Luther Campbell Sues For Slander!

Luther Campbell is known for his music and happy go-lucky personality.  However, he has a more serious side, from writing a daily column for The Miami Herald to running for the Mayor of Miami.  Here's something else to know about Uncle Luke, he ain't to be played with.

Luke claims he was "slandered and defamed" in an article that questioned his relationship with the University of Miami players.  He has filed suit against a man named Nevin Shapiro, a longtime University of Miami booster with deep pockets.  Shapiro is currently serving time for orchestrating a Ponzi scheme.  Ironically, when he got caught he tried to take Luke with him.

Luke's name has been caught up in the investigation of University of Miami booster Nevin Shapiro, who is currently serving a 20 year sentence for his role in a $930 million dollar ponzi scheme.

Nevin Shapiro is accused of providing illegal benefits to at least 72 athletes from 2002 to 2010, according to an 11 month investigation conducted by Yahoo! Sports.

According to the investigation, athletes were provided with millions of dollars in cash, prostitutes and entertainment, in addition to being hosted in Shapiro's multimillion dollar residences around Miami.

Shapiro  also allegedly paid bounties for injuring opposing players, dolled out money for travel, and in one shocking case paid for an abortion.

Shapiro claims that he agreed to cooperate with the government, after his close friends and associates abandoned him during his trial for his role in the $930 million dollar ponzi scheme.

As a result, Shapiro decided to reveal the details of the unfolding scandal involving University of Miami players, coaches and trainers.

According to Shapiro, he became a Booster for the University of Miami in 2001, which allowed him to raise funds for the school.

“Here’s the thing: Luther Campbell was the first uncle who took care of players before I got going,” Shapiro told investigators. “His role was diminished by the NCAA and the school, and someone needed to pick up that mantle. That someone was me. He was ‘Uncle Luke’, and I became ‘Little Luke."  Campbell took to his blog to deny the allegations.

Luke said "That punk could never be me".  "First of all, I have never been a UM booster. I have never given a dime to the school. I have and always will support the players and the program out of civic pride, but I never violated any NCAA rules when I was the team's biggest fan in the 1980s. And I definitely would not have ever paid for a stripper to abort a baby allegedly fathered by a UM football player like Shapiro claims he did."

Luke claims that the NCAA investigated him years ago, and found no wrongdoing in regards to previous claims that he paid bounties to certain Miami football players during the 1980s.

"It has never been about money for me. It's always been about community service. That's what being Uncle Luke is really about," Luke snapped. "Shapiro is nothing more than a jilted groupie who f**ked over a lot people. He is an opportunistic schemer who now wants to play the role of jailhouse snitch. His word isn't worth squat especially if Yahoo paid him for the exclusive. Nevin's mad because he couldn't get former players to invest in his Ponzi scheme or come to his rescue when his criminal enterprise was exposed."

Nevin Shapiro's claims are currently being investigated by the NCAA.

Multiple players, coaches and trainers could face criminal charges over Shapiro's allegations.

As far as Luke's suit he is seeking 15-thousand in damages.