oddsnark | NCAA Doesn’t Like Belly Dancers, Anything Really

2005-06 College Bowls • NCAA Football

NCAA Doesn’t Like Belly Dancers, Anything Really

By Josh ⋅ January 1, 2006 ⋅ Post a comment

USC’s athletic department is investigating whether its football program violated any NCAA rules by taking recruits to a restaurant owned by a former Trojans player.

The compliance issue is related to the actions of John Papadakis, a former USC linebacker, who owns the Greek restaurant in San Pedro called Papadakis Taverna. He reportedly has a recruiting speech he gives to prospective players that includes asking them to declare, “I want to be a Trojan.”

As a former player, Papadakis is prohibited from speaking to recruits about USC football.

According to the restaurant’s Web site, dining at Papadakis Taverna is a highly entertaining experience:

“You’ll be sent on a gastronomical adventure peppered with some of the countries most beautiful works of art, all throughout the dining room, then culminating with first-class entertainment comprised of Greek & Belly dancing as well as old-fashioned, American entertainment!”

John Papadakis runs the restaurant with his brother Tom.

“The Papadakis brothers, both former-star athletes translate this prowess into a nightly, exhilarating and dramatic Greek dancing extravaganza performed for the enjoyment of their guests.”

Just mind you don’t translate that prowess into a recruiting violation.