John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky and graduate of UK, he covered UK football for 13 seasons before being promoted to columnist in 2000. He lives in Lexington with his wife and two sons.
Hold the Mayo
Updated at 5:25 p.m. with Luke Winn link.
Was anyone surprised by Sunday's "Outside the Lines" reports that now former USC basketball star O.J. Mayo allegedly took at least $30,000 in cash and benefits from someone who was attempting to sign the future NBA draft pick as an agent?
I didn't think so.
Is USC to blame? Of course USC is to blame. The university already knew about Rodney Guillroy, who is accused of supplying Mayo with fringe benefits. In fact, USC knew when it took Mayo for his one-and-done, the former Rose Hill star owned a shady entourage, with the potential of rule-breaking trouble. Desperate to compete with cross-town behemoth UCLA, the Trojans rolled the dice. Looks like they've lost.
Links:
- NCAA's acceptance of the NBA age-limit is to blame. [Dan Wetzel]
- USC has no excuse for turning a blind eye. [Pat Forde]
- Looking for solutions. [Dustin Dow]
- Surprise, a USC, Mayo scandal. [Sporting News]
- Mayo on the take? Shocking! [Hoops World]
- Mayo stuff that doesn't sit right. [All Things Trojan]
- USC should have read Doyel's column. [AOL Sports]
- Luke Winn calls it another sad chapter. [Sports Illustrated.com]
Isn't the NCAA still investigating USC for the Reggie Bush stuff? How long will it take before these guys are handed a heavy penalty?
Posted by:JTapp | May 12, 2008 at 02:17 PM
To paraphrase Amy Pohler:
This investigation will be Mayo's first, Floyd's third, and the last for neither.
Posted by:Alex | May 12, 2008 at 02:51 PM
In view of the current Global Economy, fiscal responsibility and austerity programs the NCAA should be dissolved. All defined College Sports should be "Club" sports once again, and the athletes should be paid. The only requirement to be a Club member is 9 hours per semester and an actual , true passing of the SAT or ACT. Higher Education is all about Higher Education, sports is sports, unless it is sports medicine. Time to adapt and move on to a higher plane, if not, College Sports will not survive.
Posted by:Dr. Rick | May 12, 2008 at 10:10 PM
It is highly unlikely that Mayo is the only one of the "one and done" players that has been getting money from agents and it's also unlikely that the practice will stop anytime soon. USC will get a slap on the wrist. Players like Mayo, Beasley, and Durant are a huge cash cow for the schools, conferences, tv networks, and NCAA and as long as that's the case the NCAA will welcome them with open arms and continue to look the other way.
Posted by:rk | May 13, 2008 at 07:58 PM
How can anyone say the NBA age limit is to blame when players have been getting paid for at least a half a century?
Posted by:Ralph | May 14, 2008 at 09:47 AM