Sometimes a story is too good to be true. Could this be the latest example of that adage at work?
USC is opening an internal investigation into the story of senior cornerback Josh Shaw saving his nephew from drowning. The story shared by USC’s athletics website was inspirational and a touching one. Shaw reportedly suffered a pair of high ankle sprains while allegedly leaping from a second floor balcony into a pool below to save his nephew, who cannot swim.
A day later, USC head coach Steve Sarkisian says there may be conflicting information regarding how the injury to Shaw’s ankles were suffered.Sark: “Within the last few hours we’ve gotten a phone calls contradicting what Josh said occurred Saturday night and we’re going to vet it.”
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) August 26, 2014
For now, USC is keeping Shaw from meeting with the media until the university can confirm the information regarding the injuries.
UPDATE (5:00 p.m. ET): According to information obtained by NBC News, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officials said they have no record of any calls to their Palmdale station for service involving Shaw or a family member due to a near drowning.
UPDATE (8:00 p.m. ET): Josh Shaw’s older sister, Asia Shaw, spoke with USA TODAY on behalf of her brother. She confirmed the initial report of the football player saving his nephew -- her son -- but wouldn’t comment on any “speculation” that Josh Shaw injured himself during a burglary.
“The one who was supposed to be watching him turned away for a second,” she said. “And Josh, who is on the balcony, saw the incident and reacted.”
Asia Shaw also confirmed no authorities were involved in the matter since her son didn’t experience any respiratory impairment.