Take back Bush's Heisman? Then take back all of this!


For some reason when a 21-year-old college athlete breaks a rule it's the equivalent of someone
pillaging a village. We older folks in our 30s, 40s and 50s . . . the A-Rods, the Pete Carrolls, and
the Lawrence Taylors are not held to the same standards. 
 
The NCAA has decided to strip Reggie Bush of his Heisman Trophy for "multiple violations by
accepting cash, gifts and other impermissible benefits while playing for the Trojans."  USC has
already been reprimanded and stripped of their National Championship, banned to participate
in bowl games for 2 years, and had dozens of scholarships taken away.
 
Let's be clear: Bush was wrong. His indisgressions totaled over $100,00 in benefits. Because of
it he should have been ineligible to play, but it wasn't uncovered and he did play. In fact he
played well enough to win the Heisman and help bring USC another championship. What he did
off the field did not benefit him one iota on the field. Although Pete Carroll was the head coach
and was in the muck of all what was going on, he was allowed to escape to the NFL without a
trace of guilt from the NCAA. He's a coach for God's sake!  And the NCAA thinks coaches walk
between the rain drops. 
 
If you're going to strip Reggie Bush of the Heisman then what about older athletes who absolutely
should have known better . . .
 
* Take away Lawrence Taylors 10 Pro Bowls, his MVP award and the Giants 2 Super Bowls, and
his HOF ring . . . since he admitted to using illegal drugs (cocaine in particular) his entire career
 
* Take away the 156 home runs A-Rod hit during a 3-year period from 2001-2003 with the
Rangers when he used steroids; by some coincidence, A-Rod led the AL in HRs each of those 3
years and was named AL MVP one of them -- oh yeah, and after those 3 amazing seasons he
got his big fat contract with the Yankees!
 
* Take away the Raiders Super Bowl XVIII victory over the Redskins since Lyle Alzado admitted
to taking steroids
 
* Take away Doc Ellis's 1970 No Hitter, since he admitted he was on LSD -- another illegal drug

 
There are many more, but really -- the NCAA is going to strip Bush of his Heisman because his
parents benefitted from staying in a nice home and he accepted cash, etc.
 
How about make Bush pay back the $100K . . . or better yet, donate it to the Gulf Relief effort.
 
Or maybe, if the NCAA is so bent on continuing to treat college athletes like criminals, they could
auction of Bush's Heisman and donate the money to Cancer research or something noble?
 
What do you say, NCAA?

 

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