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Friday, January 26, 2007
Bush hit jackpot, Trojans take hit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
It was last April when EA Sports announced that Reggie Bush would be on the cover of its new video game, “NCAA football ‘07.”
The concept of a money-making video game about “amateur” athletes really wasn’t all that outrageous. Besides, three days before the game’s unveiling, a report broke that Bush’s parents may have been living in a home rent-free in San Diego. You might say it was Reggie’s own little Trojan horse.
Here’s an idea for a new video game: “Take The Money And Run,” the story of college athletes who auction themselves off between classes, then bolt before investigators arrive, when a program spontaneously combusts in the rearview mirror.
Chris Webber, a gifted basketball player at Michigan, with charm, grace and a Pepsodent smile, was convicted in 2002 of lying to a grand jury about payments he received from a booster while in school. Other than public scorn, the penalties to Webber were minimal. His career earnings in the NBA had long since surpassed nine digits and, as a bonus, he dated Tyra Banks.
But Michigan? It forfeited 113 wins. It took down postseason banners. It accepted a one-year tournament ban and was placed on 3 1/2 years probation.
That seems balanced, doesn’t it?
Bush might want to familiarize himself with the Webber case. Or not. (Probably not.) A similar story could be played out at USC. The Trojans reportedly are central to investigations by the NCAA, the Pacific 10 and, oh yeah, the feds.
Like Webber, Bush has talent, charm and a smile. He is coming off a terrific rookie season with the New Orleans Saints, the NFL’s feel-good story of the season. But that is as far back as Bush would prefer to look. It gets ugly before that.
Since April, more details have broken about benefits Bush and his family are alleged to have received while he was in school. The Web site Yahoo reports federal agents have secured tapes of recorded conversations between Bush, his family and an investor in a sports marketing company indicating that he received benefits totaling $280,000.
I realize a coach and a program are culpable in situations like these. But there’s a pretty good chance that USC is going to end up taking a far bigger hit than it deserves for the actions of one kid. If the Trojans are put on probation, current players — not Bush — will take the hit.
Should federal agents, the NCAA and Pac-10 find wrongdoing, Bush may be asked to return his Heisman Trophy. I’m guessing he will be allowed to keep his $51 million contract, and his endorsement deals with Pepsi, Adidas, Hummer, Subway, EA Sports and a cologne company.
Bush just purchased a $5 million home in the Hollywood Hills. It sits above the Sunset Strip, with views of Malibu. Bush will live there only during the offseason.
I guess USC players or their parents can sleep there during the season, if Bush wants to branch out into the agent business.
One sensed USC was distancing itself from Bush when it wouldn’t give him a sideline pass for the Rose Bowl (as the school provided for Marcus Allen, Ronnie Lott and Charles White). But there’s only so much distancing a school can do.
USC has been as dominating a college football factory as we’ve seen for some time. Its record since 2002: 59-6. The Trojans were 37-35 in the previous six years. With no NFL team, they have been L.A.’s biggest show.
But coach Pete Carroll might want to reconsider an NFL job now. At the least, sanctions could force the school to vacate wins from the time Bush was deemed ineligible. At worst, there’s probation. That depends on how responsible the NCAA believes USC to be.
But Bush can’t be touched.
A year ago this month, Bush announced he was turning pro. Asked at the news conference about likely becoming a millionaire, he said: “It hasn’t sunk in yet. I don’t think it will until I get that first check.”
We would like to think that’s the order of things. History and probation tell us otherwise.
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