SUD of the Week: A Little Taste of the Good Life Can’t Hurt, right Reggie?

 6 years ago Reggie Bush was one of the best college athletes in the country. After being raised by his prison deputy sheriff mom and high school security guard stepfather, Reggie was poised to get a taste of the good life. In fact, he had two marketing agents jocking him, one of whom wanted to build an empire around him, the other who is currently Reggie’s agent. So they flew his broke-ass mom and step-pops to Oakland for a USC game. Lent them nice suits to wear to his Heisman ceremony. Gave them a nice house to stay in rent free for a little. Helped him get a fly ride. None of that is money coming from pro teams, from sponsors, from boosters. No USC alum talent agent buying him a new Benz.

Now, with Reggie Bush already on his second pro team, USC, arguably the best team in America, is stuck on the sidelines while UCLA’s pathetic squad (they lost to USC 50-0 – fifty to nothing!) playing Oregon in BCS post-season. They also lost 10 scholarships for the next few years. This helped clinch the end of Carroll’s tenure at the school whose football program he elevated to the top. And might be one of the reasons for Barkley leaving early to go pro (though surely not the only reason).

So the point is this: until somebody calls out colleges for atavistic rules that do nothing but hurt the kids who pour out sweat and blood and bring millions of dollars to schools (see South Park), TAKE NOTHING. Reggie may lose his Heisman, his college championship, and any chance to join the prestigious college hall of fame because he felt it was okay to receive some money from future business partners his last year before going pro.

- Ryan