Last week, I saw a really incredible episode of HBO’s Real Sports that I was dying to report on. I rarely watch Real Sports because the subject is something I have little interest in, but the few times I’ve seen it I was so impressed. (This week I recorded it to catch an expose on female bodybuilders and was tearing up when I learned about a PGA golf pro who had two heart transplants.)
One of the stories this week was about a scandal that former USC (and current Seattle Seahawks) football coach Pete Carroll faced that resulted in his firing. The NCAA hit USC with harsh sanctions a month ago when it came out that former quarterback running back and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush accepted illegal payoffs in his 2004-2005 season in exchange for favors. USC had to give up their NCAA status for two years, surrender over 30 football scholarships and return their Orange Blow trophy, won in 2005.
As part of the story, the man who bribed Bush and blew the whistle on him when he was double-crossed, a convicted felon named Lloyd Lake, was interviewed. Lake told Real Sports that he gave Reggie a tricked out car, paid him $3,000 a month, paid for his parents to go to away games, and put a down payment on a house for Bush’s parents under the pretense that Bush would hire him as his agent when he graduated. (Think Jerry MaGuire and how much money that character made.) Lake borrowed $300,000 from family to set Bush up. When he was ready to go pro, Bush went behind Lake’s back and hired another agent while shafting him for all the money he paid him illegally! His parents stole a bunch of furniture from the house Lake bought for them and just left. As evidence of his claims, Lake had a tape of Reggie’s dad promising him that all the money he invested in his son would pay off for him.
Lake’s story was absolutely believable, and while Bush has denied it he looked scared and not at all convincing in the tape that Real Sports played. (There are no clips of Lake’s interview online that I can find, but HBO does have a clip of USC coach Pete Carroll denying any knowledge of the illegal payoffs and another clip of the promo for the show.)
Anyway USC has taken down Bush’s jersey and returned his Heisman trophy as a result of the scandal. In response, Bush’s cat-faced ex girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, has chimed in with some sympathy for him.
“I don’t really think he should give [the Heisman trophy] back I think he earned it, I think he worked hard for it, and I think he deserves it. I don’t think it’s fair for anyone to take back all the hard work he put in…
“I think USC can make their decision on their end. I’m sure a lot of people financially made a lot of money off him. Are they going to just give back all the negative and keep the positive? I don’t really think it’s fair. I think he earned it and he deserves it.”
“I do feel bad for him. I’m sure he’s going through a really hard time… Knowing the type of person he is, I’m sure that he would do anything in his power to make it up to the school.. and the kids that are playing there now that aren’t eligible to make it to championships.”
[From audio of Ryan Seacrest’s show tip via Bossip]
I guess I’m not surprised that Kim, who comes from a family of opportunists and grifters, would feel sorry for Bush. She probably feels that he hasn’t done anything wrong and deserved to be set up in luxury, even if he screwed the guy who got him there.
I don’t think he should give the Heisman trophy back, esp. if he earned it. Let’s face it, Reggie is not the only athlete to have accepted money. So if they strip away his trophy, they may as well do it to all the others.
Reggie is a Running back…not a quarterback…just fyi
wow, stealing furniture from the house seems like a new low :-/
Yeah, yeah, poor Reggie Bush! What about the players at USC or the ones that need those scholarships who won’t be getting them now.
I saw this Real Sports episode as well. Bush and his family make me sick!
I really don’t understand why the other players currently at school have to suffer because of something Bush did…. someone please explain as I am not educated on this
he’s not the first…surely won’t be the last. he earned the trophy…he should definitely keep it.
Show me a pro sport that doesn’t woo athletes with cash & gifts.
Oh poor Reggie. They should totally strip him of his Heisman. He may have “earned” it but then again, he didn’t have to worry about stuff other poorer athletes might have had to worry about. His parents lived in a nice, safe house. His siblings weren’t having to dodge bullets on the way to school. That could have affected his play.
And I never go for the argument that everyone was doing so why shouldn’t he do it as well. If they want to keep up the pretense that college isn’t the pros, then abide by the rules and don’t whine when you get caught.
I will say that I wish there was a way to fine the ex-coach and Reggie Bush. It’s always bothered me that the kids that are left behind have to pay the cost.
@ CB – “Orange Blow” trophy? I’m sure you meant Orange Bowl but I think you should leave it there….it’s funny.
I don’t know who writes the posts on this site but when he or she said that the Kardasians are opportunists and grifters he/she nailed it. I think they are icons of the rise and fall of the American Empire and epitomize why the fame whores brought it down. Kim Kardasian crowing that Reggie Bush should have kept his Heisman is in line with what one of those idiotic Kardasians would say. Don’t forget that Kim’s dad was an insider with the infamous OJ Simpson. I rest my case.
