What's That Saying About "No Such Thing As Bad Publicity?"

The AP has picked up on the Ian Sample story.

HONOLULU (AP) — University of Hawaii athletic officials on Monday said they will look into allegations raised by a former receiver, including the claim that school officials and players manipulated NCAA-mandated drug tests.

Ian Sample, who recently published a book chronicling the 2006 season entitled, Once A Warrior, released unpublished material on his blog about excessive drinking, widespread use of marijuana, sex with groupies and rigged drug tests.

Sample, who now plays professional football in Japan, wrote that he's "convinced the 'random' tests are not random at all."

Earlier today, Dave Reardon had this response from June Jones.

One chapter on the Internet implied that UH rigged drug testing so that key players who used marijuana or steroids were not tested.

"Absolutely a lie," Jones said, in making his first extensive public comments on the book. "It's a farce to assume we hand pick them. We don't have anything to do with it."

Jones said the NCAA sends the school a list of names of players to be drug tested.

"It's unfortunate," Jones said. "These are the greatest kids in the world. It's a shame someone would throw them under the bus. In this day, with the Internet, anyone can say what they want.

"It's so dishonorable. Some of those things do happen, but to suggest it's condoned. ..."

Guess we'll see how this plays out. Just in time for the start of the season!