On June 7 Dan Patrick Show Executive Producer Paul Pabst reported that nine months after the Heisman Trophy Trust decided to cancel Reggie Bush’s 2005 award, the former USC running back had not yet returned the actual trophy.
During those nine months, Pabst also noted that Heisman Trophy Trust officials had repeatedly contacted Reggie Bush’s agent Joel Segal in a bid to have the trophy returned, with a Heisman Trust source telling Pabst, “the whole world reasonably expected him to return it.”
On June 9, Pabst reported that Bush stepfather Lamar Griffin and mother Denise Griffin had “loaned” the Heisman Trophy to the San Diego Hall of Champions on March 22.
SDHOC Vice President Angela LaChica told Pabst at that time, “We’ve had it here the past two months, since March 22, but we never displayed it. Some of our employees didn’t even know we had it.”
On June 9, James Varney of the NEW ORLEANS TIMES-PICAYUNE reported:
While the (SDHOC) museum has not been displaying the Heisman while its exhibits are remodeled, she (LaChica) said the trophy remains in its collection. Talks with Bush and members of his immediate family are under way for the return of the trophy, LaChica said.
I can confirm that as of Wednesday evening, Bush’s Heisman Trophy remains in storage at the San Diego Hall of Champions, despite the fact that Bush was actually in San Diego last weekend to host an extremely low-profile football camp bearing his name and appear at a cancer research benefit.
A source close to Bush told me late Wednesday that the NFL running back, his stepfather and mother also ran into SD Hall of Champions executive LaChica at an event during Bush’s brief San Diego stay, but that the SDHOC was no closer to returning the Heisman Trophy to Bush or his family.
Why?
The same source said Bush has decided he will not return the Heisman Trophy to the Heisman Trophy Trust.
I was told Bush and the Griffins “loaned” the trophy to the San Diego Hall of Champions to get it off their hands for the time being, treating the local museum as a safe deposit box of sorts. When Bush’s disgraced reputation eventually fades from everyday life, which if Bush’s recent, media-free SD weekend was any indication may have already happened, the Griffins will retake personal possession of the sacred bronze object to do with it what they please.
So when Bush acknowledged what was obviously a forced forfeiture of his 2005 Heisman Trophy, we now know it was absolutely no coincidence that the ex-USC football player released a carefully-crafted statement through his agent Joel Segal that gave no indication that the now-disgraced former Trojan would actually honor the Heisman Trophy Trust’s subsequent, repeated requests for him to return the trophy itself:
For Immediate Release: September 14, 2010
One of the greatest honors of my life was winning the Heisman Trophy in 2005. For me, it was a dream come true.
But I know that the Heisman is not mine alone. Far from it. I know that my victory was made possible by the discipline and hard work of my teammates, the steady guidance of my coaches, the inspiration of the fans, and the unconditional love of my family and friends. And I know that any young man fortunate enough to win the Heisman enters into a family of sorts. Each individual carries the legacy of the award and each one is entrusted with its good name.
It is for these reasons that I have made the difficult decision to forfeit my title as Heisman winner of 2005. The persistent media speculation regarding allegations dating back to my years at USC has been both painful and distracting. In no way should the storm around these allegations reflect in any way on the dignity of this award, nor on any other institutions or individuals. Nor should it distract from outstanding performances and hard-earned achievements either in the past, present or future.
For the rest of my days, I will continue to strive to demonstrate through my actions and words that I was deserving of the confidence placed in me by the Heisman Trophy Trust. I would like to begin in this effort by turning a negative situation into a positive one by working with the Trustees to establish an educational program which will assist student-athletes and their families avoid some of the mistakes that I made. I am determined to view this event as an opportunity to help others and to advance the values and mission of the Heisman Trophy Trust.
I will forever appreciate the honor bestowed upon me as a winner of the Heisman. While this decision is heart-breaking, I find solace in knowing that the award was made possible by the support and love of so many. Those are gifts that can never be taken away.
On Sept. 16, 2010, two days after he released the above statement, Bush said his stepfather Lamar Griffin and mother Denise Griffin did not want him to return the Heisman Trophy:
“Mostly everybody didn’t agree with me … My mom and dad didn’t want me to give it back. But that’s just the motherly and fatherly nature of parents. But they understand at the end of the day. They understand that I am a grown man, and I’ve got to make my own decisions. This is a learning experience for me and for anybody else coming after me. All I can do is grow stronger from here and just focus on this football season.”
The same “motherly and fatherly nature” of Bush’s parents produced an extreme set of major NCAA violations that buried the USC football program with the worst NCAA sanctions seen since the SMU football program was dealt the Death Penalty in 1986.
The same “motherly and fatherly nature” that has now caused a “grown man” who Bush claimed in 2010 “makes his own decisions” to apparently have a change of heart about returning the Heisman Trophy.
Or if his official statement is to be believed, perhaps Bush never had any intention of returning the Heisman Trophy.
More Bush from Sept. 16, 2010:
“This is just a part of growing pains and learning and becoming more mature. You learn, you grow, you get better, you get stronger. And hopefully you never make those mistakes again.”
Mistakes?
Moments earlier during the same impromptu press conference, Bush said of returning the Heisman Trophy:
“This is definitely not an admission of guilt.”
Bush is nothing if not consistent.
After hiding from NCAA investigators for three years, in an interview with the NCAA in 2009 Bush reportedly “denied that he and his family took nearly $300,000 in extra benefits during his sophomore and junior seasons at USC.”
On Page 2 of the NCAA’s June 10, 2010, University of Southern California Public Infractions Report that dropped crippling sanctions on Bush’s former USC football program, the NCAA documented the lack of cooperation in its investigation of USC by Bush’s stepfather Lamar Griffin, Bush’s mother Denise Griffin and Bush himself:
“[This case] is incomplete because a number of key witnesses, including the athlete at the center of these allegations [Bush], refused to cooperate in whole or sufficient measure.
“In addition, the family of student-athlete 1 [Bush], whose actions were at the center of this investigation, refused to cooperate. Nevertheless, credible evidence was produced and corroborated, which supported the allegations that student-athlete 1 [Bush] and his family and friends and his associates took benefits from professional sports agents and/or persons who acted on behalf of these agents. In the case of student-athlete 1 [Bush], he, his family and friends received benefits valued at many thousands of dollars.”
Thanks to documents, receipts, audio tapes and on-the-record interviews, the NCAA irrefutably verified that not only did Bush and stepfather Lamar Griffin accept hundreds of thousands of dollars in benefits, but that both actively sought out those benefits and did all they could to keep their improper deals secret.
It is also now confirmed on-the-record that had Bush paid back the $300,000 he stole from San Diego-based marketing agent Lloyd Lake, the marketing agent would’ve never contacted Yahoo Sports and the NCAA.
And USC’s NCAA problems would have never existed.
On June 7, 2011, Dan Patrick Show Executive Producer Paul Pabst reported of Bush’s refusal to return the Heisman Trophy:
The source at the Heisman Trophy Trust told us that there was no specific agreement with Reggie Bush to return the trophy, but that it was “alluded to in Reggie’s statement and the whole world reasonably expected him to return it.”
The Heisman Trust source added that they had been in touch with Bush’s agent “more than once” about the status of returning the trophy. Also, Bush would not even have to pay for shipping. The Heisman Trust would send him a case for the Heisman Trophy, with shipping paid for.
On Sept. 6, 2006, Reggie Bush appeared on HBO for an interview with Bob Costas and said of rampant allegations that he and his family committed a single NCAA violation:
“We’re completely innocent in this whole thing. As I said from the get-go, once everything comes out everyone will see that we didn’t do anything and that we’re actually the victims here.”
Since Bush will never be held remotely accountable to societal rules you and I are required to follow, it turns out Bush was indeed right all along.
1:08 am on June 30th, 2011
Reggie and his family are nothing short of street thugs. He is not a man of honor and can rot in hell.
7:43 am on June 30th, 2011
3 years after this dirt bag’s career is over, he and his family will be broke and selling everything just to eat.
8:29 am on June 30th, 2011
this is so stupid. Punish kids who have nothing to do with anything that happened in the past. That makes sense. Something needs to change in college sports. Everybody is making money off of these kids. Just like the Chris Weber thing. Why do you think they wont stop the bowl system in college football. Its all about the money, the only problem is “they” didn’t see any of the money that he got. How can everyone in the sport want playoffs, but it never happens. Anytime “they” can’t make money off of something “they” create a rule to stop it. Real Talk
9:33 am on June 30th, 2011
Modern day slavery? I wasn’t aware that slaves were given a free higher education, free room and board, and allowed to practically rule college campuses full of hot girls.
No. What we have here is a greedy family who will not admit that they broke the NCAA rules. You cannot use the NCAA to further your career in sports, then bitch about the rules. If you don’t like it, don’t play college sports.
9:36 am on June 30th, 2011
Wow, Reggie and his family are street thugs, What crime did Reggie and his family committed? what have he and his family ever done to you, how come you’re not calling the NCAA what it i? Modern day slavery. People get so passionate about stupid sports that they don’t see what’s important in life. Reggie is a dirt bag, the dude never get in trouble with the law or anything, people’s hatred and jealousy of professional athlete is pathetic, pro athletes are not the reason your lives are miserable, so don’t take your frustration on them because of your miserable existence.
