experienced PR machine.  Just ask any of the (many) lawyers here, myself included.  We know a carefully worded document when we see one.  And, while the guy isn't quite denying that tanks are rolling into Bagdad, it ain't that far off.

Fortunately, one of my contacts deep within Heritage Hall was able to lay her hands on an early draft of this story- before it made it to the spin doctors and lawyers.  I'm told that this is Benny's first draft.  Fascinating stuff:

A story in Wednesday's Los Angeles Times, which confirmed a story on BruinsNation.com, cited reports that said the former NFL player and fourth-year USC coach faced charges for mistreatment of dogs.

But McNair clarified the issues Wednesday morning, at least to the satisfaction of remarkably undiscerning USC fans.  The only counts he was convicted of (wink, wink) were two charges of animal neglect, one in 1996 and the other in 1993.  Both revolved around improper housing of his 22 cute, lovable little pit bulls during inclement weather and not having all the required licenses.

He was exonerated of all other charges.  That is, if by "exonerated," you mean that he copped a plea.  Since, of course, dude wasn't found innocent of anything.

He was never convicted of cruelty to animals or dog fighting.  Of course, he was charged with both those things.  And news reports cite facts which seem to support those charges.  But, he was never convicted of anything... er, except those two other charges.

"I understand why this is such a volatile topic with what's going on with Michael Vick, but my situation was not the same," McNair, 42, said.  "Unlike Vick, who was plead guilty to seriously mistreating animals, I also agreed to a plea and was convicted of terribly mistreating animals."  "It's totally different," said McNair.  "And, besides, that was more than 10 years ago, which is way longer than even the best fighting dog lives."  McNair went on to explain, "Sure, I was cited for neglect for improper housing, but  how was I to know that housing a pit bull next to another pit bull in a fighting cage surrounded by gamblers was "improper housing".  "Whatever, I paid the penalty and I learned from my mistakes."

The subject of animal treatment by people in sports is especially noteworthy now because of the recent Vick connections with felony dogfighting charges.  Of course, this attention is warranted, because the conduct in question is barbaric and disgusting.

"It's a topical subject obviously because of Michael Vick," Coach Pete Carroll said. "We understand that because it is such a hot topic, it's going to be brought up.  But the detail's in Todd's case were completely different."  Carroll continued, "It's not much different than pervasive violations of NCAA sanctions, another topical subject.  Of course, besides the cheating, our situation with Bush and Jarrett, among others, was totally different."

Carroll said he and McNair have talked about the issue and agree that it is time to move on because it is so far in the past and McNair has served his penalties.  USC boosters also agreed that it was time to move on, as any distraction from the season would "suck."  Other people who believe its "time to move on" include corporate executives caught engaging in financial improprieties, politicians embroiled in sex scandals, and individuals facing eternal damnation.

McNair said he bred dogs for about four years and sold them as a side business to his NFL career.  The NFL, a notoriously unfair employer, has been known to often pay less than the minimum wage.  This, and other unfair labor practices has lead NFL players like McNair to supplement their meager incomes with more lucrative side businesses, such as the well-known cash cow that is dog breading.  McNair also said he tried to make sure he placed his dogs with responsible owners to prevent any issues surrounding dogfighting, such as owner who would place dogs in fights with inadequate training.  When the charges arose, and multiple convictions followed, he stopped his dog-breeding business.

"I got into the business of breeding dogs, but eventually I knew I had gotten in over my head and couldn't maintain the business," McNair said.  "Not to mention the repeated convictions, which were a bummer."

McNair has since kept a dog as a pet and he and his family currently have a pug.  When asked why he didn't have a pit bull, McNair replied, "Damn, what, do to you think I'm crazy?  Those things are killers."

"I love dogs," McNair said. "I've had dogs all my life, I would never want to hurt them, so long as they put on a good show."

The charges last came up in 1996 and McNair went through court with his high-priced cadre of New York city lawyers to resolve the matters.

"It's something I took heat for 11 years ago," McNair, 42, said. "It's unfortunate it has to come up now and that I have to explain myself again like I did 11 years ago in a court of law."  "Because, you know, it's not like what I did was serious or anything."

According to Gloucester Co. (N.J.) Times, McNair was charged with animal neglect in 1996 for improper housing of his 22 pit bulls at his New Jersey home, where he trained dogs. He said a violent snowstorm slammed the East Coast with more than 20 inches of snow at the time, and when it melted, standing water was everywhere.  Of course, the police unfairly singled McNair out, as the only resident of Gloucester Co. to be affected by the storm.  McNair's dogs where also afflicted with the "can 'o woop-ass" variety of rain, that routinely does this to dogs:

The other conviction "happened" in 1993, when he left his dog outside on a chain while attending Kansas City Chiefs practice. He said rain started to fall when he was gone and a neighbor reported him for leaving his dog outside without proper housing.  Again, as remarkable coincidence would have it, McNair was the only one in Kansas City to have chained up a wounded, abused pit bull in a conspicuous public place.

For both convictions, McNair said he had to pay fines and, for the 1996 count, perform community service.

McNair emphasized he was never personally involved in dogfighting.

"I wasn't involved in dogfighting," he said. "Only the dogs were."  "I don't condone a dude getting in there one bit."

Obviously, I'm joking (to some extent).  But, I have to say that my version probably stands pretty close to just the same chance of being true as Ben's.  It's probably somewhere in the middle, and unfortunately, we'll probably never know the truth.  Not that we should be the ones demanding answers.  Of course, that should be the role of (don't laugh too hard) honorable Trojan fans.  And I hope we'll hear from some of them soon.

Sadly, some media outlets actually eat this kind of stuff up.  Embarrassing.

GO BRUINS.