Comments on: Reggie Bush gives up Heisman, blames "persistent media speculation," admits "mistakes"

By: DonnyBoy

DonnyBoy — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:07:41 +0000

Gosh bad, can’t you just let it be?
So what if Rapagirlertwo has been accused of rape two or three times.
Boys will be boys.
He wasn’t convicted so, like OJ, all’s well that ends well.
Except of course for the women.
But Reggie should be required to give up the Heisman because he took money and that was morally wrong.
Just ask Pissburgh fans.

By: badthing

badthing — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 10:30:00 +0000

So the definition of a “jackass” is a man that has been accused of rape numerous times????????

By: texasPHINSfan

texasPHINSfan — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:59:02 +0000

Too bad Reggie’s agent or lawyer wrote that.
I wish football players would have to write their own stuff. It would probably sound a lot more like Chris Johnson’s tweets.
I doubt Reggie Bush spent enough time in English class to use that verbiage and write like that. Thus, it really isn’t heartfelt or from him, is it? It’s one of his legal representatives publishing what they’d like the public to think he said.

By: Deb

Deb — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:19:24 +0000

@muchmaligned …
If Reggie had been accused of rape, I’d scream he should NOT return the award. Off-field criminal misconduct is irrelevant to the Heisman. But the NCAA has strict rules regarding payment for players. ALL college athletes sign an agreement to abide by those rules. Reggie signed the agreement, then ignored it. He admitted breaking the rules.
Say there’s a marathon and all runners agreed NOT to take water from people along the route, but Reggie did it anyway and won. Others took water, too, and didn’t get caught. But most played by the rules. Is it fair to let Reggie keep the trophy? We don’t let captured bank robbers keep the loot just because some got away. I never said Saban was a moral luminary. A few months ago, he started lobbying to punish the guys handing out the water. Do you disagree?
I never commented on Reggie until AFTER the investigation ended because I would not rush to judgment. I waited for the verdict. Ben has been condemned by many PFT commenters even though police in both Nevada and Georgia say they have no evidence a crime ever occurred.
My professional expertise enabled me to thoroughly research evidence in both cases. The Nevada woman sent text messages saying she wanted to see him again, which clears him in the civil case. DNA findings in Georgia show there was no intercourse. There is additional evidence of innocence, but that alone clears him and is why the DA said the case was permanently closed.
Ben may be a jackass, but he’s innocent. That’s why I’m so vehement defending him–that and because it gnaws at me to see those women portrayed as victims when so many REAL victims are suffering. But I’ve also defended players I don’t like. Yesterday, I posted that CBS had no reason to suspend Shannon Sharpe. I can’t stand him, Denver, or Baltimore, and think he’s a hideous broadcaster. But those are unsubstantiated accusations regarding a personal domestic issue and should not affect his job. (He has now stepped aside, which I think was a mistake.) Yesterday I posted that people should stop calling Ray Lewis a murderer because he isn’t. People are innocent until they are proved guilty and should not be condemned by a kangaroo court of public opinion no matter what I think of them personally or where they play(ed).
My positions aren’t hypocritical or inconsistent. People just make the accusation because they don’t like my opinions.
Sorry about your Lions Sunday. Terrible rule.

By: Spotts1701

Spotts1701 — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:17:26 +0000

“The fact is that Bush was the greatest player in college football in 2005, including Young’s performance in the NC game. I know it, he knows it, Nick Saban knows it, The Heisman voters know it and you know it.”
While the hypocrisy you’re displaying is “the rules shouldn’t apply when it’s inconvenient or when the player is awesome”.
See my previous post – the rules are designed to prevent one school from gaining a competitive advantage off-the-field against another. Even when the school DOESN’T actually gain that advantage, the perception that they do matters.
Whether it’s Reggie Bush or Joe Benchwarmer, if a player verbally or in writing agrees to be represented by an agent in any future professional career they are in violation of NCAA rules. And this is not an “inadvertent” violation like a player accepting a free pair of shoes. This was a systemic violation of the rule for years.

By: muchmaligned

muchmaligned — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:48:28 +0000

@deb,
Yes, with good reason, as I am a lifelong Lions fan.
This is a cheap shot, but hypocrisy of this depth begs it: I suppose if Bush had raped or otherwise molested the Heisman Trust, your support of him would be as fervent as it has been for the face of your chosen franchise.
It is your argument’s dependence upon such moral luminaries as Nick Saban that exposes your hypocrisy. The fact is that Bush was the greatest player in college football in 2005, including Young’s performance in the NC game. I know it, he knows it, Nick Saban knows it, The Heisman voters know it and you know it.