10:30 am on June 30th, 2011
Calling the NCAA “slavery” is rather offensive.
You either know nothing about slavery, or read so little that you can’t make any other analogy. Either way it’s kind of pathetic.
10:35 am on June 30th, 2011
got no prob with him keeping the trophy but he’s a freaking liar beyond belief and it’s sad that brooks is the only person on earth calling him on it.
10:36 am on June 30th, 2011
After awarding Cam Newton the Heisman, this award has become a bit of a sham. Could careless what Reggie Bush does with his.
10:39 am on June 30th, 2011
While if I had played with Reggie Bush or was at USC now and dealing with sanctions I may have some resentment towards him. But make no mistake about it, regardless of his off-the-field indiscretions, he was still the best college football player in the country that year and the Trojans were the best team. Whether his family lived in an expensive house and he got hand-outs didn’t affect his play on the field, his work ethic off of it or the fact he really was the most dynamic guy in the college game that year. It’d be one thing if it came out he’d been doping or something that would help his performance on the field, but it didn’t. All this BS with stripping titles and heismans is bunk. You know who won it all that year, I know who the real Heisman winner was. Sure, go update the wikipedia pages to invalidate everything. But I watched, I know who the best was (and I’m a Seminole, this isn’t coming from a place of bias either) and stripping distinctions doesn’t change that in my mind.
10:57 am on June 30th, 2011
The major problem with all the ncaa violations reside in the fact that the person responsible for the infraction is free of consequence .
Study show that over 100k are spend per athlete per year
IF the university start collect back that money from the players who commit those infractions (getting money , contract with agents etc)
those players will need to give over 500k (if they stay at the universtiy for 5 years
You can increase that number if you add the money lost for the bowl games , tv revenues
Until the university go after those players it will never stop because they are not accountable for their acts
11:03 am on June 30th, 2011
If Scam Newton gets to keep his Heisman then Reggie Bush should keep his!!!!!!!! Nuf Said
11:41 am on June 30th, 2011
To be fair, the language Reggie used, “…difficult decision to forfeit my title as Heisman winner of 2005.” that DID NOT imply that he was giving back the trophy itself. If he wanted to say he was giving back the trophy, wouldn’t he say “…difficult decision to forfeit the Heisman Trophy.”? By using the word “title”, it implies (at least to me) that he’s willing to be stricken from the record books and have his open ended invitation to the Downtown Athletic Club revoked, but not give up the physical hardware.
I don’t even see why this is an issue.
12:10 pm on June 30th, 2011
NCAA IS SLAVERY! GOOD DO NOT GIVE IT BACK… when D.C. is done with the NCAA it will be a different story…
12:17 pm on June 30th, 2011
Bush should keep the trophy as long as USC keeps all the bowl money they recieved. He made all the touchdowns and USC made all the money.
12:33 pm on June 30th, 2011
As a college recruiter for over 22 years, i have seen them all come and go. I coached Matt Leinart, Colt Brennan and many other All Americans in high school, and i’m here to tell you, the college system is BS (or is that BCS?)
Bush and Leinart helped USC sell untold thousands of jerseys, every front runner in So Cal had one, and got zip in return. As a recruiter I have been asked to do many things that I refused to do, simply because of the NCAA (Nazi Communist Athletic Association) would shut me down. They can collect money hand over fist, literally millions, but for God sake, don’t let the student/athletes collect.
Anyone remember Anderson Hunt at UNLV. He started a business, (a business major by the way) during his tenure with the Rebels, and was making some serious coin. The NCAA threatened him with removing is scholarship, so he told them to shove it, and paid his own freight. How is it a business major running his own business is illegal? Isn’t that what college is for? To learn to run a business, especially if you are taking a business major?
How about the Olympic skier and Punt returner deluxe at U. of Colorado, that was denied his scholarship because he had the audacity to reap benefits from his skiing?
The NCAA is a bunch of greedy white men, using their system to bilk, yes I said bilk, millions from the college athlete. And yes, i am a 54 year old White Man!
This system has to change, the short sighted NCAA brags that 94% of all monies collected go back to the colleges and universities, does anyone realize what 6% of billions amounts to? More money than any of us will ever earn, honestly.
Does anyone know how to apply to work for the NCAA, or do you have to belong to the Billionaires Club first? GREED apparently over comes common sense.
12:40 pm on June 30th, 2011
Why should he return it? He was the best player in CFB that year. Keep it reggie. Screw the NCAA, BCS, and Heisman trust.
12:56 pm on June 30th, 2011
Good! Do not give the Heisman back to these money grubbing individuals. Glad to see someone out here is thinking. The National Cash Aggragation (NCAA) Association has to be put on notice this obscene entity known as “amateur athletics” must be changed. Reggie Bush won this award based on what happened on the football field. When USC, Pete Carroll, the PAC 10 conference, and any of the other stakeholders write refund checks based on these alleged wrong doings we can start to discuss this in an intelligent manner.
12:59 pm on June 30th, 2011
I’m really tired of these “pay players arguments.” There’s way more to preparing a player for a professional career than room, board, books and tuition. None of these kids could afford to prepare on their own.
They have top level coaches, head and position, plus trainers and personal weight training coaches. They get free health insurance and access to the best orthopedic surgeons as necessary. Competitions against other top level talents is arranged for them via an Athletic Directors Office and travel arranged through a staffed travel office. The get free first class airfare and top level lodging on the road.
Further, the Sports Information offices provides publicity. And, television appearances are arranged that promotes them individually, in many cases, that ultimately leads to endorsements, etc.
Then there is the playing venues and training facilities which literally cost hundred of millions.
Please tell my a kid from Compton who couldn’t otherwise even qualify (I realize they come from lots of places with various backgrounds…but very very few of the total are the exceptions to my point.) to get into a BCS level school (other than Oregon, of course.)
In all, the schools spend $300,000 to $600,000 ANNUALLY per player preparing them for the possibility of having a pro career. Only a small fraction of the schools actually make money.
The NCAA is not the money grabbing entity the “slavery” crowd would have you believe. Yes, they take in a huge amount of revenue, but the NCAA is “owned” by it’s member institutions and the vast majority of all those revenues are used to support championships and other competitions and athletes in all collegiate sports…..something individual schools could never do on their own.
Imagine a school trying to meetTitle IX requirements without the NCAA’s help. There wouldn’t be any football.
So please tell me how some kid from a difficult environment will get the preparation necessary to become a professional athlete ON THEIR OWN without the ENORMOUS financial contribution of a college or university.
1:01 pm on June 30th, 2011
The Heisman Trust should offer Mr. Bush some under the table $$$$ for the trophy.
That seems to be his motivation.
1:06 pm on June 30th, 2011
How are the selfish actions of one millionaire and his money-grubbing “role models” suddenly turned into a referendum on the fairness of the NCAA’s shamateurism rules? Shamateurism is, indeed, grossly unfair, but the bottom line is that Bush agreed to play by the rules when he signed his scholarship, and he and his family violated those rules willfully and prolifically.
Bush was technically ineligible the year he won the Heisman, so he technically wasn’t the best player in college football that year, because he technically didn’t play.
There is a really simple solution here: the DAC can simply go get the trophy themselves.
1:07 pm on June 30th, 2011
Mal,
Ever heard of Minor League Baseball, I do believe they prepare the athlete to play professionally without the colleges help?
And BCS football programs sponsor most of the other sports on campus. I do believe there wouldn’t be necessary sports like swimming, tennis, golf and girls gymnastics without the money pouring in from football.
And this from a father of three college educated girls. HMM!
1:17 pm on June 30th, 2011
Hey Gdolan, I know all the coaches at Mater Dei but I don’t know you. Don’t lie.
1:17 pm on June 30th, 2011
There would be no desire to get these so called under privileged kids into these D-1 programs but for their athletic talent which is producing billions of dollars for the NCAA and millions for the coaches ( you obviously haven’t checked the salaries of the coaches at the premier D-1 football schools). There is intense pressure placed on these so called “amateur athletes” because of the tremendous amounts of money connected to have a winning football program at schools like USC, Michigan, Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama. Stop pretending this system is some benevolent creation for the under priviledged. The entire bowl system is maintained for the purpose of keeping the financial benefit first and foremost to the detriment of the sport itself. Wake up!
1:18 pm on June 30th, 2011
Reggie Bush was and will always be the best college football player in 2005, that will never change. Ouit being haters for something they say he did off the field not on the field
1:36 pm on June 30th, 2011
ThePewterPlank
10:39 am on June 30th, 2011
While if I had played with Reggie Bush or was at USC now and dealing with sanctions I may have some resentment towards him. But make no mistake about it, regardless of his off-the-field indiscretions, he was still the best college football player in the country that year and the Trojans were the best team. Whether his family lived in an expensive house and he got hand-outs didn’t affect his play on the field, his work ethic off of it or the fact he really was the most dynamic guy in the college game that year. It’d be one thing if it came out he’d been doping or something that would help his performance on the field, but it didn’t. All this BS with stripping titles and heismans is bunk. You know who won it all that year, I know who the real Heisman winner was. Sure, go update the wikipedia pages to invalidate everything. But I watched, I know who the best was (and I’m a Seminole, this isn’t coming from a place of bias either) and stripping distinctions doesn’t change that in my mind.
ummm …… just because Reggie Bush won the heisman trophy that year does not mean he was the best player in college football. FYI, Vince Young was the best player in college football that year and he didn’t need a stupid trophy to prove it, he proved it when he single handedly stole the national championship away from the Trojans that year. you are right about one thing, the Trojans were the best team in college football that year, without Vince it’s doubtful that the Longhorns would have even been in the title game that year, but Reggie Bush was not the best player that year.
