Bush, Reggie

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Reggie Bush

1985–

Professional football player

Throughout his high school, college, and professional football career, dynamic running back Reggie Bush has brought his energy and talent into play just when his team has needed them the most. Frequently described by the press with words like "electric" and "amazing," Bush has delighted fans with his skillful moves and obvious love of the game. Though he has not achieved record-breaking statistics for yardage gained, Bush has made a powerful contribution to each of his teams, both in winning points and in spirit.

Anchored by Family Values

Reginald Alfred Bush II was born on March 2, 1985, in the southern California city of San Diego. His parents divorced when he was very young and Bush grew up in the San Diego suburb of Spring Valley, with his mother, Denise Griffin, his stepfather, Lamar Griffin, and his half brother Jovan. Though he sometimes felt caught in the middle of tensions between his biological father and mother, Bush was raised in a stable and loving home and considered Lamar Griffin to be his dad.

Reggie was an active and playful child, who did well in school, though his lively spirit often tried the patience of both his teachers and his parents. When he asked permission to join a football team at the age of nine, Denise and Lamar Griffin welcomed the idea as an outlet for their son's boundless energy. He joined a local team in the Pop Warner league, and began to play the game that would become his career. Founded in 1929 in Philadelphia, Pop Warner is a youth football league that promotes safety and sportsmanship by placing strict age and weight limits to minimize injury to young players. In his first Pop Warner game, Reggie Bush not only scored several touchdowns, but also demonstrated an instinctive ability to dodge tackles and carry the ball, skills that would become his trademark as his career progressed.

By the time he attended Helix High School in La Mesa, another San Diego suburb, Bush excelled in both football and track. At the California state track championship, he ran the hundred meter race in a record ten minutes and forty-two seconds, and he helped the Helix football team to two sectional championships, while maintaining a 3.8 grade point average. In his senior year, he was selected for the Parade Magazine 2002 All-American team.

In spite of his athletic success, Bush maintained a down-to-earth attitude and a sense of personal discipline learned from his mother and stepfather. Denise Griffin worked as a sheriff's deputy in the Vista County jail, and Lamar Griffin worked as a security guard and a minister. They encouraged their son to be both responsible and devout, requiring him to do regular chores, even after becoming a star athlete. The values they instilled would help their son remain humble and straightforward as he achieved fame and success.

Success in College

In 2003, Bush entered the University of Southern California and became a member of their Trojans football team. He soon earned the nickname "The President," partly because his last name is the same as that of U.S. President George W. Bush, partly because of his major in political science, and partly because of his leadership on the football team. As a freshman player at USC, he quickly demonstrated his many talents, gaining 521 yards in 90 carries and topping the PAC 10 league in kickoff returns. He was named to several all-American teams and won USC's Jack Oakie "Rise and Shine" Award. In addition to his success on the field, he also worked as a reporter for NFLHS.com, the National Football League Internet Network's high school site, covering the 2003 Superbowl.

Bush's speed and ability to catch long passes and dodge tackles continued to attract notice during his sophomore year. Though he only started in two out of 13 games, his powerful performance made him a strong candidate for the Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious college football award, given each year by New York City's Downtown Athletic Club. In a typically sportsmanlike manner, Bush supported his teammate Matt Leinart to get the trophy. He still came in fifth in the trophy voting, and was considered by many to be the most dynamic player in college football, with a talent for providing points and inspiration just when the team needed them. On a 2004 visit to the White House with the Trojans, the real President Bush joked with the young running back who shared his name.

By his junior year, it was clear that Reggie Bush was headed for professional football. His season average of 8.9 yards-per-carry was the highest in the country, and he demonstrated his enormous versatility by earning touchdowns in five different ways: kickoff returns, punt returns, rushing, receiving, and passing. That year, he won the 2005 Heisman Trophy with 784 votes, the largest majority in history. Already being compared to great National Football League (NFL) running backs like Gayle Sayers, Tony Dorsett, and Barry Sanders, Bush decided not to complete his last year of college, and instead placed his name in the 2006 NFL draft for a position on a professional team.

