First glance at the dreaded "Bush Book"

UPDATE: For those coming here by a direct-link, a second, more thorough review is available by clicking here.

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I just picked up my mail and found a review copy of the new book on Reggie Bush.

It doesn't look good.

The jacket cover claims point-blank, "With the explosive information revealed in Tarnished Heisman, Bush stands to be ruled ineligible -- a decision that could cost his alma mater the 2004 national championship title, force the forfeit of every game Bush played in after losing his eligibility, and potentially strip Reggie Bush of the shining prize of his college career: the Heisman Trophy."

Of course, that's to hype the book and create sales. Notice the phrasing "stands to." What does that really mean? We know the NCAA investigation has been underway for a while. Now we get to see some of the evidence that they're weighing.

I get the impression that there's limited original research in "Tarnished Heisman." I've just started reading, so I could be wrong on that part. My quick-glance found that the author never got a response from Bush, his family, USC or the NCAA. A lot is based on an accumulation of third-party research (all from reliable sources such as newspapers). Then there are the people like Lloyd Lake, who is currently suing Bush. He was cooperative but had to be compensated for tape recordings that he provided.

Back on the negative side for USC fans, the book's accounting says $47,000 went directly to Bush out of the overall $291,000 that went to his family. That makes it hard to deny he knew what was going on. While the photo section lacks any photocopied receipts, bank statements, or otherwise, the Author's Note says that a website will publish much of it. As of this blog post the site (www.tarnishedheisman.com) has not gone live. According to a "WhoIs" search, it's reserved under the name of a company run by the book's author, Don Yaeger. It's going to be tough to doubt the validity of something from Yaeger (a former associate editor and an investigative reporter for Sports Illustrated) and publisher Pocket Books (a division of Simon & Schuster). Expect the hard evidence's release to coincide with the book's on Jan. 15.

Adding to the situation's shady factor are a pair of references to characters guaranteed to make the Trojan nation uneasy ... memorabilia dealers and Suge Knight.

Bush has gotten himself out of some tough spots in the past, but this is a whole new ballgame. Instead of quietly refuting things and replicating his on-field elusiveness, maybe he could pull a Roger Clemens.

More to come as I get through the book, confirm what's "embargoed" with the publisher, and line up some Q&A with the author. Drop a comment or e-mail me if you have any questions you'd like me to ask.

Click here to vote in the Reggie Bush poll.

Comments

[Steve]

Here are a few "if"'s
If Bush took the payments he should be held accountable.
If USC kenw he took the payments they should be held accountable.
If Bush took the money and USC did not know then USC should not be accountable.
If the NCAA detrmines Bush took the money and USC did not know but still applies sanctons to USC then USC should take Bush to court to recover the loses.
College football is a big time business. Athletes are rewarded by a "free" education at a Univeristy. Yes the Univeristy is making money off them, but they know the deal when when they sign on the dotted line. The Univeristiy cannot supervise each and every "student/Athlete", their familes and freinds 24 hours a day for 4 years. The "Student/Athelete" and their familes need to be held accountable for thier greed.
Last if, If the Univeristy kenw then sancations are apportiate and USC will have to pay the piper.
I am a full USC supporter of the University and ALL it's programs.

[VenturaBruin]

If I were a recruit, I'd DE-COMMIT asap. Usc will face NCAA sanctions with a probable multi-year bowl ban and lose a few scholies over this, not to mention a possible forfeiture of past games including the National Championship for using an ineligible pro.

Why would a recruit want to walk into that firestorm? Unless maybe they could be paid too!

[Steve]

Ventura Bruin,

Do you have information that the NCAA does not have?
I find your bold statements a little hypocritical with the history of the coach the Bruins just hired.

[Gerrrg]

For the record, Jarrett's case was a secondary infraction, and the NCAA has a repayment schedule for such cases. Also, he had to apply for reinstatement, and he was forced to wait all summer for the Committee to meet and issue its ruling. The NCAA doesn't issue sanctions unless it believes the infraction should be classified as 'major'. Look it up yourself on their website for complete details of every major infraction.