By: Wick

Wick — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:08:08 +0000

@ Deb:
Have to head out for work (west coast here), so this will be brief.
We also agree: the players should be compensated in straightforward fashion — greedy players who attempted to get “extra” via agents would engender no sympathy.
Also, punishing the players and often the coaches of a team …. because a player took money under the table a half decade ago is ridiculous. Bush is gone. Pete Carroll is gone. The culpable scape – and the innocent pay for their sins. Not a very equitable punishment on many levels.
For me, that’s brevity. Be cool Deb – have a good day.

By: Spotts1701

Spotts1701 — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:04:24 +0000

“There’s a lot more going on under the table and behind closed doors with alums, boosters, and coaches when it comes to recruiting players than anyone wants to admit.”
I’m not going to disagree with you that the system is flawed and in need of systemic change, but the point is that we can’t throw the rulebook away when its convenient, or when the player involved is a “good guy”.
The rules apply to the scrubs and the stars. I just read about how Princeton got sanctioned by the NCAA because a women’s tennis player had part of her education expenses paid by a family friend. Is it fair? No. But the rule is there for a purpose – to prevent schools from gaining a competitive advantage by having boosters pay athletes to come to a school, creating an “arms race” amongst the football and basketball “factory” schools.
And suppose you change the system – what about non-revenue sports? Football players get paid, but volleyball players don’t? How is that equitable?

By: jk7761

jk7761 — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 08:36:46 +0000

hope reggie’s family enjoyed the digs.
how perfect is it that they now reside in new orleans. reggie’s family=freeloaders

By: Foxy_Grandpa

Foxy_Grandpa — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 08:24:54 +0000

Ok, so Reggie was in violation of the NCAA rules and giving the trophy back was probably the right thing to do. What’s really sad here is this whole thing seemed to be a witch hunt. You really think Reggie Bush was the first college athlete to accept money or other gifts from an agent? PLEASE! The difference b/t Reggie and other players is someone was out to get Reggie and he got caught. If they plan on giving Vince Young the trophy, a full investigation should be done on him too. You are fooling yourself if you think a majority of these high school All Americans are choosing their college based on academics or location. Is it coincidence that college students can see these same players driving around in expensive cars, wearing fancy jewelry, and wearing nice clothes? There’s a lot more going on under the table and behind closed doors with alums, boosters, and coaches when it comes to recruiting players than anyone wants to admit.

By: vasaints

vasaints — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 04:41:06 +0000

The Heisman was given to the best college player. It said nothing about dealing with an agent, money, and etc…. the NCAA can take their Heishman and shove it up a place where the sun doesn’t shine. NCAA made beaucoup $$$ off of Reggie and players like him…What hypocrisy regarding money..

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 23:58:42 +0000

@Wick …
It’s nice to find an adult among the infantile. Thank you. I feel the same about your posts.
222-0??? Wow. I had never heard that story.
Otherwise, I can’t argue. RBs and QBs almost exclusively. And yes, the NCAA’s hypocrisy is long-established and self-evident.
Ironically, I strongly support compensating NCAA players above the table. They shouldn’t be paid by slimy agents but by the association itself and the schools for which they make so much money.
The people on here harping that I’m judging Bush’s morals are idiots looking for something to harp about. I’m not judging anything. He was investigated and found guilty of violations that would have disqualified him from Heisman consideration had they been discovered at the time. It’s unfair for CURRENT USC players to be punished for things they did not do while the former players are allowed to keep ALL the spoils of their violations. Reggie, as he has admitted, made bad decisions. This is a consequence of those decisions just as Ben’s suspension is a consequence of his decision to get blind drunk with a trashy DTF woman.

