Sins of the Past

As we all know, football has begun at both the college and pro levels. There have been exciting games, great plays and plenty of entertainment for the sports junkie. Last Thursday, the New Orleans Saints kicked off the season with a win over the Vikings. In that game, running back Reggie Bush ran for 14 yards on just two carries. I first became aware of Bush while he was at the University of Southern California (USC). He had an outstanding career, earning the Heisman Trophy in 2005. Based on what I remember, he was deserving of the award, though many could make the case for runner-up Vince Young. He pro career has been pedestrian-at times brilliant, but mostly average. He's a nice fit in the Saints line-up, but is not the superstar his college career may have predicted.

Yesterday, the sins of his past culminated in his returning the Heisman Trophy. Based on an NCAA investigation where USC vacated (lost) its last two wins of the 2004 season and all of the 2005 season, Reggie Bush and his family is accused of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars of gifts from agents. USC has also been banned from bowl games this year and next and will lose 30 scholarships over three years. USC has taken down his jersey, and generally disassociated itself with Reggie Bush. Rather than waiting for the Heisman Trophy Trust to ask for the trophy back, he returned it. He moves on, collecting his NFL paycheck and the university picks up the pieces and goes into obscurity for a couple of years.

There is no doubt that Reggie Bush is a talented football player. There is also no doubt that he had a disregard for rules and the effect breaking them will have. I'm sure he is embarrassed and even disgraced at having to give up the Heisman Trophy. But he knew he was breaking the rules. Sometimes it takes awhile for life to catch up with us.

Most of us know that real leadership is based on the foundation of self-leadership. This means you are confident, have high self-esteem, and have a vision and goals for yourself. It also means that you have defined core values that you live by. Core values are defined as those which you won't compromise. To be fair, I'm not sure I met this definition of self-leadership in my 20's, but I also knew right from wrong. I have found that defining your core values is the first step in self-leadership. It becomes your rudder-always moving you in the right direction. Life is a learning process. Learn to live by your core values and avoid the public humiliation we saw yesterday inflicted on Reggie Bush.