Rey Maualuga dances with Erin Andrews*

*Editor's Note: This post previously contained a video showing the USC linebacker and ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews. A reference in the post described his actions on the Rose Bowl sideline as "dancing" with Andrews. Maualuga later apologized to Andrews. The video has since been removed once it was deemed inappropriate based on Times standards and practices, and should not have been posted.

The most brutal on-field clip was obviously Taylor Mays' brain-rattling hit on Penn State's Jordan Norwood and Kevin Thomas, his own teammate. Ouch. College football experts have been raving about Mays for a couple of years, but he flew under the pop-culture radar because he wasn't a YouTube sensation like Maualuga. Of course, Mays didn't get many opportunities -- most teams were probably afraid to put the ball anywhere near him.

We've got a number of USC and Penn State news conference videos available on latimes.com (go to the video player and find the sports tab) and on the L.A. Times YouTube account. I've been a little slow to post because I caught the stomach bug/food poisoning that went around the press corps. I'll try to get some photos and final thoughts (including the "stay classy" issue) posted this weekend. If there's anything you want to see or questions you want answered, feel free to leave a comment and I'll make sure to respond.

-- Adam Rose

Comments

[Janna]

Was that Erin Andrews? I was fairly sure it wasn't, just some other skinny, blonde ESPN reporter. But I was right next to them when that happened. Everybody started laughing, and she turned around and just said "Omigosh, what did he do? Was it bad?!?". Highlight of my day.

[pk-in-the-mesa]

Will Ucla ever make it back to a bowl game one wonders; I mean their coach is a gambler and a liar. I mean the pac-10 finally went undefeated in bowl games, it is the first year the bruins fail to get to bowl, which really help out.

They can recruit whomever they want and could have the #1 class 10 yrs running and still would fine away to fall off the pony.

[pk-in-the-mesa]

Tim floyd just lost to OSU, so I guess that make usc the bottom feeder at this moment. I mean this guy is got to be the stupidest coach I have ever watch in college BB, please retire you don't deserve this job.

[Mark]

Simulating a sex act is dancing?

[silverlake bruin]

this is why no bruin fans read your UCLA blog. Clearly you are a shill for USC. Demeaning a woman trying to do her job by simulating sex acts is a good thing to you. Take off your USC colored glasses and look at it from her point of view.

[GentelTip]

doesnt know how to dance, does he?

[anon]

You ask a lady before you start to dance with her. You get her consent before you have sex with her.

Adam, what are you still in a fraternity? Is rape equated with a college prank in your mind still? Is that why you completely gloss over the fact that Erin's dignity was compromised by this tasteless and inconsiderate prank?

How would you feel if some huge football player "air grinded" behind you against your will on camera for the nation to see? Would you feel a big career boost out of it?

You encourage this behavior by not calling it into question. It's in seriously bad taste, is an affront to Erin, and is just plain mean.

Not to mention you excuse his uninvited sexually charged gesture because he's apparently a good player. What?
He gets a pass on good manners because he can do something well with an inflated piece of leather?

Adam, I am seriously disappointed in you and your paper.

I love the game of football, but detest it's infantile institutional manifestations which you're obviously a part of. We're not a better society because of our unquestioning and over exuberant veneration of sports talent.

[Peter E]

Actually I think he was attempting some rude sexual tinged thrusting hardly a dance unless it's dirty dancing. Very rude and immature kind of like pitiful high school locker room immaturity and crudeness. She should feel violated and rightfully so.

[Mo]

just another filthy sc player that has no respect for anyone. what more can you expect??

[too sensitive]

seriously, it's funny. potty humor does not equal a federal case. unbelievable.

[people r too sensitive]

people who stupidly even bring up the r-word in connection to this clip are the reason why no one can discuss the issue intelligently.

Erin is a professional and handle herself. Sheesh.

[Joe]

Ray=No Class

[Adam Rose]

Answers to assorted questions and comments:

- I think UCLA will go bowling in the next two years.
- Yup, I'm 99% sure that's EA. There weren't many others on the sideline (I think Shelley Smith was the only other female reporter doing stand-ups). That looks like EA, and I'm pretty sure that's what she was wearing.
- This wasn't rape, and I'm not even sure it was a simulated sex act. In 2009, that's more of a silly dance move (especially with his hands making circles in the air). 50 years ago, it would be totally inappropriate under any circumstance. Of course, they said the same thing about Elvis. Today, the connotation isn't quite the same. To some, he may as well have done bunny ears in a still photo. Perhaps it's a generational thing, but I think most people under 30 were amused.
- I'm NOT saying what Maualuga did was appropriate. Because it's on a national stage with cameras all around, he should have been on better behavior. At the same time, we don't know if Andrews was deeply offended or if they're old friends and it's a running gag. I just know it happened. I never passed judgment, one way or the other.
- Rape isn't the right word, at all. If Andrews was upset, then she deserves an apology and I hope she gets one. That's between them. If not, it's a healthy boost for both of their Q-scores.
- I'm not inclined to give anybody a pass because they're a good player. I might be inclined to give Maualuga the benefit of the doubt on some of his jokes because he's self-deprecating. Ever see the pics of him wearing a pink thong over his workout clothes? It's one thing if you take yourself too seriously, but he always seemed like a silly kid. That's why I'm not jumping to conclusions.

As Page 2 likes to say, today's final word comes in an email from Kiki:

"You are brilliant. I just wanted to tell you that. I read your blog religiously, and it makes me really happy."

