Burnlounge, Baby, Burnlounge
Prior to the Federal Trade Commission pulling the plug on the Burnlounge pyramid scheme two years ago, several prominent personalities close to the University of South Carolina athletic program were allegedly making thousands of dollars a month off of this multi-level marketing scam.
Among them, reportedly, were former Gamecock quarterback Todd Ellis and running back Rob DeBoer, both of whom extensively promoted – and are alleged to have extensively profited from – this “service.”
After his role in the Burnlounge fiasco was exposed, DeBoer was let go from his position as the University’s sideline reporter.
Ellis?
Nothing happened to him.
Also reportedly in on the Burnlounge scam was Gamecock Marketer-in-Chief Liz McMillan, who is now at the center of a major scandal involving the firing of popular Gamecock radio announcer Mike Morgan.
According to sources who spoke with FITS on condition of anonymity, McMillan was making as much as $10,000 a month off of Burnlounge when it all came crashing down.
What does that have to do with Morgan’s firing?
Glad you asked.
Shortly before federal authorities shut Burnlounge down, sources tell FITS that Morgan had been offered a piece of the scam – which he refused.
In fact, this refusal reportedly led to the bad blood between Morgan and McMillan – who made the controversial recommendation a week ago to fire Morgan after the radio play-by-play man disputed his personal cable bill.
While there is no evidence to suggest that Morgan had any role in blowing the whistle on Burnlounge, there are numerous sources who have told us that McMillan and Ellis hold Morgan responsible for Burnlounge being exposed.
Obviously, that’s a motive to get someone fired for questionable cause, like a dispute over a cable bill that somehow morphed into a “major dispute” with a University advertiser.
Is that what happened to Morgan?
Stay tuned as we continue to follow this developing scandal …
Comments
By Joe on April 27th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Liz McMillan is an idiot, Todd Ellis stinks as a play-by-play announcer, both made big bucks in a Bernie Madoff-type scheme…..yet both still have their jobs and Mike Morgan is the one now looking for a job. Makes perfect sense to me.
By James the Foot Soldier on April 27th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Ponzi schemes are illegal??
Who goes to prison for the largest pyramid scheme known to man: Social in-Security?
By Justwondern on April 27th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Looks like Mike wasn’t a team player.
By Just Checking on April 28th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
My guess, and shear guess is that if they wanted to fire Mike for this, they would have done it years ago. Burnlounge has been shutdown for a while and Deboer had his trial. Seems like an awful long time ago. And who would Morgan dispute his cable bill to? I thought TWC was the only game in town…when did ISP or Learfield get into providing cable? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I think Morgan is great announcer, but I think this may be fishing off a bridge w/o any bait.
By truthdoesntmatter on April 28th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
If Liz was making $10K per month, which she wasn’t, then I doubt she would have cared if Morgan joined or not. People trying to make something out of nothing with the BL thing. Second, Deboer was named in the lawsuit agains BL and Ellis was not which is the reason for Deboer’s dismissal even though the case has not been settled as of yet(another fact the know-it-alls seem to have missed). I would imagine that Todd would have had a helluva case against ISP/USC if he was fired without cause.
Think before you spout slanderous accusations in the future. It will save everybody many headaches
By Tony the Gamecock on April 29th, 2009 at 1:57 am
Bring Mike Back !!! He is the voice of SC athletics. Anyone that doesn’t think so – well, screw you !
By Earl on April 29th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
I was invited to a burnlounge meeting at the convention center a couple of years ago. A friend had already got involved and wanted me to also. After doing some easy research, I was able to find out that the president of the company had already been in trouble with the sec for another mlm scheme. I knew then that this smelled bad.
What Todd Ellis did or didn’t know I have no idea. I do know the he, Rob Deboer, and the president of the company all spoke at the meeting at the convention center. It was actually more of a party atmosphere. Todd Ellis was very enthusiastic about Burnlounge and was touting it as the greatest thing since sliced bread at this meeting.
By Michael F Burns on May 6th, 2009 at 10:26 am
If MM was fired w/o cause then he should be reinstated, if he’s willing to come back. He is obviously the best voice of USC sports. Todd Ellis is an ex-jock in the booth. I personnally have no problem with that concept. EX-playeras can add that game experience that an announcer that never played cannot. There is a problem though. TE has a voice that would make tigger stop bouncing. He should do something else. MM brought a passion and skill to the booth that was contagious. IMO he is a pro’s pro. If I were him, I would probably go to work for a rival school just to stick it to USC!
By Ridin' Dirty on August 25th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Is this not typical USC crap? I love my university, but it’s the same old stuff, just a different day. I don’t know who gets to make these decisions but they obviously didn’t poll the people who they’re relying on for funding. TE definitely takes the “bounce” out of everything.
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