A Tale of Two Cities

As NFL training camps open this week, there is one player that can't wait to get back to his team more than any other guy in the league -- Reggie Bush.

It's human nature to want to feel loved. We are much more comfortable in an environment where we feel appreciated. Reggie Bush grew up in southern California (San Diego to be exact). He was a high school superstar and when he took his talents to U.S.C. he became a national phenomenon. Aside from Kobe Bryant, Reggie Bush was probably the biggest star athlete in all of Los Angeles. He was loved. He was in a comfortable environment.

This summer, on June 10th, all of that changed for this once proud native son of southern California. When the U.S.C. program was hit with a two-year bowl ban and the loss of scholarships by the NCAA, all fingers were pointed at Reggie Bush. The school that was more than happy to call this former Heisman Trophy winner their own was now forced to disassociate themselves from Bush. Since he was declared ineligible during USC's title run, the school had to pretend he never existed. Heisman trophy in Heritage Hall...buh bye. Retired number hanging in the L.A. Coliseum...buh bye. Murial painting along the wall of the athletic training facility hallway...covered up.

Suddenly this didn't seem like such a comfortable environment after all for Bush. He won't be welcome at practice. It will probably be very tough for him to attend a home game anytime soon. The message boards, blogs and tweets have been ruthless. His legacy is destroyed in Los Angeles.

"We're Jazzed You're Here" - that is the latest marketing campaign for the city of New Orleans, and it could not mean more to Reggie Bush than right now. NFL training camp and the upcoming season is Bush's escape. The timing could not be better and the environment could not be more opposite than what he leaves behind in southern California.

The minute Bush hit the ground in New Orleans in 2006, he was called "Saint Reginald" by the city. The city had been devastated after Hurricane Katrina and this Bush was just what the doctor ordered. He started a "Yard by Yard, Neighborhood by Neighborhood" program which built homes in New Orleans based on Bush's yardage totals. He helped a special needs school in the area stay open after Katrina by donating $56,000 in sponsorship money from Adidas. He personally funded an $86,000 artificial field turf for Tad Gormley Stadium, where six local high schools play their football games. This past summer he held his 2nd Annual Youth Football camp in New Orleans as well. Oh yeah, and on the field he helped the team win it's first Super Bowl.

In the city of New Orleans, Reggie Bush is, well, a "saint." In the City of Angels (Los Angeles) Reggie Bush is a sinner. One man, two reputations. Two cities, two opinions. For the next six months Reggie Bush can leave his alter-ego on the west Coast. Ironically, he probably feels like he's now home. After all, this is the environment where he feels loved...