And today's final word comes in an email from Johnny:

"Adam Rose, You continue to suck."

[Chuck Byble]

come on .... Its not like the guy came up and put his hands all over her like some chester.. All he did was a little dance behind her, some of you may be a little to old to understand this but these days thats called having good time.. Thats the way ol pete likes his players, calm, cool, and relaxed while having a good time..

[bfold]

Adam…I’m a USC fan, alumni, and a member of the football squad from back in the 90’s. I am thrilled with USC’s victory and, in general, with the cast of fine young men Coach Carroll has assembled over the years. I love a good time and good fun as much as anyone. I abhor political correctness run amok…and I believe that far too many take themselves far too seriously.

Nevertheless, there is no room on the field (or off) for the kind of behavior exhibited by Rey Maualuga in this video clip. It should neither be encouraged nor condoned. This is not about allegiance to one school or another, but rather common decency and how we view and treat women. You should know this…and anyone with a clue, a backbone, or some integrity would say so. But you do not. That makes you either a coward or clueless.

[Ken]

people r too sensitive, the word "rape" in this context is being used as analogy and is not out of context in the issue. To declare it so does not make it so. The video shows a much larger man coming up behind a woman and grinding behind her. While that in itself is not a crime, it is disrespectful and rude, and therefore inappropriate. And to excuse it as "boys being boys" and "having fun" at the expense of a woman is where the analogy comes in.

[anonymous]

Hopefully Rey will get his leg blown out in the NFL... what a chump.

[JoeZ]

Evidently Erin wasn't too thrilled about it. I admit she is a drop dead gorgeous woman, but there are ways to celebrate and that wasn't one of them. Show some respect. Would Rey want some dude doing that behind his sister? I don't think so.

[Jon]

I was expecting some pretend booty slapping with obvious hip thrusting, etc. That wasn't nearly as crude as the foregoing comments suggested. It was just a stupid dance. Moves like that haven't been offensive since that Kid 'N Play movie House Party.

[Justin]

Adam is right about the under 30 comment.

Using the word "rape" in this discussion is offensive to people who have actually experienced that. Demeaning? Maybe.

If you've been to a bar or nightclub anywhere in the country in the last 5 years, yes this is considered dancing. And he would be looked at for dancing "goofy" and not bumping and grinding like everyone else. His is more like the "Get Silly" dance (youtube it).

Try to keep up with today's culture before you start accusing him of crimes.

[bfold]

Put it another way...

Let us suppose everything is the same except the woman / sideline reporter is NOT Erin Andrews.

Instead, substitute Erin with Rey Maualuga's mom, sister, girlfriend, wife or daughter.

NOW....

If I then came up behind her (Rey's mom, wife, etc) and behaved in exactly the same manner as he did, do you think Rey would mind at all?

[Tim]

This fellow should be reprimanded by the University. I believe USC Administration have a responsibility to demand he publicly apologize to Erin.

This affront to this woman's dignity is disgusting. Shame on him and shame on USC for not making an immediate public display of him for such lude and selfish behavior.

[Pat]

People are getting way to jacked about this, I dont believe he even touched her.

[Brain]

Looks like a mating ritual to me.

http://thingsfatpeoplehate.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/781/

[anon]

Adam, your responses are intellectually flimsy and reflect a ego too large and fragile to admit a mistake. Here's why:

-That's just a silly dance move? Really? Then why doesn't he do it by himself? And why does he do it behind Erin''s back without her knowing it? Why does he grind toward her bottom? And laugh? And why does he walk away like he didn't do anything wrong and doesn't acknowledge Erin? His gesture is a lot more similar to rape then a silly dance move. I could forgive bunny ears, but this is not innocent. It's either predatory or comes way too close to it. Clowns can be evil too.

-You think that this is an age thing? Perhaps it is, in that older men often have learned to respect women, that you can get yourself in a lot of trouble with the law and your women friends, women lovers, women relatives - and the men that love them - when you do something disrespectful or worse to a woman. I interpret your statement about the age factor to mean this - that you think men under 30 often have poor judgment when it comes to how to treat women. I totally agree with you.

-If this isn't giving him a pass, I do not know what is:
"And when you're Rey Maualuga, you don't need to ask for a dance -- you just boogie."

-Andrews doesn't need to be upset to require an apology. Standards of behavior do not change because one person thinks it's OK, even if it's the victim. For instance, rape is still rape and a chargeable offense even if the victim is not upset by it.

Adam, you're either stupid or too prideful to admit a mistake. Either way, it's obvious you're under 30.

Get a clue about what kind of society we live in. And pray, pray that if you ever have a daughter, that she doesn't get raped. It's obvious you do not have much real experience with women or you would know how many women have been sexually assaulted.

Just so you start to get a clue, see the below stats.
And BTW, your post and the consensus of the board is not going to win you any points with the ladies. You may be in for a long, long dry spell sporto.

- Women are 10 times more likely than men to be victims of sexual assault (National Crime Victimization Survey, 1997).

-A study among college women has shown that 1 out of every 5 college age women report being forced to have sexual intercourse. (1995 National College Health Risk Behavior Survey).

-22% of all women say that they have been forced to do sexual things against their will, where only 3% of men admit to ever forcing themselves on a woman. (Laumann, 1994).

Quoted from:
http://www.sa.rochester.edu/masa/stats.php