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"Now we know: USC star Josh Shaw's story about hurting both ankles while jumping onto concrete from a second-floor balcony to save his drowning seven-year-old nephew was literally too good to be true. \nHe made the whole thing up. \nBut we're still left with more questions than answers. How did the story get out in the first place? What's next for Shaw? How did he actually get hurt? \nSee also: Facebook's Newest 'Intern' Is a 6-Foot-8 NBA Star\nMultiple sources, the same fabrication\n\nUSC coach Steve Sarkisian and other officials were initially fooled by Josh Shaw's tall tale. Image: Jae C. Hong/Associated PressShaw's tale of derring-do quickly spread across the web like wildfire on Tuesday, exalted by blogs and news sites alike. Here, the thinking went, was a true sports hero, someone you can't root against no matter what team you actually support. \nIt all seemed to come from a legitimate news source: USC's official athletics website, which everyone who later covered the story cited and pulled laudatory quotes from. \nYou expect a school's official website to slant its coverage favorably, but it'd never post a totally bogus article, right? \nWrong, apparently. \nUSC sports information director Tim Tessalone told Mashable on Thursday that, as far as his staff knew, the story was legit. \n\"The blog post was based on Josh\u2019s account and wasn\u2019t posted until it was vetted Sunday and Monday by a variety of people through a variety of ways,\" Tessalone said in an email. \"Unfortunately, every source turned out to be fabricating the same story the same way.\"\nThat original story, which has since been deleted from the website, breathlessly recounted how Shaw leapt from the balcony and suffered two high-ankle sprains but summoned the strength to crawl over to the pool and save his drowning nephew, \"despite the intense pain in his legs.\"\n\"That was a heroic act by Josh, putting his personal safety aside,\" USC coach Steve Sarkisian said in the article. \"But that's the kind of person he is.\"\nThe story's eventual debunking underscores the complicated and changing dynamic of who releases news in the digital age \u2014 often the very people that news is about. But it's not like we haven't seen this sort of thing recently. \nLook no further than Manti Te'o's fictitious dead girlfriend, who was covered across every medium, including a glowing profile in Sports Illustrated, before being exposed as a hoax in January 2013. \nSerious questions about a big-time NFL prospect\n\n\"We are extremely disappointed in Josh,\" Sarkisian said in a release USC put out on Wednesday saying Shaw's story was pure fiction. \"He let us all down. As I have said, nothing in his background led us to doubt him when he told us of his injuries, nor did anything after our initial vetting of his story.\"\nShaw isn't just another player, though. The cornerback is a fifth-year senior who was named a captain for the Trojans this year. Last season, he started all 14 games and made 67 tackles, four interceptions and a blocked punt. He returned the blocked punt and one of his interceptions for touchdowns. \nStanding 6-foot-1 and weighing 200 pounds, Shaw has good size for an NFL cornerback and is a major pro prospect. CBS Sports ranked him third among all cornerbacks eligible for the 2015 draft. \nNow NFL scouts have to question the character of a player who invented a fib for the ages, lying to coaches to cover up \u2014 well, to cover up something. Whether that impacts where he's selected in next spring's NFL Draft remains to be seen. Talent \u2014 of which Shaw has plenty \u2014 has a way of eclipsing other concerns in these situations. \nBut first there's the matter of whether Shaw will even suit up in his final season for the Trojans. Sarkisian said on Wednesday that Shaw had been suspended indefinitely from all team activities, but seemed to leave the door cracked open for Shaw to work his way back into the fold.\n\"I believe Josh will learn from this,\" Sarkisian said. \"I hope that he will not be defined by this incident, and that the Trojan Family will accept his apology and support him.\"\nSo how the heck did Shaw actually get injured?\n\nShaw's lawyer, Donald Etra, represented Rihanna after she was assaulted by Chris Brown in 2009. Image: Danny Moloshok/Associated PressAfter USC walked back its original story on Wednesday, attorney Donald Etra released a statement on Shaw's behalf. In it, Shaw admitted to lying and asked for forgiveness. But he did not answer what has become the million-dollar question: How exactly did he actually get hurt, prompting his lie in the first place? \n\"That\u2019s a question for Josh or his lawyer,\" Tessalone, the sports information director, told Mashable via email on Thursday.\nEtra did not immediately respond to Mashable's request for further comment. But Shaw is named \u2014 though he isn't a suspect \u2014 in a police report from Saturday night, according to multiple reports. \nLos Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Lillian Preciado told TrojanSports.com, a website that covers USC athletics but is not affiliated with the school, that officers on Saturday responded to a complaint of a woman screaming for help at the Orsini Apartments complex about four miles from USC's campus. Witnesses then described a man matching Shaw's description \"leave from the balcony\" of a third-floor unit. His girlfriend also reportedly lives at the complex and said the man described matched Shaw's appearance. \nPolice said nothing was stolen on Saturday, but a window had been pried open, according to TrojanSports. An LAPD spokeswoman confirmed to Mashable on Thursday that Shaw has not been named as a suspect in the police report. \nMeanwhile, Etra told ESPNLA on Wednesday night that Shaw was hurt while falling from a balcony at the Orsini Apartments, but did not go into detail. \n\"My understanding is that there is nothing criminal about this whatsoever,\" Etra told the site. \"There is no criminal activity whatsoever.