Would you like some Mayo with your opportunism?
by DC Trojan on Mar 21, 2007 8:01 PM PDT
in USC Basketball
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PrintYou can tell that something is amiss when the New York Times has an article about USC basketball. Firstly, there's the surprise of remembering that the Grey Lady covers sports. Then there's the article itself.
In a nutshell, the article is the odd tale of how OJ Mayo came to sign up for USC, based on an initial contact to Tim Floyd from an individual named Rodney Guillory (not Ronald, as the NYT article incorrectly calls him). In a nutshell, Guillory, who is acting as Mayo's adviser, indicated that Mayo was interested in SC and would contact Floyd... which Mayo duly did, including making a promise to recruit others to SC.
Why was Mayo interested in USC? This from the NYT article:
The man explained that Mayo wanted to market himself before going to the N.B.A., and that Los Angeles would give him the best possible platform.
"Then why aren't you at U.C.L.A.?" Floyd asked. The man shook his head. U.C.L.A. had already won 11 national championships. It had already produced many N.B.A. stars. Mayo wanted to be a pioneer for a new era.
[...]
"I want to be different," Floyd recalls Mayo telling him. "I want to leave a mark."
Mayo said that if he did not go to U.S.C., he would probably enroll at an African-American college. Such colleges are renowned academically, but they do not typically produce pro basketball players.
And then Mayo shows up with a film crew to sign up, etc., etc.
So far, the reek of naked opportunism is on both sides. This is where you might expect our cross-town rivals to start their usual fanfare about how dirty SC is, what a gang of thugs we are, and so on, and you probably would not be disappointed. In fact, I'd bet they might even reference the SC crew from Watergate (Don Segretti of the dirty tricks department, and Ron Ziegler, Nixon's press secretary), although the historical musings would probably end before there was any mention of how Ehrlichman and Haldeman met when they were students at UCLA...
But enough of petty speculation.
What disturbs me is that someone at SC should remember Guillory, because in 2000 he was culpable for the suspension of Jeff Trepagnier - yeah, I don't remember him either, but he was an SC basketball player - for improper receipt of a benefit, an airplane ticket in this case. Apparently CBS Sports reported on this and contacted the university, but there was no comment.
It seems to me that there are two main risks here. One is that the AD is playing with fire, as is Floyd, from the standpoint of managing the risks of NCAA investigations when Mayo comes to town to build his overall value to advertisers.
The second is selling the good work of this year's basketball team down the river. The NYT article basically implies that this year's team pulled it together when they thought that Floyd had pulled off a recruiting coup; it also describes the team this way:
"We understand what it takes now to win games," said Pruitt, who was academically ineligible for the first semester. "We like the results."
This was all supposed to happen next year, with Mayo leading the team deep into the N.C.A.A. tournament and then bolting for the N.B.A. lottery.
I can't help but wonder what precisely Mayo is going to do to the team ethos. In the meantime, Fight On and beat the Tar Heels!
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On Mayo
Its funny, since my fiancee graduated from USC I've taken an interest in USC sports. In fact, I think I know much more than her!
That being said, I like to see USC basketball do well because it should have always been one half of the rivalry...you guys just never showed up. Welcome to the game finally.
Honestly, I don't want to see Mayo f*** up your chemistry, but I think he will. Seems like the kid has a poor 'tude and hangs with the wrong guys (pot smokers that get him into trouble).
Not good.
But do you know what is good? My feelings about USC vs. UNC. Seeing how I was an oracle about the USC vs. Texas game, I will say later why I think you guys will beat UNC.
Keep thinking those happy thoughts....
Give the kid a break
I'm not worried about Mayo. He's a teenager and may have made some mistakes growing up (this happens). Some of the things that were swirling around him may not even be accurate. For example, the ref who threw him out of that game not long ago seemed to have set him up. Envy/jealousy makes people do strange things... ask that astronaut woman.
Mayo starts with a clean slate at USC. Let him prove himself (or not). The powder blue kids can postulate their 417th imaginary "scandal" at USC, but CC shouldn't feel the need to even acknowledge that bs. Any one who seems to be lying in wait to pounce on Mayo or keeps trying to naysay him before he even starts here is just stirring the pot.
There's no scandal
The reason I wrote the article was really professional reflex: a lot of what I do is risk mitigation. From that standpoint, having a teenage phenom at SC, who is associated with an individual who has been on the wrong side of an NCAA sanction against a USC player, is a risk.
The existence of a risk doesn't mean that the actual problem exists, which is a logical fallacy that other sites are willing to make - but at the same time, it does mean that Coach Floyd and the athletic department should be watching with an eagle eye to make it clear that there are rules and these rules need to be followed.
FYI
I'll take you at your word
I'm more concerned about what CC itself presents to the rest of the blogosphere. No, I don't want it to be known as some slavishly obsequious fan site, where everyone has to speak/think in lockstep or risk being banned by the site manager (I believe that slot has already been filled in the Pac-10 SportsBlog). I think it's not only realistic, but admirable, to discuss legitimate issues that impact USC, postively or negatively. I'm just not on board with being relentlessly downbeat about things that have not happened or are based on rumor and speculation. I'd rather leave that to the haters.
Don't mess with the BruinFan1 mojo!
As for CC turning into the Debbie Downer of USC blogs, I don't think that you have to worry about that. Still, I suppose that if you weren't exposed to my unique brand of daily cheer - "nothing's gone wrong...yet..." - you might mistake my clear-eyed cynicism for negativity ; )
My wife still seems to have trouble telling the difference. I keep referring her to the old quote "It is never difficult to distinguish between a Scotsman with a grievance and a ray of sunshine." It'll be clear when I'm really down on something...
Not singling your post out, DC
In terms of non-events, I just think that not only our athletes but Floyd, Carroll, Garrett, et al, should be given the benefit of the doubt about not being a) morons and/or b) shady. As a site devoted to all things USC, I think that's the LEAST they should expect from us. If I want to read random speculation about potential negative stories that might impact USC if the rumors turn out to be true (and that's just about how many qualifications seem to be involved in a lot of these items), then I can always count on Scott Wolf's blog for that. He has an excuse, though; he's paid to gin up controversy. Sometimes there's a line between "keeping it real" and actually helping to contribute to negativity about USC, and I have strong feelings about which side of that line CC should be on. My two cents.
Meanwhile, I agree; I hope BruinFan1's mojo stays with him on this one!
Neither stupid nor omniscient
Your point about giving the coaches and Athletic Department the benefit of the doubt is well taken. I think that the challenge is sort of like my dealing with my children: they have all the time in the world to try and figure out how to get what they want; I've got small chunks of time in which to counter that. Now, since they are both under 5, it's not too hard to outwit them... but the challenge for the likes of Floyd, Carroll, et al is that they are faced with a small but focused group of people who have every incentive to try and work around the system.
Equally, I've said all that I have to say about the coterie surrounding Mayo. The risks are what they are, and hopefully nothing will come of it. I'm not up for the sort of posts that go "I've heard of smoke under circumstances like this... FIRE FIRE FIRE the world is coming to an end!" and if something reads that way, I want to know about it.
Its a valid argument
My number one concern is that he brings no heat of any kind from the NCAA. That will be hard in this town full of agents, advisors, managers, and vultures all trying to get a piece of Mayo.
Mayo's got game
And my dad and uncle who are SC fans have the same feeling too.
when he gets on campus, gonna need a couple people to keep there eyes on him.
TROJANS, GIVE THOSE TARHEELS HELL!!!!
lates
by bruin81 on Mar 23, 2007 12:11 AM PDT reply actions
Go Heels...
Bruins don't wish for Trojans to give anyone "hell".
Take a seat and watch the game with your Dad and Uncle...your pedigree is pure Trojan.
PS...I WILL admit you kicked some serious TEXAS ass. DAYUM...well done. I hate to say it...but I will give credit where due. But not to Bruin posuers.
PPS...Paragon is the only Trojan I respect. Hella smart...dudes got balls too.
by horsekiller on Mar 23, 2007 12:54 AM PDT reply actions
Sorry horsekiller
does it make things intresting, yes and what makes it more inresting is some of my other family members love Notre Dame, so theres always a smack talk going around.
the reasaon i say give em hell trojans is because i would like to see another LA team in the elite 8 and love to talk smack to the tar heels i work with who claim the pac-10 is ovverrated
anyway, Good luck against the tar heels
by bruin81 on Mar 23, 2007 1:20 AM PDT reply actions
hehe...uh, yes. I guess.
Your family peeps love the Irish...seems like your the black sheep in the family. I'VE NEVER met anyone that loves BOTH the Trojans and Irish.
Freakin heresy.
It ain't where your born...it's where you're AT.
Go Heels!
Peace, Holmes. Seriously...good luck.
by horsekiller on Mar 23, 2007 1:37 AM PDT up reply actions
A few words on rivalrys, and OJ
Notre Dame is the only school that I have attended a road game at where the student body was generally classy, and hospitable. Not a single student was trash talking, or lobbing profanity at their opponents. None of this is true at any of the PAC-10 schools, with CAL taking the prize for "Biggest jerk fan of the PAC-10."
Personally I think the long football winning streaks on both sides of town have really made a lot of folks bitter. Its actually funny to me that the bruin blog seems to root for USC's opponents more these days instead of their own team.
I think we all know where all this ill will is coming from, so I'll guess I just might as well say it.
"We Trojans are very sorry you all have such a terrible football coach. We are sorry that your victory this year has only stalled his inevitable firing, but that wasn't our fault. You guys simply, no matter how hard you try, can't lose em all. We are sorry that we have been so successful over the last 5 seasons....and we know just how jealous that must make most of you.... but again... not our fault. So it might benefit you all to direct all of this hate towards your athletic director, instead of OJ Mayo, and the gutsy Trojan Mens Basketball team.
GO TROJANS....BEAT the tar heels!!!
To all you bruins who are being cool, the above statement does not apply to you.
About OJ Mayo:
- He's 18 years old. Give him a break. I don't know too many kids at that age that are the slightest bit mature.
- I will be personally shocked if anyone who lives in the L.A. area, and wasn't home schooled, didn't at least associate, or work with at least 1 person who was a "pot smoker." So take a look in the mirror if you are criticising him for having friends who smoke.
- I really don't think anyone will care if hes the biggest showboat in the country as long as we win games. Winning tends to make fans of most people. That's why the football team sells out every game.
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