Reggie Bush: Comparing the USC And Kim Kardashian Breakups

Reggie Bush has had to break up with two entities that were near and dear to his heart this year: The USC Trojans and Kim Kardashian.

We're not sure which one hurt more, but they both had to take a toll on the man.

The fact that he might be giving back his Heisman is probably also on the back of his mind as training camp opens.

Since we can't afford Dr. Phil over here at B/R, I have chosen to take on the task of comparing the two breakups and determine which one will have a longer, more profound affect on his psyche.

Reasons For Parting Ways: With Kim

First, let's examine the reasons for breaking up with someone who looks like this.

For most guys, there wouldn't be many.

Waking up in the middle of the night with her staring at you and mumbling incoherently? Maybe, but she'd have to keep doing it.

Leaving for practice and finding your brakes cut?

Another good reason, but unless you see her coming out from under the hood, it might not have been her.

Here are some of the reasons that have been rumored...

Reason No. 1: Ray J and the...Movie.

Some reports say that Reggie couldn't get over Kim's past relationship with Brandy's little brother.

And even though it was before they got together, constantly being reminded that your lady had a sex tape out with a guy who looks for love on VH-1 and is said to be around 5'4" has to get on your nerves (especially since it's one of the first things that come up when you google image her name).

And since the little guy is on every other R&B remix, you can't really listen to the radio and you've probably run into him at many LA hot spots.

Maybe it was too much.

Reason No. 2: Her Fabulous Life

Kim gets paid to be at places.

She gets paid to show up and have her picture taken. She gets paid to twitter about products and her website is pretty much pictures of her doing fabulous things.

If you are with her, get ready to be in the spotlight at all times.

Reggie was quoted saying: “I hate the paparazzi. I honestly do. She knows I don’t like it, but it comes with the territory. I deal with it."

Well, maybe he got tired of dealing with it.

Reason No. 3: Her Sisters

Though they probably won't admit it, there is a bit a sibling rivalry that goes on in the Kardashian household.

There has to be.

When they first showed up on the scene, it was Kim everything. Their reality show "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" was initially all about figuring out ways to get Kim in a bikini.

And then something strange happened. The other two sisters got lives that were equally compelling.

Kourtney got pregnant and settled down with reality TV gold: the crazy boyfriend who might someday end up doing something that gets him locked up or on Dr. Drew's Celebrity Rehab.

And even more outrageous, baby sister Khloe met and married Lakers' star Lamar Odom after only a month of knowing him.

Kim was now the third most interesting sister. And my guess is she didn't like it, so she had to hang out with her sisters to stay in the spotlight.

Which could have meant less time for Reggie, unless he wanted to tag along.

Reason No. 4: Reggie Just Missed the Single Life

The rumor that is most talked about as the reason for the break up is that when Kim saw the ring on her little sister's finger she decided she needed one, too (Even though she was previously married to an allegedly shady character).

If this is true and Reggie didn't want to settle down just yet, (since he is close to five years younger than her), then that could be why he allegedly ran into the arms of Ms. Carmen Ortega.

Reggie might just have had more wild oats to sow.

Reasons For Parting Ways: With USC

From all accounts, his "break up" with USC was not by his choice.

Did Reggie take money from boosters, agents, etc.?

The evidence says yes.

So then the question is, did he take it thinking it was okay or did he think he wasn't going to get caught?

The following reasons are why he might feel wronged by USC for dumping him.

Reason No. 1: Someone Told Him That It Was Okay

This is the hardest argument to sell but it goes like this: someone at USC told him these extra benefits were legal and so now that he's found out that they weren't, he feels betrayed by the school.

It's the ignorance of the law argument.

Reggie seems like an intelligent young man, and USC doesn't seem like it's stuck in the 70's when players were getting stacks of money in paper-bags from guys in trenchcoats.

So we'll just chalk this reason up to improbable.

Reason No. 2: Reggie Earned That Money!

This argument goes like this: Reggie Bush brought millions of dollars to the University of Southern California as well as wins, trophies, and recruits.

It can also be argued that the NCAA and the individual schools make millions from the jerseys, bowl games, video games and licensing rights that these superstar athletes give up while in school in exchange for a hundred thousand dollar scholarship.

So if you believe that the college athlete is getting the short end of this stick, you might argue that Reggie earned some extra bonuses.

And if this is the case, then he did nothing wrong.

Reason No. 3: Reggie Didn't Take the Money

There is a chance, though it seems small right now, that Bush did nothing wrong and that the allegations are false.

According to ESPN.com, Bush did express regret about his involvement in an NCAA probe that resulted in major sanctions for USC 's football program.

They quoted him as saying:

"This thing, regarding USC and the NCAA, is the closest thing to death without dying because I have such a great love and respect for the university."

"This has been one the toughest things I've had to deal with in my life."

Cynics would say that he is just sad because he has been stripped from USC's record books, and his Heisman was returned to the Downtown Athletic club.

But what if he didn't do it and just can't prove it, like Harrison Ford in the Fugitive?

What if some one-armed dude, bashed him over the head, and planted all that money on him?

Anyway, this might also seem improbable so we'll just say, that if this was the case, he has every right to feel betrayed by his former university.

Which One Will Have a More Profound Impact on His Life?

Going forward, it's hard to say which one he will miss more.

In a perfect world, if he could go back, I'm sure having both of them would be the way to go.

But if you had to choose which one will affect his legacy more, you would have to say breaking up with USC.

There are plenty of beautiful women in the world.

He Might Someday Get Kim Back...

Maybe not all of them look like this in a bikini, but there are quite a few out there.

And if he tried hard enough and proposed and worked out their problems, I'm sure he might be able to get Kim back.

But He'll Never Get Back Those Magical College Days

And even though no one can take away the actual moments or the memories, there will be those nights when he stays up wondering, was it worth it?

No one can answer that, but Reggie.