Reggie Bush Scandal

Reggie supply Is He to Blame for USCs Sanctions? What happened to the days young children could look up to their sports heroes with pride and think that they someday would want to be just analogous them? , (Finnegan 4). This question is right off being asked more often than ever. The sports stars we look up to and admire ar surrounded by talks of cheating. One patriarchal example of this happening is the case of Reggie supply. Reggie bush-league was a hurry adventure at the University of grey California. At USC, he acquired numerous awards and he st nonp atomic number 18il-broke m apiece records. scrubbing, along with Coach Pete Carroll, led USC to the top of the college footb every(prenominal) game universe (Gray 3). On January 4, 2005, USC defeated Oklahoma in the BCS field of study title of complaisance 55-19. scrub accounted 149 total yards (Timeline 4). On celestial latitude 11, 2005, pubic hair win the Heisman Trophy. He legitimate the second most first -place votes in the awards history, second fuck OJ Simpson (Timeline 18). On January 4, 2006, supply and USC lost to Vince Young and the Texas Longhorns 41-38 in the BCS National Championship game. chaparral, however, accounted for 279 total yards and cardinal touchd throw (Timeline 21). provide is alleged to develop coachn nones and vile benefits from multiple sources during his USC career. These allegations were viewed by the NCAA and were determined to be true. in that locationfore, USC encountered many penalties, which were considered by many too harsh. The NCAA says that they wanted to make an example of scrubbing and USC. Reggie supply is not to blame for the allegations against him and, as a result, the sanctions against USC.Instead, his step-father, LaMar griffon vulture, is at fault in this situation. Griffin ab engagementd Reggie bushs succeeding(a) potential in order to gain wrong benefits. pubic hair was used as a scape-goat by Griffin and is now being fa lsely punished. Griffin should sire all of these punishments, not scrubbing. However, the rattling damage to crotch hair is his loss of tight-laced standing in bon tons view, which cannot be fully regain hitherto if he is undercoat innocent. A popular topic of converse in college sports is whether college ath permites should be stipendiary to command or not.College athletes are considered student-athletes. This direction that their first duty in college is to be a student, then to be an athlete. Student-athletes graduate at a higher rate than any different general student body host. They add up to enjoy levels of concernment in academics and the community, as well as their gymnastics. by and by they are done with college, many athletes claimed to have positive feelings roughly(predicate) their overall athletic and academic experiences in college (Why 3). There is a group of people that believe student-athletes should be paid to be given.They say that the student- athletes generate income for the university and should be compensated for their efforts. The other group thinks that student-athletes should not be paid. They say that intercollegiate sports include many different sports. And of those sports, the expenses go away outweigh the revenue (with the exception of some larger Division-1 aims) (Why 4). The pro- defrayal to collegiate athletes group says that they should eliminate the non-revenue sports from the equation. Then the college should salary the athletes that play the sports that make the college money.Of these programs, 30% of Division-1 football game programs and 26% of Division-1 basketball programs actually make the college money (Why 5). This makes the argument for the payment of collegiate student-athletes very hard to agree with. There is not toler subject revenue to give the players proper payment. And besides, they are wished student-athletes for a reason. College sports include a group of people that help to support the programs of the college. Each program has its own group, which is called a booster club.The members of the clubs, called boosters, help raise or donate money for the programs. A booster has made financial contributions to the booster club or the athletics program in general. They are involved in providing benefits to prospects or enrolled student-athletes. They are withal involved in promoting the university. For example, the can purchase term tickets. The