Kevin P. Chavous: College Readiness Is More Than Academics
I am not sure if Reggie Bush has ever read a word I've written, but after I mentioned last week that I felt Bush should give the Heisman trophy back, I was proud to see that he gave it away. Again, I am not one to say that he gives a you-know-what about anything I might say in public, but I can certainly say that I am proud.
Bush gave the Heisman trophy back this week, after rampant speculation emerged regarding whether he received inappropriate benefits during his time at USC. The speculation was bothersome to me, primarily because Reggie Bush was a human highlight film who earned millions for the NCAA and the university.
The idea that they would even consider taking his Heisman Trophy from him, after he'd given the NCAA so much was nothing short of offensive. If a man earns millions of dollars for you and you get angry because he took a few thousand to give his mother a place to live, then you've clearly got a problem with your own value system.Bush's statement about giving the Heisman back is below:
"One of the greatest honors of my life was winning the Heisman Trophy in 2005. For me, it was a dream come true. But I know that the Heisman is not mine alone. Far from it. I know that my victory was made possible by the discipline and hard work of my teammates, the steady guidance of my coaches, the inspiration of the fans, and the unconditional love of my family and friends. And I know that any young man fortunate enough to win the Heisman enters into a family of sorts. Each individual carries the legacy of the award and each one is entrusted with its good name.
It is for these reasons that I have made the difficult decision to forfeit my title as Heisman winner of 2005. The persistent media speculation regarding allegations dating back to my years at USC has been both painful and distracting. In no way should the storm around these allegations reflect in any way on the dignity of this award, nor on any other institutions or individuals. Nor should it distract from outstanding performances and hard-earned achievements either in the past, present or future.
For the rest of my days, I will continue to strive to demonstrate through my actions and words that I was deserving of the confidence placed in me by the Heisman Trophy Trust. I would like to begin in this effort by turning a negative situation into a positive one by working with the Trustees to establish an educational program which will assist student-athletes and their families avoid some of the mistakes that I made. I am determined to view this event as an opportunity to help others and to advance the values and mission of the Heisman Trophy Trust.
I will forever appreciate the honor bestowed upon me as a winner of the Heisman. While this decision is heart-breaking, I find solace in knowing that the award was made possible by the support and love of so many. Those are gifts that can never be taken away."
I am not sure of the nature of the politics behind the scenes that led to Bush giving the trophy back. I can only say that he did the right thing. The Heisman Trophy doesn't mean much to Bush, given that everyone who saw him on the field knows that he was clearly one of the greatest athletes in college football history. He doesn't need a trophy to tell him that. Way to go, Reggie, you're making one heck of a statement.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (26)
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By: sharkchops on 9/15/2010 11:12AM
Im glad to see that he's doing the right thing and avoiding further controversy. It's just a shame that they made so much out of this when Im 110% positive that there were other Heismann Trophy winners who did the same thing Bush did but will never be punished for it. Sounds more like witch hunt to me.
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By: carla ford on 9/15/2010 12:08PM
sharkchops
Reggie brought this on himself. There's a show called "Outside The Lines" which comes on HBO & features all types of sports news beyond what goes on off the field.
Within the last couple months they featured a story about Bush & the man (a former drug dealer) that gave Bush & his family hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash & gifts with the expectation that Bush would make him his agent once drafted.
It was a win-win for the both of them, the man gets to clean his drug money while Reggie & family reaped the benefits of money they'd never seen before.
Once Reggie made it, he never paid the man back AND didnt make him his agent. I understand him not making him his agent as he was a very bankable athlete that needed an experienced agent to make the best deals for him. However, not paying that man back was low & that's how Reggie got in this predicament-he was put on blast for not paying back over $300,000 he was given prior to being drafted. Reggie thought he would walk off into the sunset without being held accountable for ripping off someone that looked out for him when he was broke.
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By: AmyV on 9/16/2010 9:00PM
The difference is he spoke freely about it. The others did not. We all know it is going on in these colleges. Even though it is against all of their policies. So if you want accept these gifts either turn them down out of morality. Or keep your mouth shut.
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By: bob on 9/15/2010 11:38AM
Boyce did you read what he said about the trophy? Of course he does'nt read your rag. He is not a racist and certainly does'nt require your pride. He states if it were not for his team he would not even recieved the honor. So all your past retoric about paying college athletes was sqashed by bush's comments. So let me say I am proud of him because of that!
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By: Erica on 9/15/2010 1:06PM
You're proud of him? For returning something that should have never been his in the first place? GIVE ME A BREAK. All Bush had to do is 1) follow the rules and not take the money in the beginning or 2) Pay the man back for frontin' the cash in the first place. Reggie Bush deserves to be heckled, not given a free pass. Now I see why he and Kim K. were an item. Neither one of them has any morals or a sense of decency between them.