1:40 pm on June 30th, 2011
lets do away with the heisman trust!!!! They promote greed! The best overall players are never put up for the award.
But since they gave the award they have no rights to the trophy so they can go and weep over it.
1:48 pm on June 30th, 2011
BOO HOO!!! Another over priced punk, let him keep the damned trophy, it means nothing when you have no pride or integrity.
1:57 pm on June 30th, 2011
Bush should give the trophy to Vince Young because he, not Bush, was the best player in collge football player during the 2005 season. All you have to do is watch the Rose Bowl game and see which was the best player…..and who won the MNC!
1:58 pm on June 30th, 2011
College athletes are mostly all thugs. The NCAA should really do it’s job and tell the nation 85% of the players are dumb as dirt and should NOT even be in college. The colleges and universities should all be fined to cheating on transcripts and grades.
And colleges making money off these kids……yes. BUT these thugs are getting 10’s of millions of $$$ in publicity. Without the college playing and exposure, these thugs would NOT be in the NFL or NBA. They should be paying the schools back for the millions they make a pro’s. Slaves? Bull.
2:00 pm on June 30th, 2011
He is a liar and a thief-probably voted for Obama.
2:07 pm on June 30th, 2011
Let’s try to keep the politics out of the sports discussions. But since you brought it up the stolen election was in 2000 and the decision by the United States Supreme Court is Bush v. Gore.
2:20 pm on June 30th, 2011
The only way he should give it back to the money hungry, greedy NCAA is if he can shove that trophy up their anal sphnicter. Whether people think someone else should have received the Heisman (Vince Yough-LMAO) is a mute point because Reggie got the most votes…period!
2:28 pm on June 30th, 2011
The Cam Newton story is the opposite of this.
Cams family talked to NCAA and turned over everything for the NCAA to investigate. Reggies family DIDNOT!!
Cams incident had no evidence-just he say/she say. Reggies incident had hard proof.
Just on those 2 merits alone…quit the garbage and until CONCRETE evidence is displayed about Cam, LET HIM LIVE AND HAVE HIS FUN AND GLORY, because hands down, you can not say he was not the best player in 2010-11 football season.
2:32 pm on June 30th, 2011
who cares they voted and gave it to him it is his. a killer has one, he has done nothing the others have not done taking money get over it, college football is a business and the bush’s worked it to their advantage. Good for them
2:33 pm on June 30th, 2011
Get Facts Right
2:28 pm on June 30th, 2011
The Cam Newton story is the opposite of this.
Cams family talked to NCAA and turned over everything for the NCAA to investigate. Reggies family DIDNOT!!
Cams incident had no evidence-just he say/she say. Reggies incident had hard proof.
Just on those 2 merits alone…quit the garbage and until CONCRETE evidence is displayed about Cam, LET HIM LIVE AND HAVE HIS FUN AND GLORY, because hands down, you can not say he was not the best player in 2010-11 football season.
HE S U C K S he will be living with Jamarcus Russel drinking the grape stuff soon enough
2:35 pm on June 30th, 2011
Dishonorable, lying thug. He will no doubt reap what he sows in due time.
2:36 pm on June 30th, 2011
I am amazed at the stupidity I see here.
First, the NCAA has nothing to do with the Heisman.
The phrase is “Moot point”, not “mute point”.
Vince Young proved he was the better player when he whooped USC in the National Championship.
Athletes on scholarship get a free education and a springboard to the possibility of millions in income in just 3 or 4 years. They are ALREADY paid. If they had to be paid a salary in addition, then they would have to get rid of EVERY OTHER NON-FOOTBALL SPORT because they lose money. Do your research. 90% of the football programs in the US lose money. How can you expect them to pay players with cash as well?
Cam Newton was guilty as heck.
2:54 pm on June 30th, 2011
I am so sick of these people making up rules as they go along I would’nt give them s*** back. Reggie Bush was the best player in college football that year but the man at the bottom of the totem pole alway get s*** on.
3:07 pm on June 30th, 2011
In twenty years he’ll be storming a Las Vegas hotel suite with weapons looking to take his Heisman back from some collector guy who he thinks wronged him. Cowlings will be with him.
3:08 pm on June 30th, 2011
If Young had won the Heisman, which he richly deserved, he would have faced the same pressures that Bush had in the weeks keading up to the NC game and in the game itself. He probably would have made more mistakes in the game, too. USC would have won the game because Bush wouldn’t have tried that idiotic first quarter pitch. Young would have tried valiantly to bring them back from a 3 TD deficit, but would have run out of time.
In any case, whatif’s won’t change the fact the Bush and his family are lowlifes and that current USC players are getting a raw deal.
3:09 pm on June 30th, 2011
Vern,
Talk to Rollo, worked there for five years, including GB-Ball and Boys VB. Eldest daughter graduated from there in 2000 and coached Grootegoed in grade school as well. Left when EJ went to FVHS. A lie? Never!
Might want to get your facts straight.
3:10 pm on June 30th, 2011
Really, “street thugs”? He and his whole family should “rot in hell”? Does saying this kind of over-the-top crap really make you feel better, or do you truely believe what you’re spouting. First of all, if everyone is to give back their “ill-gotten booty”, then I suppose you’ll clamour for Jim Tressell to give back the millions of dollars that he made while running his less-than-perfect program the last few years. And the directors of the Fiesta Bowl should pay back all of the trips, parties, and personal benefits they took while running that corrupt sham of a “charity”.
Lets not pretend that either the NCAA or the Heisman Club are bastions of integrity. Its all a huge money-grab. You and others like you have some other bone to pick with Reggie Bush, and you’re just jumping on this as a way to get off.
Lighten up folks, he didn’t do anything that virtually all of you wouldn’t have done if you were a 19-year old stud with rich people throwing money at you!
3:12 pm on June 30th, 2011
it’s his trophy. I defy someone to come and take it from him. There is not a “reasonable expectation” that it would be returned. Just like USC shouldn’t have given back any trophy they won. You can erase their name from a list, but it doesn’t change the facts. If you want my trophy, come and take it from me. Otherwise, pound sand.
3:12 pm on June 30th, 2011
Everytime I read about Bush and his family, I have to wonder how long it will take for a formerly sanctioned USC player in the NFL to exact some justice on this guy. From one Trojan to another, “sweep the leg.” End this bastard’s career so we can be done with him. He’s a piece of cap and needs to rot.
3:13 pm on June 30th, 2011
what i see in so many of these comments is racism. all the name calling is not necessary. i DO NOT think Reggie should give the trophy back. to HELL with them.
3:19 pm on June 30th, 2011
hes nothing but a cheater and needs to return that trophy
3:24 pm on June 30th, 2011
When the NCAA starts cleaning it’s own house from the top down we can have a meaningful discussion about the integrity of the college game, until then this is a bunch of meaningless drivel.
3:24 pm on June 30th, 2011
I gotta say you people are ridiculous, yes Reggie Bush broke rules that were laid down by the NCAA but let us not forget he wasnt using steroids, or perfomance enhanceing drugs to win the Heisman, so the man for all intensive purposes won that award, he was the best athlete in college football that year and he earned that trophy…. im sorry but i think its absolutely silly that people care so much about this, its a god **** peace of metal that is going to be what? put in a box and stored away and noone will ever see it again….. once again he earned that trophy and the right to say he was a heisman winner on the feild by blowing away the opposition which he did every single game that season, enough said
leave the guy alone
3:24 pm on June 30th, 2011
this is what is wrong with college sports… big bucks for the college and the coaches but the players…no way… the ncaa only has the ability to whack someone/somebody while they are still associated to a college…. the coach will get a new job for more money and the college will eventually recover… he just tryed to get what he could out of the money fountain, while he could….. i would keep the trophy….
3:26 pm on June 30th, 2011
Reggie Bush is a Dusche. To the guy that said 3 years after his career is over he will be out on the streets, This guy’s career IS over. What has he done lately but get hurt and miss a load of games. No way he ever gets resigned by the Saints and there is no way he will ever see top dollar again. Hope you like the Piggley Wiggley A-Hole.
3:26 pm on June 30th, 2011
Reggie Bush did NO more than any other modern day star athlete . Take the money . Why are all these racist bastards crying wolf . We know . There is no need to argue about it . They hate to see a black man/woman make a dime for himself/family. They would love to see us beggin , broke , in jail working for free . It burns their shitty shorts to not be able to have their way. NEWS Bulletin : Go to hell along with the Heisman group . Keep the trophy Reggie . Tell ‘em to Kiss your Black Arse .