By: Wick

Wick — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:42:52 +0000

@ Deb who wrote (among other things) “The Heisman mission statement says the award is given to the college player who performed best ‘with integrity.’”
Deb, unlike a number of others – I like your takes, find them thoughtful, thought-provoking, well-reasoned and insightful.
Here, our opinions diverge a bit – yet your take still retains all of the characteristics noted in the preceding paragraph.
To finally get to the point, I think the Heisman Trophy is a bit of a crock.
Integrity or not, it is clearly not awarded to the best Division I player in the land — as their “Mission Statement” clearly inunciates.
It is almost exclusively QBs and RBs — the other positions are either disregarded entirely or marginalized such that there are rare exceptions to award-winners coming from an offensive backfield.
As such, it is hard to take the Downtown Athletic Club’s Mission Statement at its word if its own have failed to do it time and time again since its inception in the mid-30′s.
Another little known bit of trivia: the Heisman is named after John Heisman, a coach for Georgia Tech. Heisman coached his team to a 222-0 route of the vastly overmatched Cumberland College, so essentially this award touted about sportsmanship and integrity is named after a man who was none of that.
Lastly, the NCAA is nothing but a gaggle of money whores who epitomize hypocrisy of the highest order. No real props to them either here. I could develop this point but will rest that it’s long established and self-evident.

By: TuckRule

TuckRule — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:17:15 +0000

Trophy was already on EBAY a little earlier in the evening.

By: Wick

Wick — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:09:48 +0000

I really can’t say what Reggie did and/or was accused of doing is all that bothersome.
A poverty-stricken Jim Thorpe later got hosed out of his 1912 gold medal(s) for making some chump change for playing some low level pro ball.
Lame. Real lame. The Communist Block athletes were effectively and exclusively subsidized “professionals” for a half dozen decades or more —- yet Thorpe was demonized.
With Bush, the NCAA again gets all high and mighty …… yet few institutions in sports caters to the almighty buck like the NCAA.
Bush has carried himself with class, plays hard and exciting football, is a respected leader on his team and works on behalf of a number of charities.
To cast him in a light such that he is the latest Bin Laden is absurd …… especially considering the fact the condemning sources are money whores to the extreme.

By: superb owl

superb owl — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:06:55 +0000

fine, reggie defenders. lets take away simpson’s trophy too.
if he didnt already hick it for defense lawyer payment money.
are u happy yet?
reg broke the rules when he was competing in that arena. hand it over. to uncle rico.

By: badthing

badthing — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:06:07 +0000

Deb says: September 14, 2010 6:14 PM
I like Reggie, but the Heisman is not awarded for performance alone; the mission statement includes a morals clause. This wasn’t a plane ticket to a party or a one-time gift. Reggie knew what he was doing and needs to accept that he brought this on himself.
______________________________________
Unbelievable! The biggest Ben apologist lectures another team’s player about morals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Spotts1701

Spotts1701 — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:44:04 +0000

“Should we start with OJ? His performance was stellar, but his morality is, well, questionable. See how rediculous that sounds?”
1) It’s ridiculous. Your argument would be better if you improved your spelling.
2) Again, Bush’s actions occurred while he was still playing for USC, in direct violation of NCAA rules enforced at the time. Simpson’s questionable morality refers to actions that occurred DECADES after he last played college ball, and I’m pretty sure that the Heisman morals clause doesn’t cover post-award conduct.
You prove O.J. Simpson broke NCAA rules while he was playing D-I, you might have an argument.
As it is, you’re comparing apples to egg rolls.

By: Trojan4life5869

Trojan4life5869 — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:41:08 +0000

Good job Reggie. You did an amazing job at USC but now we wonder was it for the love of the game and your team mates, or the cash?
Fine, give it to VY. He’s used to taking USC’s sloppy seconds…….

By: Super Bowl / No Oil

Super Bowl / No Oil — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:35:05 +0000

THIS GUY EARNED THE AWARD ON THE FIELD. PERIOD. IF YOU WANT TO TAKE AWAY HEISMAN TROPHIES WHY DON’T WE START WITH CONVICTED FELON AND “ALLEDGED KILLER” OJ SIMPSON. THEN WE CAN MOVE ON TO MR. GAMBLING SUSPENDED GREAT PAUL HORNING. STOP WITH THE POLITICS AND LET IT GO. GIFTS OFF THE FIELD DON’T MAKE GREAT FOOTBALL PLAYERS.

