Los Angeles – Reggie Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner, is staunchly defending himself against charges that he allegedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars in improper benefits while playing football for USC. The charges were made in an upcoming book, “Tarnished Heisman,” by veteran sportswriters Don Yaeger and Jim Henry.

 

“When you’re going to college, you have to live somewhere,” said an exasperated Bush,  “otherwise when it rains your textbooks get wet.”

 

Sources close to the ongoing NCAA investigation have told eTrueSports that Bush and family lived rent-free in a $1 million Orange County house, and received other benefits, including a make-over for his mother, totaling over $300,000. In addition, Bush and his family were reportedly paid a “salary” of $1500 a week.

 

“Everybody cheats,” explained Bush, responding to calls that he return his coveted Heisman Trophy. “Besides I have a really nice smile.”

 

The funds were provided by New Era Sports & Entertainment partners Lloyd Lake and Michael Michaels, a sports marketing company that quickly failed when Bush signed with another company.

 

“We don’t like Reggie anymore,” said Lake and Michaels in a statement.