Quotes from new USC basketball coach Rick Majerus

Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004 | 2:18 a.m.

A sampling of Rick Majerus' humor from Wednesday's news conference introducing him as Southern California's new basketball coach:

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"I've had seven bypasses - one for every major food group, and I told people two for the barbecue division. En route to those seven bypasses, I enjoyed every Fuzzy Navel and pizza and Kahlua and cream." - speaking of his health problems and hardy appetite.

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"I damn near became a Mormon, which is an expensive proposition. You think California state taxes are high, let me tell you, those boys are tithing at 10 percent pre-tax." - referring to his 15 seasons coaching at Utah.

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"I've got to eat where Jennifer Aniston eats. I got to find these salad places."

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"I'm definitely not going to live in any hotel out here unless Julia Roberts moves into that one hotel and tells me I can be there with her." - referring to his living in a hotel in Salt Lake City while coach of the Utes.

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"If they want me to go on the horse and throw the spear, I'll do it. The poor horse might not like it." - referring to Traveler, USC's equine mascot.