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:33:47 +0000

@muchmaligned (and no wonder) …
I have no idea what you’re talking about, and neither do you.
The Heisman mission statement says the award is given to the college player who performed best “with integrity.” The NCAA prohibits college athletes from accepting ANY gifts–track stars can’t even accept athletic shoes awarded when they win a race. Football players are certainly prohibited from receiving salaries from marketing companies in exchange for promises that they will sign with those companies post graduation. Reggie did not get confused and inadvertently accept a limo ride or a plane ticket. He took what amounted to a three-year salary, knowing full well that it was a violation of NCAA rules.
I did not make ANY statement about Bush until the investigation was concluded and the findings were announced. The investigators found that he took the money. Therefore, he did not conduct himself “with integrity” DURING the time for which he received the award as required by the Heisman mission statement.
If he had taken the money for the year PRIOR to the award period or the year AFTER the award period, I would say he should keep the award. If he killed his wife 26 years AFTER receiving the award, I would say he should keep the award. If we were talking about the ROY instead of the Heisman, I would say he should keep the award because the ROY is awarded only for performance on the field.
I’m not talking out both sides of my face. YOU are just too STUPID to look up the different criteria for the different awards.

By: Vee

Vee — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:24:02 +0000

Everything associated with college athletics just reeks of hypocrisy – thousands of people in numerous industries across America, acting all honorable as they become wealthy because of the indentured servitude system of getting poor kids to wreck their bodies on the gridiron for almost nothing. Honor – what honor?
Throw the Heisman in Lake Pontchartrain. Seriously, I don’t care as long as you run for Dem Saints and get paid well for it, Reggie!! You got a Lombardi anyway.

By: Go Saints

Go Saints — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:17:04 +0000

“Now that this is behind me I look forward to the future and winning more awards and championships here in New Orleans! Who Dat!” Bush tweeted.

By: muchmaligned

muchmaligned — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 20:51:27 +0000

@Deb,
I am continually impressed by your ability to talk out of both sides of your face. That is your face, isn’t it?

By: Thorpie

Thorpie — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 20:46:20 +0000

Look at all the Reggie haters, trying to make this into the crime of the century. An immature kid made a misake, the same mistake made by thousand of immature kids before him. The difference is that this kid got caught. He was the best player that year by a landslide and that alone is why he won the trophy.
If they want to make this about morality and not performance, I’m sure there are a few previous winners who should be giving up their Heisman titles as well. Should we start with OJ? His performance was stellar, but his morality is, well, questionable. See how rediculous that sounds?
At the end of the day, the best man won, the same man who has millions of fans (jersey sales don’t lie), millions of dollars and another, far more significant trophy to tell the grandkids about. Lombardi > Heisman.

By: GB3Pack4

GB3Pack4 — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 20:37:44 +0000

Michael, why would you take issue with his use of the word “mistakes”? If that isn’t the right word, it’s surely the trendiest. I mean, you didn’t actually expect him to say, for example, I knew it was against the rules and I did it anyway, or, I kept the money and (other things of value) because I was pretty sure I could get away with it, or, “I just wanted it.”
After all, it’s considered by some – many – hordes of people these days to be a sign of weakness to take responsibility for your actions.
Get with it, Mike -

By: WhichEverComesFirst

WhichEverComesFirst — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 20:35:18 +0000

Florihole, you are a complete tool. You and the Crykings deserve each other.
Keep on keepin’ on, Reggie.

By: DonnyBoy

DonnyBoy — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 20:34:18 +0000

I like Reggie, but the Heisman is not awarded for performance alone; the mission statement includes a morals clause. This wasn’t a plane ticket to a party or a one-time gift. Reggie knew what he was doing and needs to accept that he brought this on himself.
**********************************
Hypocrit alert!!!!!!!!!
Does the NFL not also contain a morals clause?
Yet according to you, for a certain Pittsburgh QB, nothing short of conviction and the death penalty should be considered an issue.
Wow!

By: smokehouse

smokehouse — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 20:33:20 +0000

Some people on this board believe rules are to be followed when convenient. NCAA is an amateur sport. Why should he have gotten money when others at USC had to work in a hamburger joint to get theirs. The media and the Bush boot licker’s put him on a pedestal. They think amateurism means take money and not be caught. The statements by many here are simple delusional.

By: BigEasy

BigEasy — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 20:26:26 +0000

Best player in ’05…..he was apart of what takes place in major college campuses everyday. Whether it’s a booster or potential agent. Reggie happened to get exposed by a low life how didn’t get paid off. 4-5 yrs later they deem him guilty.
It’s funny how all these media types dump on guys like Reggie, when the truth is they’re jealous of the ability and accolades of someone like him. The guy is getting disrespected by his former college and he dumps the award and walks away with his head held high. So he helped his family out……big deal!!