3:30 pm on June 30th, 2011
“Wow Racism is alive and well thanks to paul pabst”… while some of your comments are correct you can’t help but sense your racial hate toward the black sports player who has long been said to be superior the white sports player. It’s articles like these which feeds the senseless ingnorance of the world. EVERYONE involved profits from college sports but the players.
3:37 pm on June 30th, 2011
Don’t give it back Bush. Tell the NCAA to take a hike as well as everyone else.
3:38 pm on June 30th, 2011
sure shot and pewter plank,
What is your issue with Cam Newton? He was the best player of 2010 and has been cleared of any and ALL violations! Can’t you read and follow sports news? He IS a good person on and off the field. HIS dad made a bad decision–not him! Whether he knew or not has never been proven. My parents made plenty of decisions concerning me without ever discussing them with me. Read what his J-CO coach had to say about him and his leadership abilities. He really turned himself around playing for coach fran in TX and came to AU and Coach Chizik to be a winner–and he accomplished that! Can you say National Championship???
3:41 pm on June 30th, 2011
Reggie’s speach actually say’s he will give back the “Tilte”…Not the actual award……He should keep the trophy anyway. Please tell me how many other Heisman winners and/or their schools were cheating somehow, during their Heisman winning seasons….. Cam Newton is just the latest. Remember, its not just the Heisman winners that get “Extras” from the schools, boosters and coaches, etc …its any decent player….especially at Ohio State……haha. Afterall, Football is a team sport and the trophy is real, just like the yardage and touchdowns and the Heisman winning moves that everyone saw Reggie use while on the USC College football TEAM.. They can take away the wins and the titles…but they cannot take away the memories…..and they cant take away the pics of Reggie receiving the trophy either.. Let him keep it….. at least he didnt commit murder like another USC Heisman winner……
3:46 pm on June 30th, 2011
He won that trophy on the football field. Whatever car he drove, house his parents lived in or spending money he may have gotten “unfairly” had nothing to do with what he did on the field. It didn’t make him run faster, catch more passes, or score more touchdowns. Hang on to the trophy, Reggie, it belongs to you and the team.
3:47 pm on June 30th, 2011
Compared to other college students they do get paid, free tuition, room and board, all the little perks that go with being a BMOC. Pay em more that that my a$$.
If that’s not good enough let em stay in the hood and steal hub caps for a living.
3:48 pm on June 30th, 2011
gnard1,
How do you so rightfully know that Cam Newton is guilty? Is it wishful thinking? Are you God? Are you Cam Newton? Seems like that is the only way that you could possibly know whether or not he is guilty.
Please read flugelhorn’s post to see what an idiot you are!
3:55 pm on June 30th, 2011
How would you feel and what would you do if the shoe were on the other foot? Let’s all truly consider that when we criticize and pass judgement.
3:55 pm on June 30th, 2011
Ata boy Reggie!! He is a trail blazer. The NCAA needs to start paying its employess
4:01 pm on June 30th, 2011
Who cares? He was the best player that year. It is also fitting that the trophy is in the control of the people who cost Reggie the honor- his parents. The fact that his parents were living rent free did not change the fact that he could not be tackled in college football.
4:03 pm on June 30th, 2011
Revisionist History continues to rear it’s ugluy head.
1) I love Vince, but Reggie Bush was clearly the best player in CFB. Vince was playing against a banged-up secondary that had two second string brothers who stood 5-9″ and simply could not tackle Vince. Watch the game, Bush was still electrifying and PC’s over confidence cost the Trojans that game.
2) What kind of world do we live in, where a child in college has to control the business actions of his step-father. The facts are that after Bush’s Sophmore year his step-dad teamed-up witha banned agent with a record to form a marketing company. He promised that after college, bush would sign with him. The crook/businesspartner fronted the step-dad money in advance of future revenue from the marketing company. The rules are in place to prevent institutions from getting an unfair advantage in recruiting. Bush was already at USC for 2 years and USC had nothing to do with and never benefited from any of this. Bush never agreed to signing with his Step-dad’s firm but did take money and cars from his parents who had a perceived combined income over 100K. He knew USC didnt give it to them so why would he care where they were getting their money from. Tempers flared when it was appearent that Bush was signing with a different marketing firm. The partner then went after the Step-dad and his only re-course was to sue Bush.
3) Don’t be fooled by all the pay the kids, value of an education hype. The answer is simple. As someone who went to school on an academic scholarship, I was allowed to make and get money from anyone any time. As long as they are not affiliated with the University or NCAA, atheletes should be allowed the same freedom. And make no mistake about it, the institutions want and use the athletes far more than the athletes want and use the education. The NFL and NBA force students to go to these institutions which they use as farm systems.
Finally for the most part the system works and the NCAA benefits tremendously. In most cases there are no laws just there own guidelines being broken. How they police themselves is what is at issue here because it seems to punish the wrong people and the punishments are not consistent. Until some reprocity is reached, allowing the students the right to make money outside the institutions seems like a simple and obvious step. Paying atheletes to go to school with all do respect, is just silly.
4:06 pm on June 30th, 2011
I hope Reggie breaks his other leg whenever the season starts. Him and his thug family can go to hell or back to the San Diego hood where they came from.
4:06 pm on June 30th, 2011
he is still a bum ! low rent liar. he said earlier he would return it. it career is done !
4:08 pm on June 30th, 2011
It’s called the Heisman Trust for a reason…not the Heisman Gift. If you are found in violation of the rules, before or after the “trust” is given, IT CAN AND WILL BE RESCINDED. That’s the rule of a legal trust. Either play by the rules or don’t. You can’t wear the crown if you don’t buy into “the bestowing of the coronation”. They who have the power to bestow HAVE the power to rescind. Don’t make them haul you into court (cause they will) and save what semblance of dignity you have, if any remains, and give it back dude.
4:09 pm on June 30th, 2011
Reggie Bush another loser, liar athlete. who needs them.
4:10 pm on June 30th, 2011
…He earned it fairly…and by QUITE a margin. I see no reason that he should be asked to or expected to return it.
It was unfair to ask him to return it…therefore, it’s within his reasonable rights to refuse to do so after agreeing to.
4:14 pm on June 30th, 2011
How can Bush disgrace an Award that O.J. Simpson won? It seems virtually impossible. After all, O.J. did it on the sidewalk with a knife.
4:15 pm on June 30th, 2011
Reggie bush may not fit the strict definition of “Street Thug”, however, he shows that he has little upbringing and no class whatsoever. The fact that he went to USC proves this fact beyond any reasonable doubt. His coach, the sainted … ( I forget his name)… was the real offender in all of this, but Reggie does have an obligation to give back the Heisman. After some other lineman ends his career, he will sell the Heisman and everything else to support his now very rich lifestyle. He will end up kicked to the curb, living in the poverty from whence he came…. The sooner the better!
4:17 pm on June 30th, 2011
It’s easy to be the best when you are not worrying about your transportation, your parents transportation, their housing, their groceries, their medical, etc… all because you cheated. College is very stressful for all, but more so for those that are poor from poor families. Reggie just had to relax and enjoy the ride, no pressure……………………………………………………………….if he was just like every other student athlete all things being equal, would he be the best. He certainly hasn’t attained that in the pros.
4:19 pm on June 30th, 2011
Jack, the fact that his parents were living rent free did effect the fact that he did not go to Notre Dame and instead went to USC, where he could not be tackled in college football.
4:24 pm on June 30th, 2011
the people crying racism here are morons. Pure and simple.
You are missing the point. The “most honorable man” Bush said he would give the Heisman back. He gave lip service and then when push came to shove, he could not live up to his own standards. The worst kind of person. Screw Bush and screw the people who think that those against Bush are racist. They are nothing but small minded morons.
4:36 pm on June 30th, 2011
Couldnt have been the best team that year, Texas beat Bush, Leinhart in their own back yard. For that year and game Texas and Vince young was the best player in that game!!!!
4:36 pm on June 30th, 2011
Way back when Jim Thorpe was screwed out of his gold metals from the 1912 Olympics because he was silly enough to be honest about playing semi pro baseball. The metals were returned to the Thorpe family only after his death. Some day Bush’s Heisman will be returned to him when the world wakes up to how stupid these rules are. Why can’t someone earn a living? Why can’t someone receive gifts? If I want to give you $300,000 — why can’t I? And why can’t you take it? The whole thing is a farce. I’m with Reggie.
4:43 pm on June 30th, 2011
i think reggie bush screwed over usc , why must players give up there personal belongins to the slave master ncaa.
4:47 pm on June 30th, 2011
R you are a pice of Sh*t!!!!! Hope your happy losser.
4:47 pm on June 30th, 2011
I went into this thinking that Reggie is a arrogant bastard. Then I thought a little deeper, and came to the realization that these kids learned their ways from the very colleges that craps on them. Everybody knows crap travels down stream. Mr. Lake has a rattle to his words. “If he would’ve just broke the rules without breaking the illegal rules everything would be alright.” Make sence? If the NCAA would allow other students to deal with these thugs in the same manner that Reggie did, Which is welch on a illegal deal, we would probaly stop the sound of the rattle from these agents.
