USA Today Incorrectly Reports Reggie Bush Apologized to USC Athletic Director

New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush has caused a lot of problems for his alma mater, University of Southern California. While playing at USC, Bush accepted cash and gifts from a wannabee sports agent which later caused the NCAA to impose harsh sanctions upon USC including four years of probation and banishment from the 2010 and 2011 bowl games. Because of his actions, Bush apologized to the current USC athletic director, Pat Haden, according to David Leon Moore writing for USA Today. Only one "little" problem, Haden vehemently denies that Bush apologized to him. First the "apology" that never happened as misreported by USA Today:

LOS ANGELES — Reggie Bush apologized to new Southern California athletics director Pat Haden and expressed tremendous regret for his actions that landed the school on NCAA probation.

Haden says that in a 15-minute phone conversation the two men had last week, Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner who was found to have received illicit cash and benefits from a would-be sports marketer while starring for USC, wishes he could make amends to the school.

 "He's really contrite," Haden says of Bush, who plays for the New Orleans Saints. "He knows he made a series of mistakes. It wasn't just one mistake. It was a series of mistakes.

"He told me, 'If I could turn the clock back, I would. If I could give the Heisman Trophy back, I would.' "

Okay, Bush was contrite according to Haden but is contrition really an apology? Perhaps David Leon Moore thinks so but Haden himself was apparently upset with that characterization according to the Los Angeles Times:

USC Athletic Director Pat Haden said Friday that he spoke last week with a contrite Reggie Bush, but that embattled 2005 Heisman Trophy winner did not apologize for actions that played a major role in the NCAA’s decision to hit the school with severe sanctions.

That contradicts a report by USA Today that Haden had said Bush apologized for those actions.

“Never did he say I’m sorry or I apologize,” Haden said. “Never did he say, 'I lied to the NCAA or I took stuff.' ”

Ouch! So how did Moore so completely misinterpret a lame expression of contrition into an apology? Did he even ask Pat Haden if it was an apology? Will Moore apologize for misreporting an "apology?" It will be interesting to check the sports section of USA Today next week. 

And don't feel too puffed up about getting to the truth about this "apology," Los Angeles Times. After all you recently couldn't even be bothered to report the landslide margin of victory of Proposition C in Missouri while stating that it was "Republicans" who rejected the ObamaCare insurance mandate.