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By: Blu on 9/16/2010 5:49PM
The man was a drug dealer....are we really so concerned about him not paying a drug dealer? True enough wrong is wrong and he never should have taken the money, but I wonder just how many if given the opportunity to help your family by providing a roof over their heads would have done the exact same thing? Don't try to answer the question now because what you would do when you are rationally thinking about it and what you would do when your back is up against the wall are 9 times out of ten, two totally different things. Besides that accepting the money in no way dimenishes the fact that he is a phenomenal athlete.
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By: SPKALITTLELDRPLS on 9/23/2010 1:46AM
Reggie Bush did the right thing. Someone should be asking why now, why wasn't a portion of the proceeds he generated with those same talents forfeited by the college and at least given to his favorite charity. Be real about the entire situation, if it were you and you had worked hard to earn an accolade and someone decided to take it away....five years later, wouldn't you feel wronged. But, I bet someone like you who can look at a situation, state no facts and judge it and the people involved, in this debate, Reggie Bush and Dr. W. Reggie earned the trophy based on HIS talents and the Dr. writes this colomn because he earned it. The drug dealer should have been dealt with according to the law and it's unfortunate that so many millionairs made better investments (with tax breaks) while Reggie and his family lived at the poverty level. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT...HE EARNED THE TROPHY BASED ON HIS TALENTS, HIS QUALIFICATIONS WERE DETERMINED BASED ON GENERAL REQUIREMENTS, ALL WINNERS REGARDLESS OF TALENT (THEY ALL HAVE EXTREME TALENT) MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS. SO, WHY DOES REGGIE GET CALLED OUT? GOOD JOB REGGIE, LET THE WHITE MAN KNOW THAT IT'S HIS GREEN MONEY THAT ENABLES YOU TO GIVE BACK TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND EARN A COLLEGE DEGREE NOT HIS TROPHIES! THANK YOU DR. FOR THE ARTICLE AND THE KUDOS FOR REGGIE.
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By: jeromequigley on 9/15/2010 2:35PM
Once again Dr W uses his favorite excuses for "People of Color" to break the rules. 1)College players make the school money so they should be paid cold hard cash!(because a good free education is not enough). 2) Other people have most likely done worse (therefore since others have done it, the person Dr W is speaking about shold be able to get away with it also).
Same old tired lines DrW!! You may not like the NCAA rules (tough) as some students may not like it either. But when they except the Free education or just plain joins a NCAA run team, Then you except the rules they lay out for you to follow! If you don't like the rules, then don't sign up!! I like Reggie, I think he is a heck of a player, but he did things that lead to this bitting him in the Butt!! Life is rough for all of us why should I worry about Reggie losing his trophy when day in and day out I see,know, deal with peepz struggling to pay the bills they have????? I am sure Reggie will get over it!!
SIDE NOTE FOR DR W: seeing as how you love to trash the NCAA and how they exploit "black atheletes" (you never seem to really care about their rules unless it effects Blacks, wow that sounds very racist when I read it back), Yet I never see you do JACK about it?? You have your doctrine in Finance right?? So why are you not setting up support groups, relief funds or what ever you seem to think needs to happen, to help the black athelete out?? Why, because you are all wind!! You run your mouth(which btw I don't ever say that you should not, it is your right as an American) about soooo many things that are wrong,Heck you seem to think you have the answers to get Prez Obama on the right track! But you don't do Jack about it! Oh sure you have latched yourself on the Jesse and Al and have become their "YES, MAN"!! You have gone on some walks and rallies (but you may want to look before you leap on those, that Heather Ellis deal, Wow did that blow up in your face) but as far as any real solid actions that directly effect the college athelete, NOTHING!!! Not to say you don't have a right to complain away about these things, because you do. But I just thought it was odd that some one who knows SO MUCH, just sits around complaining but does nothing?? Oh by the way, Pres. Obama surely does not need your help!! That is a He** of a Man!! He knew the BS he was going to get if he got into office, Yet he said "I love my country and the people in it(yes Dr W ALL PEEPZ, not just blacks) and I am willing to go through all that BS to make MY Country and better place!! You need to stick to things you know, Prez Obama does Not need your 2 cents!!!
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By: G REDD on 9/16/2010 9:10PM
THANK YOU ROME, YOU SAID A MOUTHFUL!!!! I AGREE WHOLE HEARTEDLY!!!! BE SAFE, BE WELL AND MAY YOU AND YOURS BE ALWAYS AND FOREVER BLESSED!!!!!
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By: Grammar Checker on 9/18/2010 8:56AM
Sorry, this is my pet peeve. When we choose to criticize others, we must ensure that our spelling and/or grammar is on point - otherwise, the message and the author of said message become laughable.
So for future critiques, criticisms, and op. ed. pieces:
Except is NOT the same thing as accept.
Except is used to denote something that stands out from others, i.e. Dr. W. defends everything black, except for cases relevant to police infringement of basic rights (thinking of Henry Louis Gates).
Accept is used to say that someone took something, i.e. Reggie Bush accepted the Heisman Trophy despite breaking NCAA rules.
Secondly, Dr. W. earned his doctorate, NOT doctrine.
With that said, you may proceed...
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