Scott:
There's a quote I try to remember in good times: When a man can walk away not saying anything, even though he knows he's right in life, he's arrived spiritually.
I know you better than anyone on this board, let's face it, you have won the huge majority of your $$ on USC over the last 3 years; and the only reason is, is b/c you are a die hard fan and grew up loving the program and born into a family wealthy enough to allow you to attend their fine institution. That's awesome, congrats. But did you ever stop to consider, 'what if I grew up in Norman, or Auburn, or Ann Arbor?' If you had been placed by Fate in another section of the country, your heart would've directed your passion into those excellent programs early on and you wouldve never made the same money. You are a very fortunate soul in that your time-window put you on the USC campus when Pete Carroll rebuilt your precious dynasty and gave you privvy to information. You didn't do it, you CAPAITALIZED on it, which is to your credit. But if you were on the east coast, you would never have won all the money you are fond of flaunting to others. Other people lose because they are midwest or east coast bias (anti-USC and Pac-10). If they switched locales with you, they'd be the ones with fatter bank accounts, and you would probably be scrounging like many on MJs for the +side debit ledger.
You don't have all the answers in sports, no one does. We only have to go as far as Kobe Bryant and Shaq--where you argued a thousand times it was all Kobe and not Shaq that made the Lakers great. I accepted that b/c I knew you were biased living in LA and "too close" to the issues. See, the same thing that won you a ton of $$ on USC blinded you to the truth who the real MVP was all the years on the Lakers. I don't think you can even presume to make that argument now. The proof is in the record.
Enjoy your money, you won't retire on your 20 or 40K that USC might've made you over the last 3 years. It's a nice gambling nestegg, but it won't be there in the future, as you know their value has vanished.
Learning the virtue of humility might truly be your team's greatest favor they could've handed you. Take the lead from your mentor, Coach Carroll, he is a man I respect and classy leader. I saw him smiling after OU took a 7-0 lead, and I said to myself, "Wow, there's a calming influence, what a cool guy!"
Inside you are a good man, like I said, you want to be liked and your opinion heard by many. I am posting this in some small way to help you see the light of human relationships.
I don't presume to have all the answers, but after knowing you for almost 3 years, I felt compelled to share some thoughts. And maybe some of the people on the board might see you in a slightly different light, too.
Build bridges not walls.
Take care
gregg