• Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith are out to downplay the USC WR jinx:

Adds Jarrett: "It’s unfortunate it didn’t work out the way he wanted,
but his situation is totally different from mine. We have to let
everyone know that is a myth about USC receivers. We can break the
curse with a good rookie year."

• Nice article on DJ’s life growing up:

"He said to me: "Ma, can you believe it? You’re not going to need,
you’re never going to want for anything ever again,’ " Camille recalled
this week. "I think all those emotions came out because he knew in his
heart that from the time when he told me he was going to play
professional ball, when he was 7, to now, it’s finally here.

• USC basketball recruits shined at the Kingwood Classic this weekend:  Brandon Jennings, Angelo Johnson, and Demar DeRozan all led their respective squads in scoring.