What, you thought that, just because Reggie Bush stripped himself of the Heisman on Tuesday and the trust vacated the ’05 award Wednesday, this thing was over?
Not by a long shot. Especially not if Bush keeps opening his mouth and .
Speaking today following a New Orleans Saints practice, Bush warned people not to read into his decision to give the Heisman back.
“It’s definitely not an admission of guilt. It’s me showing respect to the Heisman Trophy itself and to the people who came before me and the people coming after,” Bush said according to the Associated Press.
“I just felt like it was the best thing to do, the most respectful thing to do because obviously I do respect the Heisman, I do respect all the things it stands for. I felt just to kind of silence all the talk around it, all the negativity around it. I felt like this would be the best decision to do right now so I could focus.”
Yes, saying that the decision was not an admission of guilt will silence all of the talk around it. Brilliant. You can’t teach that kind of genius; that’s an innate skill-set you’re born with.
The NCAA has found Bush and/or family members received in the neighborhood of $300,000 in cash and prizes from would-be sports marketers while a member of the USC football program. In their appeal of sanctions to the NCAA, USC has acknowledged improprieties involving Bush.
And yet, Bush simply can’t pull the trigger on an admission and apology. Amazing.
While this is a country that loves to tear its heroes down, it’s also one that’s a sucker for the full disclosure of most acts of stupidity and an “I’m sorry” for said acts. Admit what the mountain of evidence has revealed, apologize for the fact that what you did five years ago is affecting and will continue to affect your supposedly beloved football program, and then move on.
It really is that simple, although it may come with a bit of short-term embarrassment. The current tack Bush has decided to take, though, is keeping alive a story that could’ve been in the backs of everyone’s minds a long, long time ago.
And will continue to be a long-term embarrassment to an on-field collegiate legacy that was truly remarkable.