On the night of Feb. 7, 2010, Reggie Bush stood on the field of the Sun Life Stadium in Miami a Super Bowl champion. His New Orleans Saints had just won the game in one of the greatest comebacks this country has ever seen, claiming victory less than five years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the team’s city—and he had been around through it all. Not only was he basking in his championship glory, he had girlfriend Kim Kardashian celebrating with him, and that is what we call being on top of the world.
It’s funny how fast things change. On June 10, the NCAA announced the results of its lengthy investigation of the University of Southern California, an investigation which Bush was right in the middle of. The NCAA found Bush and his family to be guilty of accepting cash, hotel stays, and other gifts from sports marketing agents. Bush’s step-father, LaMar Griffin, also wanted to start a marketing firm with these sports marketers with Reggie as their premier client. The implications from the report are very serious, as the NCAA banned 30 scholarships from USC over the next three years and forced the school to vacate all wins during the 2005 season, including the school’s 2005 Orange Bowl victory.
USC was hurt by these punishments, and Bush has been hit hard as well. His image has been tainted and USC has cut off all ties with him, insisting that he return its copy of his Heisman Trophy (each winner receives two). The other Heisman trophy belongs to Bush, but it may not stay in his hands for long. Yahoo reported on Tuesday that the Heisman Trophy Trust, the private organization that presents the trophy, plans to strip Bush of his award. If they do so, it will be the first time in the 75-year history of the award that it will be revoked.
Do Bush’s actions warrant these punishments?
The fact is that rules are rules, and according to the NCAA report, he and his family broke them. It is illegal for any student athlete or their family to accept cash or gifts. But before anyone decries Bush as a lying, cheating, and insensitive person, it is necessary for us to look deeper into the problem. First, it is important to realize that LaMar Griffin committed and was responsible for most of the infractions. But since Bush is the talent, the one in the spotlight, he receives all of the negative attention.
Another important detail is that Bush was only 18 when these illicit activities began. When you are young and every adult around you is pushing you to do something, chances are you will do it if the adult seems smart and persuasive. This is not an excuse to receive illegal benefits, but once again, it is important to realize that the people around Bush should take the lion’s share of the blame.
Every year, the Heisman Trophy goes to the best player in college football. In the year Bush received the trophy, he was judged to be the best player on the field by the trust. None of the improper benefits he received were responsible for his stellar performance on the field. You could argue that he should lose it for a lack of integrity, but then again O.J. Simpson hasn’t lost his Heisman yet. Simpson hasn’t been accused of breaking any rules while at USC, but by the logic that is seemingly behind the decision to take back Bush’s trophy, shouldn’t the Heisman Trust be demanding its trophy back from someone who has been convicted of robbery and kidnapping and may have murdered his wife?
With the possible revocation of his Heisman and the damage done to Bush’s legacy, it seems there is a new mountain for him to climb, but this time that mountain is off the field.