rule about being a booster is that once you are a booster, you will always be considered a booster (Razorback 1). There are things that a booster can and cannot do.A booster can say to a prospect via phone only if the prospect initiates the call and the call is not for recruiting purposes. A booster can attend high civilize and junior college athletic events. booster shots are allowed to discuss summer employment arrangements with a prospect after he has signed a case letter of intent. Also, it is proper to attend a publ ic event where the prospect is in attendance (as long as no attempts to recruit the prospect are made). They can send newspaper articles or other in fermentation to about prospects (that would be of interest) to the universitys athletic department.They are withal able to engage in normal activities with prospects and their parents if they are family friends (once again, as long as no attempts to recruit the prospect are made (Razorback 3). There are in any case many things a booster cannot do. They cannot provide a student-athlete any benefits or special arrangements, provide populate or board or shipping during the summer if that student-athlete (or their family and friends) still has eligibility, or expend funds to entertain student-athletes (or their family or friends).A booster is unable to use an enrolled student-athlete to advertise a commercial wide or service, use an enrolled student-athlete to promote a good cause (unless okayed by the Compliance Office), provide any pa yment or loan of an automobile, or provide awards or gifts to the student-athlete (or his family or friends) for his athletic per piddleance, unless it has been ap ascendd by the athletic department and it meets NCAA award requirements (Razorback 2). The Reggie scrubbing grunge led to many sanctions against his college, the University of Southern California.The sanctions that went directly against Bush were that he must be disassociated from USC athletics and all of the statistics acquired by Bush in games where the NCAA deemed Bush ineligible due to rules violations were vacated. USC similarly inherited sanctions due to this scandal. They are banned from postseason play after the 2010 and 2011 seasons, omit 30 total scholarships over the 2011-2013 seasons, and they are on four geezerhood of probation with the NCAA.Also, all of USCs victories from December of 2004 until the end of the 2005 season (including USCs National Championship win over Oklahoma) and must vacate all titles , trophies, and banners won during the games where Bush was deemed ineligible by the NCAA (Robinson and Cole 2). The one thing that the NCAA has no control over through their sanctions is the BCS bowl games or in the Heisman voting. The NCAA has no jurisdiction over the 2004 BCS trophy or Bushs 2005 Heisman Trophy. The finishs to pip these trophies are up to the BCS and the Heisman Trust, respectively (Robinson and Cole 4).The NCAA has forced a school to vacate a national championship cardinal quantify, although none of those times were in major sports (Wetzel, BCS 2). The fear has always been that by vacating a national championship, the NCAA would be telling the American public that the season it just witnessed was a fraud. but the same thing applies when clear standards arent held, when the kids who didnt take are played a fool, Dan Wetzel writes (Wetzel, Take 2). This quote speaks truth, in that the NCAA not only has a responsibility to pleasing its fans, but also to keepin g the game fair for all. impertinent age, a sports agency ounded with the design of building clientele around Reggie Bush, was created on November 23, 2005 (Timeline 15). The idea of brisk Era Sports was allegedly thought up by LaMar Griffin, Bushs stepfather. In kinsfolk of 2004, Griffin allegedly approached Lloyd Lake about creating the agency (Timeline 1). A calendar month later, Griffin and Lake approach Michael Michaels, a member of the Sycuan Indian tribe, about creating new-sprung(prenominal) Era Sports and Entertainment (Timeline 2). Now that Lake and Michaels had agreed to make this agency with Griffin, the terzetto decided to bring the idea to the Sycuan Indian tribe, to form a federation with them in clean Era.The Sycuan Indian tribe denies the offer, however, and the group is go forth to form this agency on their own (Timeline 13). The scandal between Bush and New Era would soon begin. There are many occurrences that make Bush look guilty. On March 4, 2005, Bus h went to Marshall Faulks (St. Louis Rams running back) birthday party in San Diego. Bush stayed in a cortege at the Manchester Grand Hyatt for two days. The expenses of $1574. 