\"\nAgain, more questions than answers. \nDid Shaw fall off a balcony or jump off? If he jumped off, why did he jump off? What was he doing at the apartments? \nWhether those questions are ever fully answered publicly remains to be seen. But USC's strange week took another turn on Thursday morning when running back Anthony Brown abruptly quit the team and accused Sarkisian of being racist in an Instagram post he later deleted. \n\"Quite honestly I'm shocked,\" Sarkisian said after Brown quit the team on Thursday. \nJust the latest shock in a surreal few days at USC. \nBONUS: 50 Stunning Sports Photos From 2013\n\n\n\n50 Amazing Sports Photos From 2013\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1. Jamaica's Usain Bolt wins the 100-meter final at the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow on Aug. 11 as lightning strikes in the sky above Luzhniki Stadium.\n\n\nImage: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n2. LeBron James moments before leading the Miami Heat to a win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals on June 3. \n\n\nImage: Chris Trotman/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n3. Pro lacrosse player Stephen Berger of the New York Lizards gets encouragement from young fans before a May 31 game. \n\n\nImage: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n4. Gabriel Gonzaga employs a guillotine choke submission against Ben Rothwell in their heavyweight MMA fight on Jan. 19 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. \n\n\nImage: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n5. Uruguay takes on Italy for 3rd place at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil on June 30. \n\n\nImage: Handout/Shaun Botterill/FIFA via Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n6. Jarrett Jack of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a basket as fans go wild during a Feb. 22 game against the San Antonio Spurs. \n\n\nImage: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n7. Major League Baseball rookies George Kottaras of the Kansas City Royals and Robbie Ross of the Texas Rangers compete in a cow milking contest on June 1. \n\n\nImage: Rick Yeatts/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n8. Sergy Nazin of Russia competes in the world diving championships as Barcelona's iconic Sagrada Fam\u00EDlia cathedral looms in the background on July 28. \n\n\nImage: Al Bello/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n9. Baseball fans display the full range of human emotion while trying to catch an Aug. 28 foul ball at Fenway Park. \n\n\nImage: Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n10. Halima Hachlaf of Morocco lies on the track after competing in the women's 800-meter semifinals IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow on Aug. 16. \n\n\nImage: Christian Petersen/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n11. Boats zip between Alcatraz Island and the San Francisco skyline during the fifth race of the America's Cup Finals on Sept. 10. \n\n\nImage: Jamie Squire/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n12. Yekaterina Rudenko of Kazakhstan competes at the International Swimming Federation championships in Barcelona on July 31.\n\n\nImage: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n13. The United States takes on Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifying match amid driving snow on March 22 in Commerce City, Colo. \n\n\nImage: Dustin Bradford/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n14. Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning the Australian Open over Andy Murray on Jan. 27.\n\n\nImage: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Notre Dame running back Cam McDaniel hilariously maintains perfect composure while getting tackled after losing his helmet on Oct. 19. \n\n\nImage: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n16. A prosthetic leg stands alone by the pool during the International Paralympic Committee's world swimming championship on Aug. 15. \n\n\nImage: Charles Laberge/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n17. David Luiz of Brazil is ecstatic after a teammate's goal during the Confederations Cup on June 15. \n\n\nImage: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n18. Japanese officials react after Tokyo is awarded the 2020 Olympics at an announcement ceremony in Buenos Aires. \n\n\nImage: Ian Walton/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n19. Danny Garcia lands a bloody punch on Zab Judah during their championship boxing match on April 27. \n\n\nImage: Elsa/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n20. Zafar Gohar of Pakistan and Ben Duckett of England face off in an international under-19 cricket match on Aug. 19. \n\n\nImage: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n21. An alligator guards the 14th fairway at an April 25 