Free Republic

A former business associate of the failed marketing agency that attempted to secure Reggie Bush as a client told Yahoo! Sports he spoke directly to Bush about the company's business plan before the running back completed his junior season at the University of Southern California. Such an action would have violated NCAA rules and is the latest in a series of facts uncovered in a Yahoo! Sports investigation that indicate Bush and his family had an improper relationship with New Era Sports & Entertainment. Ben Delanoy, now CEO of Next Level Sports Marketing, said Bush indicated he would be part...

Saints running back Reggie Bush was a guest of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the White House Correspondent's Association Dinner Saturday, the big event at which celebrities mingle with Washington insiders. Bush seems like such a smart, likeable guy that I could see him getting into politics some day. But he tried to stay neutral politically when asked about the situation in New Orleans.

Tale of the tapes? By Jason Cole and Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports January 24, 2007 SAN DIEGO – A federal investigation into extortion claims by New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush and his family has revealed the existence of taped conversations that could confirm Bush took cash and gifts while he was playing football for the University of Southern California. Lloyd Lake, an investor in a failed sports marketing agency which attempted to launch with Bush as its first client, is the subject of a grand jury probe into the extortion claims. The agency – called New Era Sports...

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Eagles prepared for Reggie Bush by practicing against Brian Westbrook. Just in time for Sunday's game against New Orleans, Westbrook took part in practices this week. The versatile running back hadn't been on the field much the past month except for games because of a lingering knee injury. Bush, the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft, already has drawn comparisons to Westbrook because he's a multiple threat as a runner, receiver and returner. "The biggest problem with Reggie is the matchup problems of making sure we don't have any mismatches," Eagles defensive coordinator Jim...

With a few waves, Bush beckoned the crowd to its feet as he awaited a critical point. Soon, he would have all of them in ecstasy.

We'll probably never know the real story . . .

A ESPN poll asks what punishment, if any, Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush should incur for having been paid during his college career.The results so far look strangely familiar: (The gray areas represent states where the vote was too close to make a call.)It's beginning to look more and more like the US is comprised of two different countries.One that believes in playing by the rules, and one that doesn't.

Today In New Orleans, President Bush Discussed The Lessons Our Nation Has Learned Since Katrina, The Work That Has Been Done, And The Many Challenges That Still Lie Ahead. One year ago today, Southeast Louisiana was struck by a cruel hurricane and flooding on a massive scale. The President has returned to New Orleans to reiterate his commitment and to report what the Federal government is doing to make good on its promises. However, the one-year anniversary is not the finish line, and many challenges still remain. Source: WhiteHouse.gov Enjoy your Tuesday visit to Sanity Island

No. 2 overall pick and Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush not only appears headed for a holdout with the New Orleans Saints, a league source said Bush is toying with the idea of sitting out the entire season and going back in the draft in 2007 if he doesn't get his price. "No player has ever had the kind of leverage that Reggie Bush has right now," the source said. "The Saints made it clear what they were willing to do before and now we'll see if they're going to get there." It seems unlikely the Saints will do...

Fans quick to tee off on signing of N.C. State end On the surface, Houston sports fans reacted calmly Friday night to the Texans' decision to pass up Reggie Bush and Vince Young to select North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams with the first selection in today's NFL draft.Sports bars across the city were crowded, but orderly. No one was playing demolition derby in the parking lots. Nobody was torching Texans merchandise on the grill. Nobody was scraping Texans bumper stickers from parked cars.A good number of fans, however, either poured their anger and resentment into their computer terminals...

NEW YORK (AP) -- The parents of Southern California football star Reggie Bush received $100,000 in cash from investors in a sports marketing company that hoped to sign the running back, an attorney for the investors said in a letter obtained by The San Diego Union-Tribune. Attorney Brian Watkins told the newspaper on Friday that Bush's parents, LaMar and Denise Griffin, asked for the money partly to resolve financial problems. Watkins said the money included an initial payment of about $30,000 to help start up the New Era Sports and Entertainment agency.

NEW YORK – Assertions by Michael Michaels – the lead investor in a doomed sports agency and the owner of a Spring Valley, Calif., home occupied by the family of Reggie Bush – could cost the University of Southern California its 2004 Bowl Championship Series national championship. BCS officials told Yahoo! Sports on Friday that if Bush is ruled ineligible by either the Pacific 10 Conference or the NCAA for even one game during the 2004 season, the BCS will discuss amending its rules to allow it to force the Trojans to vacate the national championship. "This is the type...