86 were covered using Michaels denotation card (Timeline 5). Six days later, Bush stayed at the Venetian retrogress and Casino in Las Vegas for two days. The cost was $623. 3, which was all paid for on Michaels credit card (Timeline 6). In the spring of 2005, New Era gave Bush almost $13000 to purchase a black-on-black 1996 Chevy Impala SS in Los Angeles (Timeline 9). During September of 2005, Lake and Michaels visited Bush in the USC locker room after a football game. This would be the first of at least two locker room visits by New Era (Timeline 11). All of this information points to Reggie Bush as being guilty. However, there are also things that make Bush take care innocent. Bushs stepfather, LaMar Griffin, went out and made New Era to be centralize around Bush.New Era, which is alleged to have given up to one hundred potassium dollars in cash and girts to bush and his family illegally (Key 2). When the kind between Bush and New Era ended in December of 2005, New Era fizzled out (Timeline 19). Both Lloyd Lake and Michael Michaels are suing the Bush family for the benefits and for the slosheds failure (Key 3). In November of 2004, the Griffins used Bushs rising signing with the firm as leverage to gain illegal benefits. They were able to have Michaels pay off twenty-eight thousand dollars in debt for the Griffins (Timeline 3).These facts are leading to LaMar Griffin abusing his stepsons talent and value to gain these illegal benefits. It makes Bush look like the victim, not the culprit. On March 29, 2005, Michael Michaels purchased a beautiful three thousand and two square foot hearth in Spring vale, California, about thirteen miles east of San Diego. It cost Michaels seven hundred and fifty-seven thousand dollars (Timeline 7). The office was located at the deferral of A pple Street and Luther Avenue. It was built in the late 2004s and primaeval 2005s (Robinson 2).In April of 2005, Bushs family was having financial troubles with their residence. Michaels allowed them to move into the Spring Valley home he had purchased just a month earlier (Timeline 8). afterward a few months, Bushs family is unable to keep up on their payments for the home. They tell Michaels that they will pay using their share of the clams New Era will make once Bush declares for the NFL drawing off and is able to sign with the firm (Timeline 10). Finally, almost a whole course of instruction after they moved in, Bushs family received an eviction scar from New Era, requiring them to leave the home (Timeline 27).Information that linked the Spring Valley home to Michael Michaels began to arise. On April 20, 2006, Denise Griffin, Bushs mother, was approached about this connection, but she refused to gossipmonger. Not even twenty-four hours later, the Griffins abruptly move ou t and take with them twelve thousand dollars in home furnishings provided by Michaels. The University of Southern California then asked the Pac-10 to enquire the Spring Valley home and its ties to Bush and New Era (Timeline 29). After this scandal, it reckoned Bush was definitely guilty, but Bush did not receive any benefits from the Spring Valley home.The Griffins received all of the illegal benefits which make it seem like Bush is not at fault in this contingent situation. Soon after, Bush would begin his career in the NFL. On January 12, 2006, Reggie Bush declared for the NFL Draft (Timeline 22). Later that month, Bush hired Mike Ornstein to be his marketing representative and Joel Segal to negotiate his NFL contract (Timeline 23). On April 24, 2006, the NCAA joined the investigation of Reggie Bush and New Era. Later that day, Houston Texans general manager Charles Casserly called Bush and remaining him a voicemail.Casserly asked for Bush to explain the Spring Valley home and its ties to him, his family, and New Era (Timeline 30). The next day, Casserly calls Bush again. Bush answered the phone, but was about to get onto a plane so he could not continue the conference further. Bush says he will call Casserly when he arrives in northwest Carolina (Timeline 31). A day later, Bush called Casserly back, but did not get into specifics about