Oklahoma's case was that of a booster, not of an outside interest - Lloyd Lake has never had an interest in USC, just Bush's family tie.

Just wait for the NCAA to complete its review.

[P STONE LOVE]

As for Bush the guy is young and will still be one of the greatest when it's all said and done. He needs to get out of New Orleans thats for sure they don't know how to utilize his talents. The Book is a farce just like Yahoo. Nothing will happen to USC and I know this makes all the haters of SC very angry. Dismantle them on the field thats your only chance to see this dynasty ever fall. A for me and the rest of the west Bush we support you 100%. 213, 323, 310,818,619, 714, etc. We got your back Jungle Love baby boy!

[Gc]

College kids are compensated... its called a Free Education. And at some places its worth 45-50 thousand a year. Look at what minor league ball players make, its laughably close. For all the fixation on the Bush's of the world you have to remember that 95% of those guys aren't going to the big time but they all had the opportunity to get a degree. Just my two cents.

[Friday Nite Scout]

Explain to me why this is any different to The University of Washington's "lack of institutional control" back in the early 90's? Coach Carroll probably had no knowledge of Reggie's situation. And I seem to remember that Coach James also had no knowledge of the $$ being given to one of his players back in the 90s as well. Yet the book was thrown at Washington. I think anyone who believes we will get a slap on the wrist may be fooling themselves.

[fartbert]

We live in a society were CEO's steal, Priests molest, the Prez lies, and college athletics is a big business that uses kids and spits them out. I hope he got paid. Screw the NCAA and spread the wealth. By the way Georgia would destroy USC. Peace

[Emil Calomino]

Assuming this is true and Bush and/or his family took money as long as USC didn't know then the punishment is simple, take away Bush's Heisman Trophy and any records he accumulated during this period. USC should not lose wins or National Titles if they didn't do anything or know anything. Punishing an entire University and 100 other athletes for a rouge acting on his/her own is senseless. Not that the NCAA hasn't been known to do senseless things!

The preceding being said, let's wait until we get all the facts before jumping to conclusion. Also, Pete Carroll with Atlanta could be nothing more than Pete asking for a raise without asking for one if you know what I mean.

[Gary]

My opinion here, being a Bruin that went through the DeShaun SUV days, is that whether the school knew or not, Bush should not have been playing so the school should forfeit the appropriate games. UCLA was undefeated that year until the news broke that Foster was "borrowing" the SUV. Foster was suspended and the season was torpedoed instantly. You could play all kinds of what-if scenarios had he not been suspended, but we'll never know because the consequences hit mid-season.

Had Bush been exposed and punished when it happened, you cannot say that USC would have won a national championship without him. He was to USC what Foster was to UCLA.

[Max]

THIS IS NOT GOOD. Think about how fast that ESPN jumps on these sort of things. The author of this will be on for a few days and there will be a lot of negative energy directed at us.....AND RIGHT BEFORE RECRUITING.

All good things must come to an end. 08 and 09 will be ok, but expect a few bad years after that. but we willl be back.

[Carl Van]

The entire argument that 'athletes make money for the school' is not only flawed, but utterly rediculous. First off, not ONE athlete makes ONE dime for any institution. Period. Not. One. Cent. None. Nada. They don't make money. Now, an athletic department may be part of an athletic conference that may be part of a TV deal that was born from the 1984 NCAA antitrust ruling, and hence, bring in dollars to RE- fund that same exact program to which many particular athletes belong. However, why not just shut the hell up, or liquidate every single benefit these athletes receive, and you will see that it will add up to the salaries well above the national average per capita. You people truly are morons.

[Jon K.]

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

GO BRUINS!

[john]

The NCAA will do what it always does when it's cash cows are found guilty as charged - put Prairie View A&M on probation.

[Kostas Kooky]

I think you need to read the whole book before you start blabbing your mouth with your un-educated opinions. Your opinions seem one sided. Get a life!

[Ted]

Does the book talk at all about possible knowledge of the benefits by the USC staff? Without that, SC won't be punished in any meaningful way.

[VenturaBruin]

Hey Steve,

Colorado was punished and had to forfeit a slew of games, and these were for minor violations (bumping).