The NFL draft begins in less than 30 minutes. The Texans shocked the experts by signing Mario Williams to a $54 million deal before the draft. Tennessee is now the focus of speculation. Take Reggie Bush or trade down a few spots for a boatload of picks. Let the games begin.

NEW YORK -- In a stunning move that will reverberate through the first round of Saturday's NFL draft, the Texans have signed North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams to a contract, meaning he'll be the first player selected. The contract is for five years with an option year at a total of almost $54 million, with almost $26.5 million guaranteed. Williams' agent, Ben Dogra, didn't become seriously involved in negotiations until Wednesday night when he was convinced the Texans weren't using his client as leverage against Bush. Dogra, who also represents Longhorns' cornerback Michael Huff, exchanged proposals with vice...

Homeowner alleges Bush family paid no rentBy Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports April 27, 2006 More Robinson: Who will pay for Bush home inquiry? Michael Michaels, who owns the Spring Valley, Calif., home in which Reggie Bush's family lived for nearly a year, said Thursday he will file a $3.2 million lawsuit for fraud against the Bush family Friday to recoup unpaid rent and other finances given to the USC star's family. Michaels' attorney, Brian Watkins, alleged Thursday night that Bush's mother and stepfather, Denise and LaMar Griffin, failed to pay $54,000 in rent for the home that has become the...

The NFL draft is just days away, so Reggie Bush's big payday as the probable No. 1 pick is imminent. But Bush, who left Southern Cal to turn pro after his junior season, doesn't think he should have had to wait this long to be able to fatten his wallet. "I think [collegiate] athletes should get paid," Bush told ESPN.com recently. "Maybe not as much as NFL players, but they have to get something more than they get now." Bush is well aware that he was worth a lot of money to USC, though it's not clear exactly how much...

SPRING VALLEY, Calif. – In this sprawling hilltop community with a breathtaking view of Sweetwater Lake, it was no secret who lived in the 3,000-square-foot house at the corner of Apple Street and Luther Avenue. That home, residents would tell you, was where Reggie Bush's family lived. That is, until this weekend, when the family abruptly packed up and vacated the residence – less than 24 hours after Yahoo! Sports approached Bush's mother about information linking the property to Michael Michaels, a man who is alleged to have tried to play a role in steering Bush toward an agent and...

Draftees are up, down and all around By Adam Schefter Special to NFL.com April 17, 2006) -- For the first time, there is legitimate reason to think that USC running back Reggie Bush is not going to be wind up in Houston, the city that currently holds the No. 1 overall pick. This does not come from one source or from one team. This comes from multiple sources, from across the league, without any agenda to push. The mounting evidence includes this: As of Monday, the Texans had not had any contract discussions with Bush and his representatives. None. Yet...

How much trouble is a number worth? Reggie Bush, projected as the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, thinks it's at least worth petitioning the league. "I want to see if I can keep No. 5," Bush told ESPN The Magazine on the set of a Subway commercial he was shooting in Los Angeles. The former USC running back and 2005 Heisman Trophy winner has been wearing that jersey number since high school. NFL rules, however, don't allow for running backs to take that number -- 33 years ago the league adopted a numbering system to make it easier...

Bush turned pro after assurance of No. 1 pick ESPN.com news services Reggie Bush has long been assumed the top pick in the NFL draft, but after Vince Young's performance in the Rose Bowl, the Trojans wanted some assurance before the Heisman Trophy winner agreed to forgo his senior season. USC sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that coach Pete Carroll gave his blessing for Bush to turn pro only after being assured by Texans owner Bob McNair that the running back would be the No. 1 pick in the draft. McNair, however, denies telling Carroll that Bush was a lock...

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 12, 2006) -- Reggie Bush is skipping his senior season at Southern California to enter the NFL draft. The Heisman Trophy winner made the expected announcement Jan. 12, a day after running mate LenDale White made his decision to leave early and turn pro. Bush is expected to be one of the first players taken in the draft -- with many projecting him going to the Houston Texans with the No. 1 pick. The electrifying running back had 1,740 yards rushing and 2,890 all-purpose yards this season for the Trojans, who fell short of an unprecedented third...