the Spring Valley home. Bush only tells Casserly, It will be taken care of in a couple of days, (Timeline 32). David Cornwell, Bushs attorney, turns over evidence of an extortion plot by New Era against Reggie Bush.Bush go on to revoke knowledge of any ties between the Spring Valley home, his family, and New Era. Also on April 28, 2006, The Houston Texans pass on Bush with the number one overall draft pick. Instead, they choose defensive end Marion Williams from North Carolina State. Casserly says that Bushs refusal to discuss the Spring Valley home controversy did play a role in their decision to not select him in t he NFL Draft (Timeline 33). Mike Ornstein, who was hired in January of 2006 by Bush to be his marketing representative, was involved in yet another scandal meet Reggie Bush (Timeline 23).The relationship between Bush and Ornstein began in the summer of 2005 when Bush was an intern for Ornstein as a Reebok consultant (Timeline 10). Ornstein is alleged to have also given Bush illegal benefits (Key 6). The scandal began when Ornstein started working for clients and not freehand CWC Sports, where he was employed, a cut. The head of CWC Sports, Lee Pfiefer, is in the midst of suing Ornstein for offend of contract of the partnership in CWC Sports. He is attempting to get half of the get Ornstein gained form the stolen clientele, including Reggie Bush (Key 9).James Fritz, another employee of CWC Sports, used his credit card to pay for the travel of Bushs family to Oakland. He still works for Ornstein and refuses to comment on the allegations against him and Ornstein (Key 10). Once Orns tein became an adviser to the Bush family in interviewing prospective agents, the scandal started to be seen by the media (Timeline 14). On December 29, 2005, Ornstein requested a $500000 put on on a memorabilia contract that New Jersey sports memorabilia dealer cork DeMartino had proposed for Bush (Timeline 20).Most of this information leads one to believe Bush is guilty. However, it is not recognised that Bush still has not received any direct benefits form Ornstein. All of the benefits went to the Griffins. The main argument that defends Reggie Bush has to deal with his stepfather, LaMar Griffin. LaMar is alleged to have started the idea to make the firm New Era Sports and Entertainment, and to have it centralized around Bush. He is also alleged to have used Bushs future potential to gain illegal benefits. The courts, however, have left the issue of whether the llegations against him are true and they are targeting all of the lawsuits against the entire Bush family, including L aMar Griffin and Reggie Bush (Key 5).On December 10, 2005, Mike Ornstein bought suits for LaMar Griffin and Reggie Bushs brother. Ornstein also buys Denise Griffin, Bushs mother, a makeover and purchases a limo for the three of them (Timeline 16). The most incriminating piece of evidence against LaMar Griffin was discovered on December 12, 2005. LaMar Griffin showed a New Era brochure to a reporter form the San Diego Union-Tribune. New Era is a new friendship opening- they sent me a brochure, theyre here in San Diego claimed Griffin (Timeline 17). LaMar Griffin promoted New Era and did not say that he had any connections with the firm. In fact, he acts surprised by the firms opening and encourages all to invest in it. He is attempting to fool the American public into championship a firm that he uses to gain benefits by abusing his stepsons future potential. This makes LaMar Griffin the primary suspect in the Reggie Bush scandals, instead of Reggie Bush himself. Reggie Bush has end ured many allegations and lawsuits against him. Through all of these, however, he has remained positive and strong.He continues, to this day, to deny all of the allegations against him (Key 1). Bushs attorney, David Cornwell, still represents Bush and also claims that Bush was neer involved in any of these allegations (Key 8). In early February of 2006, Bush attempted to settle with Michael Michaels. Cornwell, on behalf of Bush, offered Michaels a $100000 small town. Michaels, though, decides to deny the settlement and pursue the case against Bush further (Timeline 25). On February 13, 2006, as a rebuttal to Bushs settlement offer, Michael Michaels offers Bush a settlement.Brian Watkins, on behalf of Michaels, offers Bush a $3200000 settlement (Timeline 26). Reggie Bush is not to blame for the