4:47 pm on June 30th, 2011
I went into this thinking that Reggie is a arrogant bastard. Then I thought a little deeper, and came to the realization that these kids learned their ways from the very colleges that craps on them. Everybody knows crap travels down stream. Mr. Lake has a rattle to his words. “If he would’ve just broke the rules without breaking the illegal rules everything would be alright.” Make sence? If the NCAA would allow other students to deal with these thugs in the same manner that Reggie did, Which is welch on a illegal deal, we would probaly stop the sound of the rattle from these agents.
4:51 pm on June 30th, 2011
SEC Fan:
Chizik is a punk and has no allegiance to anyone but himself. He bailed on ISU, which was a good thing in the end when Rhodes came to take his place. ISU is now a model program and gaining respect, even from our rivals, the Hawkeyes. Your lame coach left us with no recruiting or time to recruit that year and made his choice to dump on some of the most loyal fans in the country. I hope he fails miserably. He will sooner or later.
4:51 pm on June 30th, 2011
I believe the man should keep the trophy he earned it and much more. The NCAA is the thug organization as far as I am concerned These schools earn millions of the backs of these young athletes all for the price of in most cases is a poor education. They are not concerned with masking every effort to make sure when their college career is over they are prepared for today’s job market as few will make it to the pro level.
4:52 pm on June 30th, 2011
The end.
4:52 pm on June 30th, 2011
I think he should keep the trophy - he earned it for what he did on the field
4:56 pm on June 30th, 2011
Yeah it’s pathetic that colleges get millions off these kids but athletes get a lousy 30,000 dollar degree, which doesn’t guarantee a job even if you do get a degree. I would be taking everything I could get as well. Then when they get caught they are a disgrace to football mean while the NCAA is still getting richer. It’s a joke!!
4:58 pm on June 30th, 2011
Keith I agree 100%, enough with this dog and pony posturing show.
returning the trophy is all for show it means nothing.
5:16 pm on June 30th, 2011
Reggie Bush is an ASSHOLE…..END OF STORY…….
5:19 pm on June 30th, 2011
VY was the best player that year…And he showed RB in the championship game..Rb was stopable…VY was not..
5:36 pm on June 30th, 2011
I didn’t read all the comments but I am sure that the one thing that was never discussed or even thought about, is that if it is a crime to accept money for your talents while in collage, then there should be laws to protect these poor students by making it legal proceedure to arrest and punish those who in all reality, actually cause the crime by offering, inducing, and giving money to these atheletes!
Let’s be real, the crime couldn’t have been committed in the first place, if these rich dirt and scum bags didn’t offer it. For once get the perpetrator, and not the victim! It shouldn’t be one-sided, there are conspiracy laws that make everyone involved in the wrong - doing just as guilty, but it’s not being enforced!
To arrest a student who happens to be unfortunate enough to be financially under privlaged, because the rich who intend to take advantage of them because of their needs are no diffrent that pedophiles hanging around boystown, the boys and girls scouts offering them candy, and as soon as some desperated kid takes the candy, they come and instead of aresting the pedophile, they arrest the kid and ignore the pedophile’s intentions and actions and even allows them to escape all notority and prosecution in this matter!
The law has spectactularily failed to protect our youth, while it intentionally turns a blind eye to the criminals and their criminal activity - and that’s the straight-out truth you can’t deny! And most of you critics that want to call them dirtbags for what they did, would have been the very first sell-outs to have taken the money and ran if you had the opportunity!
You losers really and truly are only complaining because you all are so much of a zero, that you never had the talent or the the opportunity to have been able to sell - out ,and you envy them! You guys are the type who desperately feel that they have a need to put a somebody down, in order to try to lift your image and conception of yourself up and you always go all-out to avoid the real issues, facts and logic about the situation!
You guys are content to sit on the sidelines sipping Haterade, complaining ,instead of addressing the real issues and try to make a real change for the better! You guys wants things to be right, but you don’t want to have a part in making things right! You want someone else to do it and cry like little babies wanting your bottle! You aren’t even men enough to realize that the missing picce IS YOU in making a change for the better! Try making a change instead of crying sour grapes; organize to enact laws to make it a crime to induce financially underprivilaged children to even be allowed to offer them money it the first place! Protect them; make a positive change (instead of complaining) and you will feel better about yourself and have done what real men do.
I am not saying that Bush is not guilty of taking the money. But how fair is the law that would punish someone who is hungry for taking food and eating it while it totally ignores those who knowingly induced and cause the crime to happen while these dirt bags deliberately and intentionally make profitable careers and a great living off the misfortune of others? They are guilty of the crime while the real victim in all this, is only guilty of being hungry! Where is the proctection of the law? On the side of the rich dirtbags? They are ignoring the conspiracy laws!
5:43 pm on June 30th, 2011
Hey Reggie - tell them to stick their heads where the sun don’t shine. All of the NCAA, the sports writers, the announcers, the advertisers, coaches, players, etc, etc all knew the story and that the USC Alumni were behind all of this inappropriate shannengians. You did exactly what was expected of you. Why doesn’t the NCAA go after the real crooks “The USC Alumni?” Pull your heads out of your behinds and confess that you guys know this all goes on all of the time in all sports - amateur & pro!! What a bunch of Goons!!!
5:47 pm on June 30th, 2011
The real problem with what Reggie did was the ramifications from his actions. Reggie knew what was going on and maybe did not agree with what his or his stepfather was doing. their actions have caused the university and students major harm by shutting down their football program to some extent which will no doubt effect the other athletic programs at the school. unless the football athletes gets lucky enough to transfer to another they will not get a chance to play for a championship team.
The low down part if Reggies actions where his decision to not pay the money back and avoid getting caught, because of this stupid action he has or will have spent more then $300,000 in lawers fees, publicity and future endorsements. He should of been smart enough to just give the money back. so now a lot of innocent people will suffer but Reggie Bush.
I love what Reggie does for the Saints but if he got a better offer somewhere else I hope he takes it. The Saints pride themselves on great character players and Reggies has slipped a lot.
5:50 pm on June 30th, 2011
O.K. here is my 2 cents worth. Why shouldnt he keep the Heisman it is awarded for the best plyer of the year what you did on the field. No amount of money can buy accompliments on the field unless they were paying the other teams off to let him do what he did on the field Money can’t buy talant. KEEP IT .
5:50 pm on June 30th, 2011
With Reggie and last years winner (he and his father are crooks) I no longer have any respect for the trophy. The people who gave these gifts should all be banned from any NCAA contests.
5:53 pm on June 30th, 2011
Same story different sport. Remember when you couldn’t be a pro to compete in the Olympics so the athletes worked for the “Army”? Illegal one day legal the next…who cares and why?
6:00 pm on June 30th, 2011
This kid is not the only one who ever broke an NCAA rule. He was just unlucky enough to get caught.
I don’t like USC and I didn’t like him. But It doesn’t change what he did on the field. I think he should keep what he earned. (Yes earned) Most people are saying he cheated. Don’t see how they figure, he didn’t cheat on the field, and that’s where it counts.
6:19 pm on June 30th, 2011
Wow…It seems many fans have no clue of what really happens at most if not all D1 schools. Boosters, agents, and yes even coachs pay/support players to play. This has been going on for decades. Yes even the greatest coachs in history and the most famous schools have been involved. Not just a few but the vast majority have and will continue to break the rules. I am a USC guy; however, I have no respect for Reggie and his family. They have no class or integrety. This system will never change until the NCAA and others can figure out a way to make a difference. The system is broken and this is just a very small part of the issue.
6:21 pm on June 30th, 2011
The most racist people in this thread are the ones claiming the NCAA is imposing “slavery” on the poor players and those pulling the race card.
6:33 pm on June 30th, 2011
He shouldn’t return it. He was the best player on the field and that’s what the give the Heisman trophy for. Who the hell cares that he got paid. The only people who care are the fat lazy non-athletes who have nothing else to do but compare players and talk about nonsense.
6:39 pm on June 30th, 2011
I am disappointed at the rage and pure posion that some are expressing. How can you have such hatred for someone you have never met? I have met and spoken with Reggie Bush. An articulate, polite and humble person. His conduct in New Orleans immediately after he was drafted confirms his character. In being drafted by a team that historically was terrible, he did not pull an Eli Manning, instead he and Drew Brees supported New Orleans and its rebirth.
This article is as bad as some of these comments. Reggie STOLE $300,000 from Loyd Lake….what a totally dishonest statement.
As to the treatment by the NCAA of Reggie and USC…just look at Ohio State prior to the Rose Bowl. A complete money grab. Rather than immediately suspend the players, they were allowed to play in the Rose Bowl….where the money for the NCAA was. Cam Newton…did not his father try and sell him? The difference between that and Reggie’s step father living rent free in a home provided byLoyd Lake I guess is that the step father was successful and Newton’s father was not? I don’t know if Reggie personally accepted money. He denies it; however, there is no denying the double standard followed by the NCAA with both Newton and Ohio State.
Reggie, keep the Heisman. You earned it and you won it. We will reserve comments on your conduct for a later day; however, I would suggest to all of the “Haters” that you research the life of Jim Thorpe.
6:48 pm on June 30th, 2011
Reggie should keep it. Everyone knows this whole conversation isn’t going anywhere because everyone thinks they’re right. Can’t we all just get along. We all have an opinion.
