Bush has some 'splaining to do

Yahoo! Sports reports that the family of USC Trojans running back Reggie Bush abruptly packed up and moved out of a big home in Spring Valley, Calif. when its reporter came around asking about the property. Yahoo! found links to Michael Michaels, who is alleged to have tried to steer Bush toward an agent and who has ties to a sports marketing company. It's timely news because Bush has an April 29 date with the National Football League.

Days before Bush is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, unanswered questions about the residence and how his mother, stepfather and brother came to live in it within the last year have prompted the University of Southern California to refer the matter to the Pacific-10 Conference for an investigation.

NCAA statutes prohibit student-athletes or their families from receiving extra benefits from professional sports agents, marketing companies or their representatives. A breach of these statutes could result in an athlete being ruled ineligible, and games in which they played could be forfeited...

State records show the Apple Street home was built in late 2004 and early 2005, then purchased by Michaels on March 29, 2005 for $757,500. Around that time, neighbors say Bush's family moved in.

AP (via ESPN.com) followed up with a story Sunday saying that USC athletic director Mike Garrett has asked the Pac-10 Conference to look into it.

Photo: reggiebushjr.com