allegations against him and, as a result, the sanctions against USC. Instead, his step-father, LaMar Griffin, is at fault in this situation. Griffin abused Reggie Bushs future potential in o rder to gain illegal benefits. Bush was used as a scape-goat by Griffin and is now being falsely punished. Griffin should incur all of these punishments, not Bush. However, the real damage to Bush is his loss of proper standing in societys view, which cannot be fully recovered even if he is found innocent.In conclusion, Reggie Bush is not at fault in the scandal touch him. LaMar Griffin used Bush for his own selfish purposes and is letting Bush take the fall for it. Bush may be able to prove that he is innocent of these crimes. He may be able to not incur these large punishments for such heinous crimes. One thing he cannot change, though, is how the American public now vies him. At one time, Reggie Bush was a household name. He was known for his blazing speed and electrifying throw in returns. Now, Reggie Bush is still a household name, but not for the same reasons.Now his name is covered in scandal and controversy. He may never be able to return to being on the publics good side. That, out of anything, is the biggest shame that a college student-athletes own family would use them for selfish gain that could jeopardize his career. Bush, however, is on his way to recovering his image. He was quoted to say about the Heisman Trophy, 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 (Lamport-Stokes 3).Some say that this statement proves Bush is guilty and that he would rather turn himself in than get caught. But another way to look at this is that Reggie Bush has the utmost respect for the Heisman Trophy and all it represents. He would rather forfeit his title than let allegations against him blemish the good name of the award. In that sense, he is the complete other of LaMar Griffin, who used Bush. kit and caboodle Cited Finnegan, Lauren. Reggie Bush Scandal By Far Not the root or Last in Sports- chawbacon News. The Top News Headlines on Current Events from chawbacon News- Yahoo News. 8 Sept. 2010. Web. 9 Sept. 2010. <http//news. yahoo. com/s/ac/20100908/cm_ac/6748812_reggie_bush_scandal_by_far_not_the_first_or_last_in_ sports>. Gray, Madison. USC Trojans Get Black Eye Over Reggie Bush Scandal- clock time NewsFeed. TIME NewsFeed- Breaking News and Updates. Web. 19 Sept. 2010. <http//newsfeed. time. com/2010/06/10/usc-trojans-get-black-eye-over-reggie-bush-scandal/>. The Key Figures- Reggie Bush Investigation- Yahoo Sports. College Sports- Rivals. com. 14 Sept. 2010. Web. 19 Sept. 2010. <http//rivals. yahoo. com/ncaa/football/news? slog=ys-bush_cast>. Lamport-Stokes, Mark. Reggie Bush to drop by the wayside Heisman Trophy- Yahoo News. The Top News Headlines on Current Events from Yahoo News- Yahoo News. Ed. Justin Palmer. 14 Sept. 2010. Web. 19 Sept. 2010. <http//news. yahoo. com/s/nm/us_nfl_bush_heisman>. Razorback Foundation/ Booster Guide to NCAA Rules. Razo rback Foundation/ Main Page. Web. 19 Sept. 2010. <http//www. razorbackfoundation. com/ncaa. htm>. Robinson, Charles and Jason Cole. USC Hit rocky by NCAA Sanctions- College Football- Rivals. com. College Sports- Rivals. com. 10 June 2010. Web. 19 Sept. 2010. <http//rivals. yahoo. om/ncaa/football/news? slug=ys-uscpenalties061010>. Works Cited Robinson, Charles. Yahoo Sports Report Reggie Bushs Family Home- Yahoo Sports. Yahoo Sports- Sports News, Scores, Rumors, conjuring trick Games, and More. 23 Apr. 2010. Web. 19 Sept. 2010. <http//sports. yahoo. com/nfl/news? slug=cr-bush042306>. The Timeline- Reggie Bush Investigation- Yahoo Sports. College Sports Rivals. com. 14 Sept. 2010. Web. 19 Sept. 2010. <http//rivals. yahoo. com/ncaa/football/news? slug=ys-bush_timeline>. Wetzel, Dan. BCS Officials Ineligible Bush Could dethrone USC- College Football- Rivals. om College Sports Rivals. com. 28 Apr. 2006. Web. 19 Sept. 2010. <http//rivals. yahoo. com/ncaa/football/n ews? slug=dw-bush042806>. Wetzel, Dan. Take endorse the Title- Reggie Bush Investigation- Yahoo Sports. College Sports Rivals. com. 14 Sept. 2010. Web. 19 Sept. 2010. <http//rivals. yahoo. com/ncaa/football/news? slug=dw-bush_usc>. Why Student-Athletes Are Not Paid to Play- NCAA. org. Public Home Page- NCAA. org. Web. 19 Sept. 2010. <http//www. ncaa. org/wps/wcm/connect/public/ncaa/issues/why student-athletes are not paid to play>.