6:53 pm on June 30th, 2011
@SEC Fan
First you need to go back and look at my post I never said anything about Cam Newton. the only idiot that has posted is the one that don’t know who posted what. You really need to pump your F****** brake and know who you’re talking to when you’re talking!!!!!!!!!!!
6:53 pm on June 30th, 2011
the reality is that trophy will probably be sold for several hundred thousand dollars at some point and reggie and family probably dont feel that they should give that up.
6:55 pm on June 30th, 2011
The Heisman rightfully should have went to Vince Young that year anyway, he might as well return it!
6:56 pm on June 30th, 2011
Your right JG nobody chasing football players with bloodhounds and shackling them to show the rest of the players you can’t walk out on the team…. What the NCAA is doing is running a minor league football program for the NFL and rapping it up in a bow called education which does not guarantee anyone will make six figures let alone thanked for the sacrafices these players make with their bodies each saturday trying to make it to the NFL….. How many 250+ pound 6″6 inch ex NFL players do you see in the business world… The shear wear and tear put on these guys not to mention concussions, knees, hips, necks ect. ect,….
Oh yeh that 4 year degree is really worth all that when I can get a student loan and keep my body intacted for the next 60 years…. People say its a game and they are lucky to be playing it… The game changes in High School and becomes more brutal at each new level….Why do you think they have 70-80 players on every college team… They get beat up badly,..Plus several are walk-ons and get nothing unless they play there way onto the starting line-up or atleast first tier back-up… Do they deserve to get paid? Yes they do!
If you don’t want to pay them then figure out how much your sholarship your offering adds up to and then ask them if they would like to waive the education for net worth of the eduation… This will allow the young man to make his own decision with the direction he takes his life…. Some of you may think he’s to young to make the right decision for himself…. We allow young men of eighteen or even seventeen in some situations to go into the military and face the biggest adversary they will ever face….Death! So PAY THE MEN ….
6:58 pm on June 30th, 2011
Quote from Reggie “I did noting wrong” Bush (above): I will forever appreciate the honor bestowed upon me as a winner of the Heisman. While this decision is heart-breaking, I find solace in knowing that the award was made possible by the support and love of so many. Those are gifts that can never be taken away.
Now, read and re-read the last sentence. His opinion is the trophy is a “gift” and therefore does not need to be and will not be returned. Enough said. Goes to show his integrity, eh?
7:01 pm on June 30th, 2011
The NCAA is a non-profit org. Paying athletes would rescind that– they would be employees and the IRS would take over from there….The NCAA does not want to relinquish the tax free status. All about the money.
7:06 pm on June 30th, 2011
the trophy was vote upon before the championship game and Bush was deserving of it V Young had a dynamite game but that did not say he deserved the trophy who has had a better pro career not YOUNG the BUM. Get over it BUSH deserved it
7:06 pm on June 30th, 2011
Keep the trophy and take a dump on it
7:10 pm on June 30th, 2011
I realize that the NCAA has a place in collegiate athletics, and I support them, HOWEVER - Reggie Bush was the well-deserving recipient of the Heisman, and regardless of him breaking the NCAA rules, given the numerous disclosures about rule violations at many of our First Run Universities, why punish Reggie Bush? I say - get over it and get on with the more important issues such as what is the NCAA going to do about the hemoragging (sp) of the rules pertaining to our college athletes. It all reminds me of the fiasco that we went through with the IOC and athletes like Jim Thorpe who lost their medals because of a rdiculous rule, that ultimately was thrown out as being exactly what it was - utter nonsense.
7:13 pm on June 30th, 2011
I love how hypocritical whites complain and make their typical racists statements(calling the bushs street thugs) while the coaches, board memebers etc make tgheir millions and the kids performing on the field get nothing. Do you think the prejudiced KATMAN ever played a sport in his life besides playing with himself? Probably not. But like every other racist coward in america he is mr. tough guy hiding behind his computer screen. Did he pete carroll a street thug? How about urban meyer? how about nick saban? Of course not because these thieves are the same color as his prjudiced butt.
7:17 pm on June 30th, 2011
All year Reggie was best. Some think the title game indicated who was best. Based on that game alone the Heisman should have gone to Young as he was the star and Bush blew it twice, and the worst was when he “lateraled ” as he was on his way to the goal line.
Some people have even suggested the game was fixed.
After a reply of it I couldn’t blame them for that suggestion.
7:29 pm on June 30th, 2011
Reggie, you earned it, it is yours. Keep it! Best Wishes
7:29 pm on June 30th, 2011
He actually earned the trophy. I don’t see why he shouldn’t keep it.
7:44 pm on June 30th, 2011
Reggie should become the Jose Conseco of Football. He should be blacklisted. The Saints should cut him and the rest of the football community should shun him for being a dishonest , lying crook. No room for a guy like that in the NFL, too many good players already want to play.
7:49 pm on June 30th, 2011
Lets see, if I was the Trust, I would wait until he gets cut by the Saints, and sue him for it. Lets face it, PR/KRs don’t make the kind of money a freatured back does, so he won’t be able to do anything but give it back. The irony in this is a lying dirt ball like him playing on a team named the Saints. I somehow don’t think he will ever have the Pope turn him into a saint.
7:53 pm on June 30th, 2011
What he did to fellow athletes that weren’t even in college is the issue.These USC kids can’t get to a bowl game because of him and his greed.No one questions his ability to play football,we question his integrity,honesty and guts.
8:25 pm on June 30th, 2011
Great news ! Fight on Reggie! Private Schools Rule !Money Rules!NCAA Not needed!
8:29 pm on June 30th, 2011
Look at his last name
8:43 pm on June 30th, 2011
yes he earned it he should get to keep it notice the word earned it on the field nothin to do with the other stuff
8:50 pm on June 30th, 2011
Who cares!!! He’s the freeking reason we have to deal with that skank Kim Kardashian every single freekin day!!!He should hang his head in shame for THAT!!!!!!
8:54 pm on June 30th, 2011
Once a Thief, Always a Thief! What do you expect from someone who stole so much from college football. What about the rest of his teammates who had to suffer as a result of his and his parents greedy actions. What about all the hard and honest work put in by all the coaches & teammates only to be tarnished by this familys actions. Do the right thing Reggie & Family, if your truly a man (forget about a man of your word), if your truly any kind of man at all, just return the trophy! Maybe even Kim will like you again!
9:02 pm on June 30th, 2011
Finally one person posted the true story about the case and none of you bothered to read it. Go back and see the post by “Cdubn”. I will bet that none of you who are calling Bush a “liar, and crook” know any of the facts about the investigation like “Cdubn” did. But allow me to add a couple of facts about the case “Cdubn” left out.
First, how many of you know how much your parents paid for rent or mortgage when you were going to school? Or how much their paycheck was? How much they had in the bank, or any other financial details? Why would Reggie question his parents either?
The ONLY reason USC was sanctioned is that the NCAA is convinced that coach Todd McNair could not prove he did not know what was going on. They found the phone number of the agent on his cell phone. His explanation sounds perfectly plausible. That was a number he was given to reach Reggie one night. According to Reggie’s testimony, he was at the guy’s house, but had no idea of him and his step-father’s plans at that point. There is no concrete evidence that the coach knew who this guy was or what his relationship to Reggie’s parents was. Why would he even question a players parents in regards to someone THEY knew. That’s ridiculous. But even so, let’s say Reggie knew his parents were planning on setting up a company to manage his affairs after college. So what? That’s not illegal. He made no agreement to sign with the organization. It is common in a business practice that someone has the cash and another has the brains/contacts/knowledge and the two work together to form a company. It happens every day. That’s how most companies are formed. Never-the-less the NCAA sanctioned the school for this mess tarnishing everything that every player on the team worked hard for. Because Coach McNair had a phone number where to contact Reggie one night.
Now let’s see how the NCAA deals with a program (OSU) where the coach admitted to covering up its mess. There the coach/school knew all about it and covered it up for months.
And for you people in denial about Cam Newton, do you think it is more likely Reggie Bush knew if his parents were paying rent or not, or where his parents got the money? Or Cam Newton knew his father was shopping him around to the highest bidder? And since he was, we all must assume that Auburn won the bidding. Before you answer that, remember that Cam was caught cheating on his exams at Florida more than once, then suddenly goes to a JC, then suddenly to Auburn.
Lastly, there is no evidence that Reggie Bush personally received cash or goods from anyone other than his parents. Again, if your parents gave you some money when you were in college, did you ask for the source of it?
WAKE UP AMERICA !!
P.S. For stating in writing that Reggie “Stole $300,000″ could put the writer of this article in serious trouble. I can see a possible slander suit on its way.
9:28 pm on June 30th, 2011
You really are a bumb You have had everything handed to you, But someday you willy really pay fore it you BUMB
9:30 pm on June 30th, 2011
just another negro that thinks the whole nation is still living in his great,great,great grandpas time. reseaech stuff a little further bros, and you will find out, the first so called Slave was a White man, or as you bro’s call us Crackers, you Morons
9:48 pm on June 30th, 2011
What a dirtbag. No one is surprised that he won’t do the right thing and return the trophy - this scum hasn’t done the right thing his entire life. The whole USC program was a scam since it was really a bunch of paid athletes and a crooked coach who skipped town as soon as he knew he was caught…I can’t wait to hear about poor Reggie in few years once his career is over and he is homeless. Loser….