Cool, the first OFST of the new year. My only standing resolution was to make no more resolutions and I've already broken it. *shrugs*

The Brainwashing Continues...

He sits beneath the tree this Christmas morning with a bright-red bow and fancy wrapping paper. Go ahead and have a look. Allow yourself to dream.Just don't touch.Amid today's excitement and clutter, this gift will remain unopened for another week. So be patient. USC running back Reggie Bush is worth the wait.Every decade or so, some NFL team has the opportunity to draft a player who instantly changes everything. Bush is one of those players. The Texans may be one of those teams.They're close enough to imagine him in their uniform. They say they haven't gotten that far. Forgive...

NEW YORK (AP) -- Reggie Bush took slow, deliberate steps to the podium -- a gear most people didn't know he had. Then he began his acceptance speech with a huge sigh of relief and a hand over his heart. Bush may have been the only one in the packed room with any doubt about who would win the Heisman Trophy because once again, the sensational Southern California tailback left the competition far, far behind. Bush was voted the nation's best college football player in a landslide Saturday night over Texas quarterback Vince Young and USC quarterback Matt Leinart, last...

NEW YORK - Reggie Bush left the competition far, far behind — as usual. Southern California’s sensational junior tailback won the Heisman Trophy as college football’s best player in a landslide Saturday night, receiving a record 87.9 percent of the first-place votes to best Texas quarterback Vince Young and Trojans signal-caller Matt Leinart, who was aiming for his second straight honor. Flashing uncanny acceleration and ability to change direction, Bush has conjured up memories of Gale Sayers, drawn comparisons to Marshall Faulk, Barry Sanders and Tony Dorsett, and is the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in April’s NFL...

No surprises here.

NEW YORK - From John Cappelletti to Mike Rozier, running backs once walked off with 11 consecutive Heisman Trophies. Recently, though, quarterbacks have been too tough to pass up. The last five Heisman winners have been QBs. Reggie Bush is a good bet to snap that streak Saturday night and become the 41st ball carrier to tuck away college football's most prestigious individual award since Chicago halfback Jay Berwanger won the first in 1935. USC's untouchable tailback is the favorite after capping a brilliant junior season with two breathtaking performances and an outrageous average of 8.9 yards a carry. "That's...

NEW YORK - Finally, a Bush with a chance for a landslide victory.We're not talking George W. and electoral votes, but Southern California tailback Reggie Bush and Heisman Trophy ballots. Based on early returns, Bush could be in position for the biggest landslide in Heisman history — on par with Nixon-McGovern and Reagan-Mondale — when the most famous stiff-arm trophy in college football is presented in a ceremony tonight in Manhattan.The three finalists for the award are Bush, Texas quarterback Vince Young of Madison High School and USC quarterback Matt Leinart, last year's winner.Kari Chisholm, an Oregon political consultant who...

The release of a Trojan that exploits an unpatched IE hole has prompted speculation that Microsoft may release an emergency out-of-cycle security patch. The Delf-DH Trojan downloader uses an Internet Explorer vulnerability to infect unprotected Windows users who stray onto maliciously constructed websites. Delf-DH downloads other malware onto infected machines changing settings in order to monitor user activity and redirect surfers onto porn sites. The attack relies on a flaw in the way IE handles requests to the window() object, highlighted by proof-of-concept code last week and now used in anger by VXers. Even fully patched Windows 2000 and Windows...

Handicapping the Heisman: The road to college football's top award. Heisman Contender of the Week 1. RB Reggie Bush, USC — There is no end to what Bush will do to help his Trojans win. He runs, he catches, he returns kicks….he’ll even push QB Matt Leinart into the end zone if it’ll keep USC unbeaten and atop the polls. As the star of last week’s thriller in South Bend, Bush has ascended like a rocket to the top of many voters’ leaderboards. When Leinart was struggling, it was No. 5 who carried the offense. And when Leinart was struggling...

John W. Heisman, for whom the most famous trophy in American sports is named, never wanted his name associated with the award. Heisman was one of the most accomplished college football coaches of the early 20th century and he abhorred the notion of an individual award in what he considered the ultimate team game. "Is it not meant to exemplify the grandeur of a thousand men?" Heisman told members of the Downtown Athletic Club when they approached him about the award in early 1935. It was a rhetorical question, but Heisman, who spent summers as a Shakespearean actor, knew how...