Reggie Bush forfeits Heisman

? Reggie Bush took the unprecedented step of giving back his Heisman Trophy on Tuesday, saying the scandal over improper benefits while he was a star running back at Southern California should not stain “the dignity of this award.”

Southern California tailback Reggie bush pauses while giving his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech in this 2005 file photo. Bush said Tuesday that he was forfeiting the award in the wake of allegations that he received improper benefits while playing in college at Southern California.

The New Orleans Saints’ star won the Heisman — symbol of the best player in college football — in 2005.

Returning the trophy has no practical effect on Bush since he’s already in the pros and a member of a Super Bowl championship team. However, it is the first time in the award’s 75-year history that a player has forfeited it.

USC was hit with heavy sanctions by the NCAA this summer after it determined Bush and his family had received hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts from two fledgling California-based marketing agents. The NCAA ruled that Bush was ineligible for the 2005 season, which opened the possibility that the Heisman Trophy Trust would take back the award.

One of the few guidelines given to Heisman Trophy voters is that a player must be in compliance with NCAA rules to be eligible for the award.

“The persistent media speculation regarding allegations dating back to my years at USC has been both painful and distracting,” Bush said in a statement released through the Saints. “In no way should the storm around these allegations reflect in any way on the dignity of this award, nor on any other institutions or individuals.

Baseball

K-Rod violates restraining order

New York — Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez violated a restraining order by sending dozens of text messages to his girlfriend in the weeks after he was accused of assaulting her father outside a family lounge at Citi Field and will face additional charges, prosecutors said Tuesday.

NCAA

New president likes tough penalties

Indianapolis — Incoming NCAA President Mark Emmert wants to get tough on rule-breakers.

“I’m really pleased with how we’re working with the universities and colleges to try to correct behaviors that are not in the school’s best interests,” Emmert said in a phone interview Tuesday from Seattle. “Under my leadership, we’re not going to see any diminutive effect of that effort. But I like where we’re going right now.”

The direction of the NCAA is clear: Those kinder, gentler days are giving way to a new, tougher approach.

Soccer

Fake team played for Togo

Lome, Togo — The chairman of Togo’s soccer federation says the team that played an exhibition against Bahrain last week claiming to be the Togo national team was “completely fake.”

Seiyi Memene told the Associated Press on Tuesday “we have not sent any footballers to Bahrain.”

Bahrain won 3-0, but doubts emerged over the authenticity of the Togo team.

Horse racing

Jockey paralyzed in fall

Albany, Calif. — The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting a 24-year-old jockey has been paralyzed from the waist down following a fall during a race at a Northern California track.

Golden Gate Fields track physician David Seftel tells the newspaper that jockey Michael Martinez remained in critical, but stable condition Tuesday at an Oakland hospital.

Martinez’s spinal cord was severed by three shattered vertebrae Sunday when the horse he was riding, Fair ‘n Warmer, stumbled and fell on top of the dismounted jockey.

College football

WAC sues Nevada, Fresno State

Denver — The Western Athletic Conference has filed a lawsuit to force Nevada and Fresno State to stay in the league through the 2011-12 school year before leaving for the Mountain West Conference.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson said Tuesday on a conference call that the league filed a complaint last week in Jefferson County District Court in Colorado.

“The damages the WAC could incur if Fresno State and Nevada left early are very, very significant,” Benson said. “That’s what has driven this: to protect the assets of the WAC as a corporate entity.”

UF’s Rainey arrested for stalking

Gainesville, Fla. — Florida receiver Chris Rainey was arrested Tuesday and charged with aggravated stalking, a third-degree felony, for allegedly sending a former girlfriend a threatening text message.

The school did not announce any disciplinary action against the 5-foot-9 junior, but offensive coordinator Steve Addazio said, “Chris Rainey is not a part of our team right now. That’s really all I have to say on that.”

WVU DB Hogan suspended

Morgantown, W.Va. — West Virginia starting cornerback Brandon Hogan has been suspended after a drunken driving arrest — his second run-in with police in five months.

Coach Bill Stewart said Tuesday that Hogan, a senior, has been suspended indefinitely.

NBA

Bobcats waive C Dampier

Charlotte, N.C. — Unable to pull off a trade, the Bobcats have waived center Erick Dampier, which voids his $13 million contract and gets Charlotte under the luxury tax.

Tennis

American pulls upset at Bell

Quebec City — American Jill Craybas beat second-seeded Aravane Rezai 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (3) in the first round of the Bell Challenge on Tuesday.

Top-seeded Marion Bartoli of France, No. 3 seed Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic and fifth-seeded American Melanie Oudin all won in straight sets.