Reggie Bush Gives Up Heisman

Say it ain't so Reggie! Per this report seen on espn.com, former USC and current New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush has decided to give up the prestigious Heisman trophy he won for his on field performance back in 2005. This coming after the NCAA hit USC with sanctions for improper benefits Bush received as a student athlete during his time at the university.

After reading his statement that was released by the Saints organization, I can say that Bush handled the situation with as much class as can be expected. But let that be me in the same situation, and there is no way I am conceding an award that I earned with hard work and my exploits on the football field week in and week out. And if runner-up Vince Young puts on a publicity-laden campaign for the trophy I will lose what little respect I have left for the BCS/Heisman joke of committees.

USC athletics has had a tough last couple of months...

-ALR

Los That Links 9-7-10 and 9-8-10 (REMIX)

Everyone loves an underdog, but is that love unconditional?

Case in point, Boise State. Remember when that little school from Idaho that took on the vaunted Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl back in 2007? The 43-42 overtime win that was capped off with a hook and ladder play, tying the game w/ seven seconds left. In OT, a fourth-and-2 TD pass from a reciever, then the Statue of Liberty two-point conversion where the light-skinned kid ran into the crowd and propsed to his cheerleader girlfriend. Great game, great story, the end...not really.

See, in the movies, the credits roll, the Celine Dion music plays, and the paying audience walks out of the theater satisfied. But in real life, Cinderella, doesn't just marry Prince Charming. She moves into the castle, orders servants around, nags the Prince about having babies and why he's always away, and only dresses in the rarest of fine silk.

She doesn't move back into the evil step-mother's house, and start the process over again.

But in college football, that's exactly what Cinderella has to do. The Boise State's of the world go back to zero, only this time, newer obstacles are placed in their way to prevent them from making it to the Royal Ball. Powerful teams with a Natl Champ shot won't schedule them. Pollsters make it more of a point to accentuate just how weak of a conference they actually come from. Any stumble they have along the way is treated as a nail in the coffin to any idea of considering them as best in the country.

Call it the consequence of raising people's expectations. Fast-forwad from 2007 to last night, and we have a pre-season No. 5 ranked Boise State defeating No. 10 Virginia Tech in a nail-biter, yet possibly losing at the same time. Boise State is no longer sneaking up on anybody, and for that, they must pay! Va Tech is the toughest school on Boise State's schedule, from a BCS conference (Big East), and the Bulldogs traveled to a Hokie-friendly environment to play, yet because of the final score, and remaining schedule, there is a real likelihood that another undefeated season will result in no National Championship for Boise.

Cinderella will return to her evil step-mother's house after a one night stand with Prince Charming, and she will have to complete her chores, again.

Is there a solution to this problem? Aside from a playoff, no. (And don't worry, I'm not campaigning for a playoff system in college football for the same reason I won't campaign for more money to be spent on education: it makes too much sense, and will solve too many issues to actually happen.)

Oh well, NFL starts Thursday night.

Los That Links

- Reggie Bush will have to give up his Heisman. And with that, college athletes will never be offered money under the table again.

- Would you rather watch an NFL game at the stadium, or at home. (Either way, prepare to pay up.)

- Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco will have a TV show together. Oh, you'll watch.

- Jay Mariotti can breathe a tad bit easier.

- In college football, there are "pimps", and there are "get pimped". If you aren't sure which one you are, you're "get pimped. Exhibit A: Georgia wideout A.J. Green.

Talk Like A 'Mack'

Another story I saw on ESPN... apparently Texas U. head football coach Mack Brown believes that if Reggie Bush gives up his Heisman from '05, it should go to runner-up Vince Young. Here's some background info; Bush recently has taken some heat from improper benefits he received while a member of USC's power house of a college football program. After a outstanding 2005 campaign Bush was awarded the prestigious Heisman Trophy.

Here's my take; Mack Brown needs to silence that nonsense. Everyone knows D-1 college athletes get some kind of compensation besides scholarships (it's just a matter of if or when they get caught). After Vince Young went pro, the man could barely put together a proper sentence like any student of a top college should be able to. You can't convince me that he didn't get "special benefits". Colleges and the NCAA make millions of dollars a year off of these players while they are in school with ticket sales, jerseys and other various merchandise. Shouldn't these players be allowed to make a living off their exploits? And furthermore, Reggie Bush was awarded the Heisman based on his on the field accomplishments that season, and whether or not he got a little something on the side shouldn't be the issue, right?

Mack Brown's words sounds like those of a bitter coach whose program hasn't produced a Heisman winner since Ricky Williams in 1998. You would think beating USC & Reggie Bush in that great championship game would have been enough. I guess not..

-ALR

Los That Links 8-26-10

No delay today. Let's get right to the links.

- Hide ya kids, hide ya wife! J.R. Smith is choking e'rbody! (www.yahoo.com)

- Rumor has it that Shaq is engaged to "Flavor of Love's" Hoopz. Signs it might be time to retire No. 194: proposing to Flava Flav's sloppy seconds. (www.yahoo.com)

- On a lighter note, how about a little suicide cover-up? (espn.go.com)

- Hey Doc, Ron Artest says stop yer b-tchin'. (www.slamonline.com)

- Elin says she didn't beat Tiger with a golf club. Straight face, and everything. (www.blackportsonline.com)

- Meanwhile, Tiger appears to have gotten his groove back just hours after finalizing his divorce.

- New USC Athletic Director, Pat Haden, says that if Reggie Bush had his soul, he'd return the Heisman. I say, yeah, but what do you need with a Heisman when you have the power to take other people's souls?

- The internet was created for the Chicago White Sox organization, family members, and friends, to take shots publicly at each other for our amusement. (sportsillustrated.cnn.com)