golf tournament in Avondale, La. \r\n\n\n\nImage: Chris Graythen/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n22. A Boston police officer at Fenway Park loses himself in the moment, celebrating a Red Sox home run in a come-from-behind win during the MLB playoffs on Oct. 13. \n\n\nImage: Al Bello/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n23. Butler coach Brad Stevens endures a moment of agony after a ref's whistle during the NCAA Tournament on March 23. \n\n\nImage: Andy Lyons/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n24. The Saints logo lines up perfectly behind quarterback Drew Brees at the Superdome in New Orleans on Sept. 8. \n\n\nImage: Chris Graythen/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n25. Maria Sharapova plays a backhand during the Australian Open quarterfinals on Jan. 22. \n\n\nImage: Julian Finney/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n26. A man watches the Brazilian national soccer team from a favela bar in Rio de Janeiro on June 9. \n\n\nImage: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n27. Jehue Gordon of Trinidad and Tobago just beats American Michael Tinsley in the world 400-meter hurdles championship in Moscow on Aug. 15. \n\n\nImage: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n28. Boston Marathon bombing victim Jeff Bauman greets the crowd before the Boston Bruins' NHL playoff game on May 4. \n\n\nImage: Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n29. Fred Jackson after scoring a touchdown for the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 1.  \n\n\nImage: Rick Stewart/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n30. Man versus bull at the National Rodeo Finals on Australia's Gold Coast on June 16. \n\n\nImage: Matt Roberts/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n31. Parrish Cox of the 49ers is a lonely man amid the Ravens' victory celebration following Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 3. \r\n\n\n\nImage: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n32. Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium during a college football game on Sept. 21. \n\n\nImage: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n33. Carmelo Anthony sails into the crowd while chasing a loose ball for the New York Knicks during a May 1 playoff game. \n\n\nImage: Al Bello/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n34. Ryan Mathews runs from defenders during an NFL game on Nov. 17. \n\n\nImage:  Streeter Lecka/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n35. A Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader performs during a game on Sept. 15.  \n\n\nImage: Patrick Smith/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n36. Double amputee Chris Moon runs in the 135-mile Badwater ultra-marathon race on July 15 in Death Valley National Park, Calif. \n\n\nImage: David McNew/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n37. Kite-boarders compete on San Francisco Bay on June 7. \n\n\nImage: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n38. Arizona's Kevin Parrom sells a foul during the Pac-12 tournament on March 14. \n\n\nImage: Jeff Gross/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n39. Legendary NFL linebacker Ray Lewis after one of the final playoff games of his career on Jan. 6. \n\n\nImage: Patrick Smith/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n40. A young fan welcomes his heroes onto the ice before an NHL game in Raleigh, N.C., on Jan. 22. \n\n\nImage: Grant Halverson/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n41. Sunlight casts shadows during an April 21 IndyCar race on the streets of Long Beach, Calif. \n\n\nImage: Robert Laberge/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n42. Two hockey players duke it out during an NHL game. \n\n\nImage: Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n43. Peter Mel rides a wave during the Maverick's Invitational surf competition on Jan. 20 in Half Moon Bay. \n\n\nImage: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n44. Pitcher Erik Bedard of the Houston Astros casts a long shadow on May 29. \n\n\nImage: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n45. Andrei Kirilenko of the Brooklyn Nets is framed by the rim while reaching for the ball on Nov. 1. \n\n\nImage: Al Bello/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n46. Greg Owen hits a shot on Feb. 7 at the Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach, Calif. \n\n\nImage: Jeff Gross/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n47. A rainbow appears over Camden Yards during a game between the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees on June 28. \n\n\nImage: Patrick Smith/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n48. The field of the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore on May 28. \n\n\nImage: Patrick Smith/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n49. Russ Smith of the Louisville Cardinals tumbles into his own team's bench during a game at Madison Square Garden on March 16. \n\n\nImage: Elsa/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n50. WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, Jr., preens after defeating Juan Manual Marquez on Oct. 12. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHave something to add to this story? Share it in the comments."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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