Uhmmm, athletically he might of “earned” the trophy but integrity has to come into play. And besides if USC had have known “we’re assuming they didn’t, cough cough” about the money, gifts, et al, that would have disqualified him from their athletic program, possibly led to his expulsion from school and there would be no trophy. That being said, why are so my douche-bags so dayumed handsome?! That 1st pic, w/o Kim, is to die for.
Kim must be thanking her lucky stars that she got out of the relationship with Reggis before this scandal could taint her fame-whoring effort.
Now she gets to seem like the caring, still supportive ex-girlfriend.
@CindyLou, I caught that too. I though maybe it was special trophy given out to the Lohan with the best fake glow and most energy!
They both suck. USC sucks. New Orleans sucks.
Who is the “grifter” in the Kardashian family? Just curious…
I just love that picture where she looks dead inside and her eyes look so soulless- probably a more visually accurate photo has never been taken of her.
Grifters and opportunists are the nice descriptors of the Kard-assians. It still amazes me that they are sadly but perfectly representative of a subculture here in Hollyweird that thrives.
@bellaluna College athletes are not allowed to receive money/bribes. It’s completely illegal.
And wow, the Bush family is f*cking shady.
Bush doesn’t have to give his Heisman trophy back (at least not yet–we’ll see). USC simply gave back their copy of the trophy. Each winner and school gets one, so their are many actual pieces of metal out there.
USC is being punished because it’s been determined that they knew about Reggie Bush (and a basketball player named OJ Mayo) taking the perks and $ from agents, and chose not to do anything about it. I feel very badly for the upcoming students who will be denied those scholarships, and especially for the players who won the championships that have now been stripped away. But I guess the NCAA feels this is the only way to show schools that fudge the rules that there are repercussions.
A whole bunch of other schools are now being investigated for similar allegations of college players taking $ and favors from agents, which is against the rules. Pretty much all because d-bag Reggie broke the rules and then was a cheapass backstabber who went back on his word.
Yeah, I remember that episode on Real Sports. It was initially previewed approx. 3 years ago. This has been an ongoing investigation. From the evidence that was shown it’s obvious the Reggie Bush broke the CLEAR rules. It sucks because USC has had to give up a big amount of scholarships that could have benefit young talent that had nothing to do with this all the meanwhile, Reggie Bush is already a millionaire and a pro in the NFL. That being said they shouldn’t take it away because the Heisman Trophy represents the best of that year and anyone who watched college football that year (I did) will tell you he was hands down the best. If it was a matter of performance enhancers than I would understand the consideration but the rules broken have really nothing to do with the trophy.
And USC has returned their copy & his jersey not because of the scandal per se but they’re trying to send a message to Reggie & future Reggies that those kind of actions will shun you out from their school. Think about it, he will never be qwelcomed on campus or future games. He says he’s heartbroken of the light that has been brought on USC but where was his consern for USC when he was recieving money & goods for his own personal gain?
CB, your synopsis was well written. Reggie Bush broke many rules while in his tenure at USC and he is not in the least bit sorry. I believe that both the school and Pete Carroll knew about it (isn’t it suspicious that Pete resigned just before the sanctions came down?). The school is very lucky that it did not get the death penalty. The amount of grifting in the NCAA brings down the integrity of the sport (if there is even any left).
I’m just curious as to why she’s a grifter? Noun 1. grifter – a person who swindles you by means of deception or fraud
Not a fan or anything (not by a long shot) just wondering if I missed a story…
He should DEFINITELY give the Heisman back. He had a choice to make to either do right or to do something illegal and it doesn’t matter if it seems like ‘everyone’ else is cheating or wrong too. If he is really sorry about this whole thing then he’d start off by giving that Heisman back.
Luv how you totally ruled him as guilty…do tell when was the trial? If you want to talk about thieves and scam artists lets make a list of ALL of the athletes that have done it. Better yet, lets talk about how Kim K swindled the Norwoods out of thousands of dollars and scammed her way to her current status? Reggie Bush earned his Heisman its funny how you watch one “expose” and he is the bane of human existence lmao. Whatever.
I’m sure Kim influenced him with her attitude of getting paid for everything. She may get paid for play but it doesn’t work in sports. Another story entirely.
But gee, look how many pictures of Kim are posted with Reggie. Mission accomplished.
yeah they are both made for each other and of course she will think that he shouldn’t give it back because she thinks he worked hard for it.
Who cares if they’re making an example out of him and not the others? Integrity is a word that’s used often in these schools but hardly practiced. If it doesn’t stop now then what’s the message being sent to all the future athletes who really want to play for the love of the sport?