9:57 pm on June 30th, 2011
He won it on the field. Screw the NCAA, screw USC, screw the Heisman trust and screw the BCS. College sports have become a joke run by complete morons.
10:04 pm on June 30th, 2011
most all of you,don’t understand. rules were broken.if you don’t follow the rules,then you have to pay. alot of post say (it’s what he did on the field)no,it is not! if you break the rules,you are not allowed by rules to play.so,it doesn’t matter what he did on the field,he was not eligible to play. every player(white/black)reads the rules,then signs on with a team. if you don’t follow the contract you signed,you have to pay the price. remember the BYU player? he read the rules,signed on,broke a school rule,and had to sit out.regardless if you agree or not he broke a rule and had to pay!!! bush is the same. a player cannot do what they want,then say ” the ncaa is making money,so why can’t I” PLAY BY THE RULES OR DON’T GO TO COLLEGE!!! do most of you know how much it cost to go to college for 4yrs? or 8yrs if you want a master degree. even after that,it doesn’t promise a job. just like playing football or basketball,no promise of a pro contract. the school is giving you a free ride to attend their school. take or leave it but play by the rules. REAL SIMPLE. BUSH WAS NOT THE BEST PLAYER WHEN HE PLAYED,BECAUSE HE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE TO PLAY! SO EVERYTHING HE DID IS A MOOT POINT
10:09 pm on June 30th, 2011
Wonder how much Joe Shmo has to pay for an education at usc. Slavery my ass, people with 1/2 a brain take advantage of the education. Problem is most usc football players are not smart enough to do this.
10:39 pm on June 30th, 2011
Joe Paterno.
End of story.
10:39 pm on June 30th, 2011
This is a type of slavery! the only way to showcase your talent and have a legitament chance to make it in the NFL is to play college football. A corporation worth billions of dollars yet the stars(players) cannot and will not get a cut. To all you up and comers get what you can cause the NCAA doesn’t give a sh*t about anything but their money so you shouldn’t either. I say go Reggie run with your trophy and for that other kid that just got busted I hope he make’s millions in the NFL. To the NCAA i say no playoffs no credibility
11:05 pm on June 30th, 2011
“Bush should give the trophy to Vince Young because he, not Bush, was the best player in collge football player during the 2005 season. All you have to do is watch the Rose Bowl game and see which was the best player…..and who won the MNC!”
Ryan
Please!!!! USC’s defense was horrible that year, they weren’t even in the top 25 in defense! I’m not shocked he had a good game, can you say ting & ting?
11:46 pm on June 30th, 2011
Let a dead horse be. I don’t believe the trophy is worth more than $500 so compared to what he and his familoy received during those USC years is something the NCAA can’t retreive. Keep the thing and make more money out of it by selling displays.
11:52 pm on June 30th, 2011
If memory serves USC was DEFEATED by the number 1 team in the nation in 2005. Texas and Vince Young showed Reggie Bush and his USC buds how to play football. PERIOD…
12:00 am on July 1st, 2011
Reggie i watched all your games at USC. In the national championships i watched you dominate everyone on the field. i dont care if you took money or you didn’t, the bottom line is you performed at the highest level in CFB those years. Who cares whut the heck those people have to say about you. I’m from Southern Cal. and I don’t feel you should give back that trophy. Everyone always has something to say when its someone elses business, maybe they need to mind there own. When you get your superball ring put it right next to the HEISMAN. Now thats the business!
12:30 am on July 1st, 2011
Why do the schools give all of this money to Roid Athathugs at USC and then expect them to act like a human being?
2:23 am on July 1st, 2011
how can we judge this situation without knowing all the details and facts. there is no doubt that rb was an outstanding player on the field, the decisions that were made off the field seem to be in question but i don’t think they affected his skills on the field. do we really know what was going on in rb’s mind? or what his dad was or was not telling him? how responsible and rational were we at that age? especially when you have everyone telling you how great you are….. the little neccessities of life are overshadowed by the larger than life existance of what the trogans must have been experiencing that season. yes it’s stupid that a team that had nothing to do with these allegations is suffering for these ncaa sanctions, but life is rarely fair unless your upper white collar and can afford to buy some ‘fairness’ in life. maybe we need to look at the ncaa and try to fix this problem and force them to be consistant in dealing with it. it disturbs me that sc is dealt a severe setback but the buckeyes still played a bowl game?…..is there a problem where college athletes need to do these indescretions to survive? i don’t think they have time for a job….. reggie earned that trophy. he wasn’t on steroids or enhancements or betting on his team. and shame on anyone who wants to take that away from him!
4:56 am on July 1st, 2011
I think he should keep it, what people fail to realize someone giveing him money did nothing on the field.the defenders still tried to Tackle him. he still had get the Yardage he still had to work hard. and lets be real some of these stupid rules That the NCAA puts into place are so dump. I think its all these committee’s are the real bad guys what do we know about them how do we know that they are not taken money from People. maybe they should be the ones investageted. besides everyone knows who won, even if you take it back he was Voted the best player of the year by his Peers. I am not saying what he did is right, but please is it really that bad.
7:56 am on July 1st, 2011
you overly emotional sports fans are the biggest suckers here. how much do you pay for the tickets? how much for the jerseys of your heroes? and, in the end, the idiots you worship all have feet of clay. statistics are made to say what whomever wants them to say. it is all subjective. suckers all. oh yes, ticket prices will be going up this season. rah, rah, sis, boom, bah!!!! we’re number one …..blah, blah, blah.
8:14 am on July 1st, 2011
Every player in college is taking some kind of payment ,wake up and just pay them for their play everyone at that level is making money off of that person but he (Bush) should walk around without a penny or any athelete should have to is insane especially when the school is making millions off of that person
9:40 am on July 1st, 2011
Reggie is so fake. he plays the roll of a good guy.. trying to act all innocent . the Idiot won’t and will never admit he was at wrong. He has not yet to apologized to the University. This guy is all about him, and screw the world mentality. He tarnished his memory at USC, his selfish and greed cost opportunities for 30 kids who won’t be able to live their dreams and attend college. USC took a huge hit from the NCAA. It’s so sad. Reggie will be known not for the wonderful things he accomplished in college, but for being a cheater, a low down selfish person. I’m so glad Kim Kardashian seen right through this guy. Reggie should shake his step dad’s Lamar Griffin hand for tarnishing his reputation. Reggie and his family threw it all away just for being so greedy. Now if Reggie wants to do a good deed, he should donate to the University and Fedex his trophy his to Vince Young ,because Vince was truly the better athlete in 2004. and last, I wonder what Reggie will tell his kids why he’s not allow to Visit or attend any USC Games. I wonder what lie he will tell them..
10:26 am on July 1st, 2011
Keep it Reggie!
11:34 am on July 1st, 2011
Plain and simple. Keep the trophy Reggie, you earned it. And for that Texas Fan who thought the Longhorns were so hot in 2005, we cooled you off in 2009. Let’s not forget. Roll Tide!!!!!!!!!
12:03 pm on July 1st, 2011
Since you were not eligible you did not win it–you stole it. But you have proven that you are a lowlife.
12:12 pm on July 1st, 2011
Not a big fan of Reggie Bush, nor USC, but RB should keep the trophy. He won it, and has no obligation to give it back. They are not going to award to anyone else, so why do they want it. It is an overrated award from a self-righteous organization that thinks far too highly of itself anyway. Funny to watch them whine about their statue.
12:20 pm on July 1st, 2011
Bush learned this tactic from Bill Clinton. It worked for Bill and Hillary, why not the Bush Family?
12:46 pm on July 1st, 2011
HAHA….but screw the NCAA for taking so dam long knowing he was getting paid and letting pete run the show at SC…and everyone got away and got paid…I hope OSU gets killed by ncaa…
1:04 pm on July 1st, 2011
FOUL !! All who ascertain he should “keep it like he somehow owns it.”
Again, it’s not about what you, Reggie, or anyone else wants or doesn’t want. It’s not about the inequity and immorality of using college athletes, (which no soundminded person would ever argue isn’t moral or equitable.) It’s not even about Reggie’s rights or the austerity of the NCAA.
The Heisman Trust is just that, a “Trust”, NOT a personal gift. (See the defination of a “trust”.) Look at the Mission Statement of the Heisman Trust. While some certainly gifted Reggie all that money, the NCAA didn’t gift him a trophy. A separate charitable organization entrusted the trophy’s honor and keeping that year, according to their rules and statutes set forth by the Foundation’s Trust. When he violated the terms of the “trust”, (as for crimes, offense or neglect) he forfeited all that was entrusted…including that beloved trophy. So do the honorable thing and give it back.
If you don’t agree with the premise of a prize don’t accept it!
Just read the rules Dude…oh yea, I forgot, it’s rules you and your family have a problem with isn’t it.
Should one dislike “rules” they shouldn’t play games.