Drafted into the NFL

Many of those who had followed Bush's career as a running back expected him to be the number one draft pick of 2006. Since the Houston Texans had won the right of first draft choice that year, Bush fully expected to be playing for Houston in the 2006 season. However, in a surprise move, the Texans chose a North Carolina state defensive end named Mario Williams instead. Bush was then chosen by the second pick team, the New Orleans Saints. After some contract negotiation, Bush agreed and signed a six-year, $62 million contract with the Saints.

In the spring of 2006, as the NFL draft was underway, the city of New Orleans was still reeling from the effects of the most damaging natural disaster in U.S. history. Hurricane Katrina, a powerful wind and rain storm, had hit the city on August 29, 2005, leaving tens of thousands of New Orleanians, dead, injured, or homeless. In the wake of the storm, many areas of the city were totally destroyed, leaving many citizens feeling hopeless. In such dire situations, a city's sports teams can take on a great significance, not only in providing distraction from serious problems, but also in renewing pride and optimism among citizens.

At a Glance …

Born Reginald Alfred Bush II on March 2, 1985, in San Diego, CA. Education: Attended the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 2003–06.

Career: New Orleans Saints, professional football player, 2006–.

Selected awards: PAC-10 Offensive Player of the Year, 2004 and 2005; Pigskin Club of Washington D.C., Offensive Player of the Year, 2005; Doak Walker Award, 2005; Downtown Athletic Club, Heisman Memorial Trophy, 2005; Associated Press, Player of the Year, 2006.

Addresses: Office—c/o New Orleans Saints, 5800 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA 70003.

Even in the uncertain economy of the damaged city, ticket sales for the New Orleans Saints boomed after Reggie was picked for the team. Fans bought 15,000 t-shirts with pictures of Bush and lined the streets to see him when he arrived in the city, giving him the nicknames "Saint Reggie" and "The Messiah." Bush's performance in his first game did not disappoint them. He rushed fifty-nine yards in six carries against the Tennessee Titans.

Bush's athletic skill and his enormous popularity with fans have led to a number of product endorsement offers. Athletes frequently earn additional money by advertising a variety of products, and Bush had begun receiving offers even before he was picked in the draft. He signed endorsement contracts with Pepsi, Subway, Hummer, EA Sports, and Adidas. His $5 million contract with Adidas was the largest of any NFL player.

Bush was grateful for the warm reception he received in New Orleans and began immediately to contribute to the community. One of his first acts after the draft was to donate $50,000 to a school for disabled students, he has continued to share his wealth, contributing $86,000 to repair and maintain a high school football field damaged by Katrina. Each of his endorsement contracts includes a requirement that the company make large charitable donations, such as a $1 million donation from Pepsi to rebuild houses in New Orleans.

Controversy Lingered

Often in the high-paid world of professional sports, celebrity comes with controversy. Reggie Bush discovered this in April 2006, when USC asked the PAC-10 to investigate charges that Bush and his family had accepted improper gifts, such as cars and a house, from a sports marketing agent while still a student at USC. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) forbids college athletes to receive such financial benefits, and confirmation of the charges could cause Bush to lose the Heisman Trophy and cause USC to forfeit all games in which Bush played after taking the gifts. The Bushes have denied that they were aware of any wrongdoing.

Sources

Periodicals

GQ—Gentlemen's Quarterly, September 2006, pp. 356-64.

Jet, December 26, 2005, p. 59; January 16, 2006, p. 50; January 30, 2006, pp. 48-50.

Sports Illustrated, February 17, 2005, pp. 18-21; December 12, 2005, pp. 136-41; May 8, 2006, p. 38; July 31, 2006, p. 21; August 28, 2006, pp. 20-2.

Time, December 19, 2005. pp. 136-7.