These days athletes want to be more like movie stars and be really famous outside the sport world. This is why they date famewhores like the Kardashians who crave the spotlight but don’t have any talent so they’ll sell themselves in order to have a camera following them around
I’m absolutely disgusted that everyone commenting here is heaping blame on Reggie and his family, yet no one has any unkind words for Lloyd Lake. Excuse me, but wasn’t he the one making the illegal payments? The only reason he ratted out Reggie is because he got shafted, but why on earth would he expect honor among thieves? He and Reggie did not have a contract or written agreement, so technically Reggie was under no obligation to use him as an agent regardless of how much cash was thrown his way, and if received a better offer from someone else he was within his legal rights to take it. I’m not excusing his behavior, and I’m CERTAINLY not making excuses for his parents, whose behavior was beyond exploitative, but I don’t understand why everyone’s treating this as though Reggie wronged some poor innocent guy. We’re talking about a convicted felon who was also behaving illegally.
It is ironic that with all the money he now earns he cannot buy the integerity nor class he lacks as he has neither. While he may not be the first nor last college player who gets paid to run fast with a football. He knowingly took full advantage of a situation he had total control over, greed is a funny thing. I’m sure he and his Coaching staff were well aware of the sanctions that could arise of caught. As a result he and USC have now been forever tarnished. If he had any balls he’d man up and admit his complicity in this fiasco.
@ tripmom ITA!…also if we want to verbally assault lying, cheating, scamming athletes how about a post on Lance Armstrong being accused of cheating on the Tour de France each and every time by former teammates? Here’s to hoping all 7 trophies will be taken from him as well.
I don’t know, but I have sympathy for Reggie & other players who take the illegal perks — think about it — they were just kids –18 years old, most likely not from affluent backgrounds. Someone comes along & offers them a fancy car, money, etc for doing what they love & all with their school and their coach’s knowledge! I can see why they take it. Yes, it is illegal, but it is really the responsibility of the school & coach to make sure that doesn’t happen. Plus, it is way more common then you think — my brother went to LSU when Shaq was there — he was driving a porsche, for cheese’s sake. So for people like Reggie it was probably a “everyone is doing it” kind of atmosphere. It doesn’t make it right, but I think the school and the coach are the real villians — they are the adults.
@ CB “Bush’s cat-faced ex-girlfriend”=DEAD!!LMAO. I hate Kim and her family. They are getting rich of athletes and other people, because they have nothing to offer but selling themselves and others. This is why no one will wife her. She opens her mouth for publicity. She should had asked the press to leave and his family alone!
I saw the Real Sports with Bryan Gumbel too. I thought it was true that the man helped the Bush’s out. There are a couple of things that make me really upset:
1. I do not believe that the coach did not know and relied on USC staff to vet and screen athletes. When the Tully’s from the “Blindside” did this in an indirect way, there was nothing said or done. Bottom line, the Bush’s should had paid the man to go away!
2. I think they should leave Bush alone. The fact of the matter is that they get these young inner-city kids, knowing their families social-economonical situation, to only pimp them early on in their careers.
3. Most NCAA players never make the big leagues. The percentages are stifling. Carroll and These kids brought over 76 million dollars to USC in the years that Carroll coached USC…these kids played their hearts out!!! Bottom line they were pimped period and they gave their hearts and soul to the game. These young men have the same risks as pro-ball players, the risk of not being drafted, lifetime injuries and if some of them receive a little bit of a silver lining, they earned it!
It’s just like illegal immigration…no one is going after the corporations for exploiting the law and people for their own (NCAA, Corporate Sponsors, NFL/NBA) selfish greed!!!!
Money doesn’t buy class.
Too bad our society celebrates genetic freaks (models) and people who are good at playing games, and pays them more than nurses or stay at home moms or people whose work actually serves society and mankind in some way.
Reegie isnt the first or last to get a “supposed” pay off. Its been this way for centures and will remain this way for centuries more. Now the agents/recruits will just be more secretive in how they do their deals. Lets not pretend college or professional sports is all on the up and up people – wake up! Reggie earnmed his Heisman. Any suppose dpayoff isnt what makes him a great player. He has talent period.
He’s gorgeous.
These two really are perfect for each other. They need to get back together this year when football starts so she can milk the season for more attention, then break up at the end of it. Again.
Can i upload short excerpts of copyrighted content on youtube?Is it supported by fair use provision?
Nice blog right here! Additionally your site quite a bit up very fast! What host are you using? Can I am getting your associate link on your host? I desire my website loaded up as quickly as yours lol