I have previously posted about the allegations that Reggie Bush accepted cash gifts and other benefits while enrolled as a student-athlete at USC. In recent developments the Bush legal team continues to play a game of cat and mouse with Lloyd Lake and the NCAA. 

In a February 13th 2008 story ESPN reported that the Reggie Bush legal team hired an armed security guard to accompany them to the scheduled February 12th, 2008 deposition of Lloyd Lake. Brian Watkins, Lake’s attorney halted the proceedings after the armed guard flashed his gun. “He made sure we saw it,” Watkins said.

This is outrageous conduct by any standards, and particularly egregious conduct by an officer of the court during a formal legal procedure.

Bush was scheduled to be deposed on February 25th 2008, but according to reports published by ESPN and other news sources, he failed to appear. Bush’s lawyers instead filed a motion for protective order that would prevent Watkins from turning over depositions to the NCAA.

Hmmmm……. Is anyone else wondering what he has to hide and who he is trying to protect?

The entire legal strategy of the Bush team is to prevent the truth from being publicly aired. They clearly are not interested in having Reggie deposed under oath, and based on the recent motion filed by David Cornwell, Bush’s lawyer, they do not want any testimony that might be compelled by a judge to be turned over to the NCAA.

Which leaves us to wonder why. Reggie has repeatedly said that he did nothing wrong. He has repeatedly stated that the truth will come out and “we will all see this was nothing”. If that’s the case Reggie, step up, put your hand on the bible and answer the questions under oath. Quit playing legal games and meet your opponent on the 5o yard line as you claim you want to do.

My suggestion for USC is to detoxify your connection with Reggie Bush by openly conducting your own investigation. If you determine that your coaching staff and compliance officers had no knowledge, nor should have known about Reggie’s obvious transgressions then make that report public and vigorously defend yourself of any accusations of impropriety. If on the other hand you discover that members of your coaching staff used poor judgement or that your compliance officers failed in their duty, then admit it now. If nothing else, we have learned from others, in particular Michigan (Charles Woodson) and Ohio St. (Maurice Clarett) that if you are accountable for your mistakes early on, most folks are willing to forgive and forget. However, if you choose to wait until the proof is provided by another source, you put at risk previous championships, victories and future scholarships. The choice is yours, roll the dice hoping that Bush’s attorneys are successful in their attempt to conceal the truth, or admit your mistakes and be accountable now.

My .02

Social Networking: