Weighing In On The New Juice

How come no one until now has gotten in on OJ Mayo being the basketball version of the juice? I guess because no one wants to be associated with murderers? I mean, I don't blame them.

For those of you who haven't heard, OJ Mayo, freshman swingman for USC and formerly (pending on your source) the top high school basketball player in the country is under some serious heat. Allegedly, Mayo had been taking money from a middle man, Rodney Guillory, to the tune of about $200,000 and then a "luxury automobile." Guillory is shadily involved with Bill Duffy Associates Sports Management, which is said to be the backbone behind the money gifts headed Mayo's way. Basically, Guillory is an independent contractor, probably submits a 1099, and leaves no sure evidence that BDA was really behind it. Basically, he's set up to get burned if it goes down. If not, he gets a nice chunk out of Mayo's shoe deal.

You know what's interesting? Look at the top players the past couple of years. I'm thinking about three in particular, Mayo, Michael Beasley and the one armed man from "The Fugitive." All three were considered in some circles the best players in their classes, right? Then what business do these guys have going to USC, K-State, and Ohio State, respectively. If I'm the #1 player in the country, I'm going to UNC or UCLA (I'll get to the Bruins in a moment), no questions asked.

I heard an interesting argument the other day, and I might be changing my view. If you've been reading, you know that I've gone on time and time again about my lack of favor for the senior in high school declaring for the NBA Draft. Personally, there are things I'm learning about myself everyday at 23 and I don't have near the pressure on me that those kids do before they even set foot on a court. I've been to college and learned a lot. I just have a hard time putting those kids in the situation to make a lot of mistakes without the proper guidance.

A guy on the radio the other day made this point. These kids who go to school know they are only going to be there for a year, and that they are only there because David Stern says so. They don't care about college. They don't go to class. And they don't care about the NCAA. So why force these kids to go to school if they don't have to? I mean, you can drop out of high school at 16, right?

OJ Mayo, Reggie Bush, and probably Joe McKnight don't care what happens to USC. They know they're going to the bigs and they're only counting the time until they get paid. So, why not take the cash when they can? If they get caught, who cares? What is really going to happen to them? USC has to do what it can to save the face of the program, and Disney will help that out as best as possible (see the article at the end of this post; think it's a coincidence it came from SI?) and worst case, say Mayo has to give his stuff back. The way our legal system works, he'll have plenty by then.

Where's the problem here? It's USC. They have to know what's going on but they turn their backs. Like everywhere else. I mean, do you think it's just a coincidence that Georgia has been a national power ever since the offensive coordinator from Florida State showed up? Do you think the only thing he taught them was how to run an effective offense?

But now we're dealing with USC. And what is really interesting about USC is the following question: why would you go to USC? Why would you go to USC over UCLA? There is one drawback about the Bruins and that is that they play football off campus. So let's talk football for a second and talk about Reggie Bush, the last big name, from any program, to have this kind of heat.

UCLA had a strong program in the mid-90's with Cade McNown. They lost that game to USC which allowed there to be a FSU/UT Title game. Since then, it's been pretty average there. Why? I think that's about the time that USC kicked it into high gear. Eventually they got their hands on Pete Carrol and in '03 they had their first big recruiting splash with nine top 100 players, including #'s 2,3 (#2 being Bush).

Have you ever been to USC? I've been outside the gates driving passed...during the day thank God. NWA, Dr. Dre, and Snoop have supremely described the area known as Compton should you want to listen to their songs. And USC is smack in the middle of Compton. UCLA, is across the street from Belle Air (give or take). You kidding me? Seriously. UCLA is like three miles from the Beverly Hills Hotel. Maybe more. But it's a straight shot. If I'm Kevin Love, I'm hitting the Polo Lounge post-game like it's my job. I bet Tobey Bailey was.

I know I'm picking on USC. I enjoy it. But frankly, if you think this kind of stuff doesn't happen everywhere, well, I don't know what to tell you. Especially in basketball where guys are one and done. I really just want to believe that Scotty Hopson is coming to the Vols next year to be part of a great team. But...

Sure, this stuff is against the NCAA rules, but as long as there are millions to be made, the millionaires will find a way around the rules. And when they can't beat them, they'll find a new way. It's the way it works take it or leave it. But in order for there to be a real change, the NCAA has to hold the universities accountable, regardless of what they say they know or don't know. Because it's happening on their campus' and, whether the athletes at hand what to believe it or not, to their students. As long as they're on that campus, technically, their first job is to go to school, in the eyes of the institution. And that's where accountability needs to be held, especially since university Presidents have so much say in athletics these days. They need to be accountable, because they have to know. Because apparently SI did, so read the article below from '06.

I can understand that Mayo would want be known more as Mayonnaise than the juice. The Mayo and the other really have a lot in common. They break the rules, and in the end, they'll get away with it.

http://www.sportsline.com/columns/story/9735022