Washington lost 5 scholies for violating the "quiet period" rule.

No hyprocritical info here. Please list what violations Neuheisel has committed at Ucla?

Usc and Reggie Bush made their own bed. No lie in it!

If Neuheisel commits any NCAA Violations at Ucla, I'm sure our program will pay for it as well, just as we did with DeShaun Foster's SUV.

The types of violations allegedly committed with Reggie Bush would most likely be MAJOR violations.

[VenturaBruin]

Hey Steve,

Colorado was punished and had to forfeit a slew of games, and these were for minor violations (bumping).

Washington lost 5 scholies for violating the "quiet period" rule.

No hyprocritical info here. Please list what violations Neuheisel has committed at Ucla?

Usc and Reggie Bush made their own bed. No lie in it!

If Neuheisel commits any NCAA Violations at Ucla, I'm sure our program will pay for it as well, just as we did with DeShaun Foster's SUV.

The types of violations allegedly committed with Reggie Bush would most likely be MAJOR violations.

[ccrfan]

My philosophy is this: If Carroll bolts for an NFL head coaching job this year, you can bet the bank that USC will get sanctions. What other reason would Carroll have for leaving with a team loaded with the kind of talent he has right now? Go to the Redskins? No way that Dan Snyder gives PC the control he wants. Falcons? What a nightmare that situation is, not to mention that Arthur Blankenship is not the kind of owner willing to let go of total control. Only reason PC leaves: He knows that SC is getting nailed by the NCAA.

[LA]

fwiw, the NCAA may not be USC's only problem. The PAC-10 itself really hammered UW back in the '90's (TV $ and bowl bans). Claimed they wanted to hold member institutions to a higher standard than the NCAA. And a further problem there is (or at least, was) that the PAC-10 punishments are voted/controlled by...the other PAC-10 schools. Obviously there is a vested interest in sticking it to a dominant rival.

[Scott]

Pete Carroll makes Bill Clinton look honest!

[DwLA5]

So will the NFL ban Bush because he entered the league on false pretences (that he was a bona-fide student-athlete)? Please. The ends (money) justify the means (money) once again in our society. It's just a shame that institutions like universities that should be "above the fray" and stand for a higher set of values are so corrupted. I recall being in Colorado when the highest paid state employees were the football and basketball coaches, far above number three, the head of neurosurgery at the medical school.

[biffbruin]

for those of you being critical of yahoo.com, have you read their articles and subsequent articles in other media? what's criminal is, given the paper trial any decent reporter could have uncovered, only sports writers at yahoo put 2 + 2 together (we're talking about you, l.a. times)

it's only a matter of time before all the benefits the bush family received become public. reggie bush will be ruled ineligible from the date benefits started and all games thereafter and USC would forfeit those games.

if the NCAA determines all this happened without pete carroll or football staff's knowledge then there probably won't be any other sanctions. trojans would probably still have the AP crown. however, it's likely SC's record would come with an asterisk affixed, explaining the all the wins were forfeit. kinda like all the baseball records once they figure out this steriod mess.

dominating football team but, as they displayed at the rose bowl, without class or dignity. and, as will disclosed shortly, cheaters too. what a surprise.

p.s. also mr. bush will come under scrutiny by the heisman committee and perhaps be first winner to have that honor revoked. nice football legacy trojans, you guys own the record book . .

[Rhymeister]

RB should look deep inside himself and wonder if karma isn't paying him back like a mofo.com cause he's having a tough time of it right now and his career is going straight to Nowheresville.

He should fess up, cause convering it up isn't going to help his beloved alma mater once he's cold busted, the NCAA should come down hard on USC for not being cooperative but I somehow doubt the media darlings that they are will. at the very lease he should be banned from watching games from USC's sidelines until this is done!

This is a lesson for other major programs, best not to, à la Oklahoma, volunteer info on player indiscretions when it comes to receiving booster money and the like.

[Don Highley]

I would not only like to see the NCAA get to "the bottom" of these allegations but also see the FBI look into bribery, coercion, and slander charges against the wannabe sports agents who allegedly fronted the money.