1:08 pm on July 1st, 2011
lol. I love how some of you “morally outraged” dumbos get all worked up and resort to suggestions that a student-athlete who brought MILLIONS of dollars to his university (in return for a five-figure scholarship) should “rot in hell” because he doesn’t want to return an achievement award that he rightfully earned as the BEST player in the nation.
Do any of you morons ever consider the big picture? the NCAA and BCS “trustees” are a buncha white-haired Anglos who make hundreds of thousands of dollars for meeting 3-4 times a year for a few hours with their buddies to discuss golf swings and latest vacation stories, while Reggie Bush is out there making the money for them!! Yet, we are ready to send this “dirt bag” Reggie to “rot in hell” because he accepted a few thousand dollars from boosters, and broke the rules that the aforementioned white-haired Anglo parasites created!!!
What’s fair about not setting up at least some type of a trust for these players, or AT LEAST allow them to profit from their likeness/name when the NCAA signs lucrative deals with EA Sports, etc.
This is freakin’ ridiculous…absolutely ridiculous…and it really brings into question the morality of those who implicitly support this system by criticizing Reggie Bush!
2:39 pm on July 1st, 2011
What’s so “frealin ridiculous” about playing by the rules? Is a rule prejudicial by nature? So let’s just ignore the rules? Life isn’t perfect but it at least remains civil as long as people abide by basic rules. Basic rules…like don’t cheat, and don’t allow payment to one player without letting booster’s pay all players. I say we should pay all college athletes! But unless and until the rules are changed we all have to abide by the rules. Unles rules just don’t apply to “certain” athletes. I know, let’s blame everyone else for their lack of moral fiber. Let’s just decide that Reggie should have a pass on this one, and oh maybe while we’re at it include Art Schlichter and Ben Johnson, or even go back as far as Jack Molinas. Should all “cheaters” be exonerated! Now that’s “freakin ridiculus”!
8:33 pm on July 1st, 2011
@ ragtag………..well said.
8:15 pm on July 2nd, 2011
Anyone who would call this modern day slavery is extremely ignorant…and quite insulting to the real slaves. His name is Bush, and that pretty much sums up his character…always has.
8:51 pm on July 2nd, 2011
His stepfather is nothing more than buzzard sperm….trying to work over the system to his advantage…. Reggie is no better than a cockroaches penis…..He is a sorry excuse for a negro man……
11:24 pm on July 2nd, 2011
This issue needs to be put to rest. We can go on and on, pros and cons. There are more important things in life, in this country, the war, joblessness, hard core crime, you name it.
Have any of you who are calling Bush and his family scumbags, trash, and low-life, ever lived in poverty, have you ever had to deal with social services, ride bikes in the snow, or walk home carrying grocery bags because you had no car or money to catch the bus.
However, if you or one of your kids had God-given athletic talent,and someone wanting to give you a better life, would you, in all honesty, have so much integrity that you rather let a financial opportunity, that for all practical purposes was not illegal, go by the wayside? Take off those rose-tinted lenses and get real.
The NCAA, USC, and all those other major institutions of much higher learning survive on those revenues generated by big time athletic program. Just think what tuition cost, for those of you trashing the Bush family, would really be for your child to attend those universities. Probably as much as what Bush family got for those two years. Let it go and move on and be happy with your own life.
By the way, should the New Orleans Saints and Bush give up their Super Bowl trophy, rings, and championship because of that too?
9:59 am on July 3rd, 2011
DOES THIS STORY SURPRISE ANYONE?
He was a cheat when he was at USC, his parents were cheats for accepting the stuff, and they never taught his any differently. So why is this news?
He showed NO HONOR at USC, why do we expect him or his parents to show any now?
4:16 am on July 4th, 2011
Screw the NCAA. The money did not make him a better player, besides ALL schools have boosters, agents, etc to give the players whatever they want. The schools and the NCAA make billions of dollars of their backs. He was good, he got the Heisman, he can keep it!! All the bellyachers think that colleg sports are pure. What a joke!! They should all be paid or all not paid. Take out all the boosters and the agents, maybe that would help.
5:34 am on July 4th, 2011
What you apoligists for Reggie Bush like to ignore is that the minute he took financial benefits, for him or his family, he was a pro athlete. You don’t award the Heisman to pro athletes.
He should give it back.
9:09 am on July 4th, 2011
All of you people who are downing Bush for mistakes he made, are you without sin? Get the beam out of your eye! Does it make you feel good to put down someone else. Clearly he worked hard to acheive what he did. Are you that blind. What have you done with your life? Did you finish college? Have you ever committed your body to Phy. trainning to be among the worlds best. What honor do you have? You may be a porn water while your wife and kids are in the next room. Are you a cockroaches penis? You call a man fake, what about you? Remember this people, learn not to put you touge on other, because the very same thing you sa y about another wil someday come upon YOU.
10:16 am on July 4th, 2011
Let me sum it up.I dont like Reggie Bush but what the hell I would keep it too! THESE COLLEGES MAKE MONEY EVERYDAY OFF THESES PLAYERS,WHY NOT TAKE SOMETHING BACK.
GO BROWNIES!
4:22 pm on July 4th, 2011
The ONLY way for USC and the other colleges will ever stop this is to go after scum like Bush, his parents and ALL those who knowingly broke NCAA rules and cost them MILLIONS in revenue and lost players. Want to change the landscape of thug punk players taking the money and running. USC needs to use its deep pockets and take everyone of these worthless pieces of garbage to court. Hold them in litigation FOREVER. I don’t think that any athlete will think again to take the money if the colleges ALL stand united against the thus punk players who KNOWINGLY put their universities at risk of great financial harm. This was blatant violation of the MAJOR rules.. not minor mickey mouse stuff… Like getting a T-Shirt during a recruitment trip. 300K - Give me a break. Bush and his parents are thugs who need to be hauled off to court for the next 5 years.
12:02 pm on July 5th, 2011
..Amen, …along with the coach, agents, boosters and ANYONE else complicit with the infraction. No one should just walk. Give it back Reggie!
1:17 pm on July 5th, 2011
I think the racist comments are a bunch of crap! Put color aside and look at the facts.
Bush was the winner. They took him off the records, why make a big deal out of a hunk of brass.
Second, the NCAA can’t set a double standard and expect to stay legitiment.
Third, wether family or player makes deals for money should be considered the same. This means Cam should forfit his title. (again let him keep the trophy, it means nothing by itself.0
8:50 am on July 6th, 2011
In the words of Casey Anthony - “Surprise, surprise!” No class street thug!
9:57 am on July 6th, 2011
Thug, a common criminal, who treats others violently and roughly…..this is the definition of a thug. I see there are some of you who are bigots, dumb, and your comments are about as useless as a screen door in a submarine. If someone is trying to convict you or prove something against you it’s in your best interest not to cooperate….ask Bill Clinton. The burden of proof is in the hands of the people who are trying to convict you….that’s why defendents don’t usually testify in their trials. People are so fickle, mean, and vindictive and bring their own warped sense of understanding into the situation. Why is it that the player gets all the publicity but the person or persons who funnel all this money to them you never hear about them. The giving of money can be stop over night if the NCAA wanted to, but that would mean not receiving money from “alums and/or boosters” and of course you know that “ain’t” gonna” to happen anytime soon.
1:43 pm on July 6th, 2011
Keep that Heisman Reggie,you deserve it! You took the field every saturday and thrilled the country with your on field performances! You earned it with every ounce of blood,sweat and tears expended at evey practice and througout every game! BRUSH THEM HATERS OFF!
9:18 am on July 20th, 2011
“If the system is broken, people will learn to take advantage of it - especially the people who administer the system, for they know it better than anyone.” - Me
I don’t care what people’s opinions are about whether or not the statue should be returned - it’s an interesting topic with a lot of valid opinions on both sides. The people here who talk poorly about Bush’s character, though, are probably not from the SE Louisiana area where Bush has shown his generosity, spirit and heart time and time again. Bush genuinely loves people and has given more freely of his time and money than can reasonably be expected from an NFL player (though it’s everyone’s right to irrationally want more).
The Reggie Bush that appears in the national media is the one where controversy is exposed or (in some cases) contrived…otherwise it’s not news. The average national readership does not have a pulse on Bush’s morality, character or work ethic and so a template for this is substituted from some internal archive of stereotypes.
People also have a natural tendency to assume that things that are out of their sight do not change. Is the Bush of his Sophomore year in college the same Bush as the 6-year NFL veteran?
Life experiences have this funny way of influencing people. When you’re poor, all you want is money, stability, security and this is your motivation. When you see an opportunity, life has taught you to take it because there are no guarantees that another one will ever come. (not to excuse Bush or anyone else for their actions - simply to understand one aspect of their motivation)
If one who was once poor suddenly becomes flush with money, stability, security, they are free to pursue their heart and we see them for who they truly are.
For some football players (such as Adam ‘PacMan’ Jones), this means running around with a ‘posse’, hanging out in strip clubs and shooting people.
What, then, does it say about the vast majority of players (including Bush) who use their money, time and station to promote community? To hold football camps? To read to children in a public library and inspire positive habits?
We can debate forever on Bush’s effectiveness in the NFL or whether or not he should have won the Heisman - these are all subjective. But to call the man a thug? Get real.