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OJ Mayo doesn't give out his cell. He'll call you.

Posted on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 10:44:28 AM EST in Other Sports
More on: OJ Mayo, college basketball, hype (all tags)


You know those fluff pieces in newspapers that try to persuade you that an athlete's reputation is undeserved and that he's really a good guy? This isn't one of those. If Lee Jenkins was trying to paint OJ Mayo in a good light, he absolutely fails in today's New York Times article on the kid.

The article relates how a OJ Mayo came to sign with USC and it doesn't exactly portray USC coach Tim Floyd in a flattering light either.

When Floyd answered the phone, he heard a teenager's voice on the other end: "Coach, this is O. J. Mayo. I'd like to come to your school."

Mayo had not been on an official campus visit. He had not seen the new arena, the Galen Center. He did not know anything about the current roster.
...
"I want to be different," Floyd recalls Mayo telling him. "I want to leave a mark."

Mayo's mind was apparently made up. He was already looking ahead. "How many scholarships do we have for next year?" he asked.

Floyd stammered. "After this," he said, "I guess we have three."

Mayo went through the priority list in his mind. "Don't worry about recruiting," he said. "I'll take care of it."

Before Floyd hung up, he asked one more time for Mayo's cellphone number. "No," Mayo said. "I'll call you.

Now this is after one of Mayo's friends had visited Floyd earlier in the day and told him that OJ wanted to market himself before going to the NBA and that the reason OJ wanted to go to USC was because LA gave him the best possible platform for doing so.

Basketball phenoms today are too worried about becoming a global icon and marketing and shoe deals, all before they play a second of pro ball. Sure Michael Jordan is the most recognized athlete in the world but he played for the love of the game and then everything else (colognes, clothing, Hanes, Space Jam) followed. OJ Mayo is more worried about his endorsement deals than he is about the game.

Now every sycophant and parasite in his entourage will just tell him that we're just hatin' but you can make a lot of money and not come off as an arrogant punk.

By the way, OJ's first visit to USC? There was a documentary film crew following him. Of course.

Links:
[New York Times]: High School Star O.J. Mayo Boosts U.S.C. Before He Arrives
[SC]: OJ Mayo's last dunk video

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OJ Mayo doesn't give out his cell. He'll call you. | 1 comment (1 topical, 0 hidden)
Response (#2)
by Anonymous Fan on Sat Sep 29, 2007 at 03:09:44 PM EST
I'll keep it at a very few words. I like your article,and although you did hit on some good points, It is I feel very acid in theme. You have a right to write what you feel. Unfortunately, It does not have anything to do with truth or facts. Its purely emotion. So Thats where your article fails. I think its irresponsible for writers to question a player's desire, and sending the subliminal message to your readers that he is a "Arrogant Punk "
Referring to your article as 'hatin' would be too easy to categorize, Im jus concerned about the lack of Responsible Journalism, and Your Affect it has on your readers.
When you couple America's Capitalism, Young professional athletes, Golf Prodigy's turning Pro, Tennis Players at 15 years Old Turning pro..no mandatory College rule for Baseball Players Turning pro, It may make Sense to you Why players With The Ability of a Mayo To Seek and Position himself in a better situation for his Family.
To Say That Mayo is More concerned about his endorsement deals is irresponsible without having a opportunity to sit down and talk with the Young man,of which obviously you do not know anything about, which makes your article actually amusing. But since that may very well be impossoble for you, I guess Writing about things You have no factual basis for, creates a better 'story' Irregardless of whats right or wrong. Once again Responsible Journalism has escaped a writer.
In the future, I would hope if you have a forum to discuss young athletes, money, capilalism, and culture,. You will include athletes from all sports.But maybe that may be just too much to ask for.

Thanks

OJ Mayo doesn't give out his cell. He'll call you. | 1 comment (1 topical, 0 hidden)
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