We're going with a quick all-Yahoo! Sports version of the links this time around simply because the guys at Yahoo! Sports have enough good stuff up this morning. So there. Onto the links...

• Dan Wetzel drops a small hammer on USC and former-coach Pete Carroll. Wetzel can't believe that while all of this news breaks at SC, Carroll is joyfully flying across the country to promote his new book, "Win Forever." I have mixed feelings on the issues that have plagued the Trojans and how the NCAA decided to handle them, but it is hard to believe that ALL of this got past Carroll without something smelling a little fishy to him. I mean, how do cars and housing get passed around the program -- especially at a USC program that prides itself on operating in a public manner -- and the head coach has ZERO idea? Don't buy it. 
• Lou Piniella is calling it quits, and he was an unforgettable baseball man, writes Jeff Passan. Piniella will finish out the season, but it simply is a farewell tour as the Cubs have virtually no shot of making the playoffs and continue to be the most frustrating organization in professional baseball. It's probably a good decision by Lou. He's been around a long time, done a lot of things. He knows when it is time.
• The Dodgers continue to find ways to lose, this time by a rule book slip-up from Don Mattingly. Mattingly, acting as manager after Joe Torre and bench coach Bob Schaefer were ejected, was charged with two official trips to the mound on the same visit because he broke a small rule, says Tim Brown. Due to the slip, Mattingly had to remove All-Star closer Jonathan Broxton from the game with the bases loaded, one out in the top of the ninth and the Dodgers leading by one run. There went Broxton, and there went the game for Los Angeles.
• As usual, Marc J. Spears has good coverage of all things NBA, and he catches up with Kevin Durant at Team USA's minicamp in Las Vegas. With Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James all skipping the world championships in Turkey next month, it's Durant's turn to lead Team USA and officially become one of the current faces of the NBA. I won't hide nor apologize for my love of Kevin Durant. Great player, better person.
• Lastly, as the college football season looms, Rivals.com takes a look at Notre Dame as part of its top-120 countdown to the season.