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Tue May 13, 2008 6:39 am EDT

Mayo not the first to be befriended by Guillory

By Joe Zedalis

O.J. Mayo

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Tito Maddox is watching the O.J. Mayo saga unfold, "stunned by the parallel" of reports illustrating allegations that cash and gifts prohibited by college rules were funneled to the NBA-bound college star.

"Same story, same guy," Maddox, 26, said Monday in front of his Carson home during an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
Tito Maddox was talking about Los Angeles events promoter Rodney Guillory, whom Maddox said he was befriended by in the summer of 1998, just before his senior year at Compton High. Guillory faces allegations that he provided Mayo cash, meals, clothes, a flat-screen television, cellphone service and other services on behalf of Bill Duffy Associates Sports Management, the agency the top guard prospect recently announced would represent him as he turned pro.

The allegations were made by former associate Louis Johnson on a segment of ESPN's "Outside the Lines" broadcast Sunday. Johnson said Guillory received about $200,000 and a sports utility vehicle from BDA, sharing an estimated $30,000 of what he received with Mayo. For Maddox, it was a story that rang all too familiar.

Source: Los Angeles TimesNew Window

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16 Comments

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  1. David B
    1. Posted by David B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:16 pm EDT

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    what with the Michael Bush saga, and now this! What was USC up to? Now maybe we might know why
    they were winning so much!
  2. HB
    2. Posted by HB Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    I really don't care if the kid took money or not. It's the agencies, lawyers, so called agents and the NCAA themselves who exploit these kids. Everyone's making money and in most cases it's the kids that need the money most.
  3. mark s
    3. Posted by mark s Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:56 pm EDT

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    EVERY MAJOR COLLEGE TEAM VIOLATES THE RULES! the head coaches may not know, or choose to look the other way, but every assistant coach or scout violates multiple rules. if they looked into florida state football every year i guarantee they would have to forfeit every game over the past 20 years.
  4. bigboo's bro
    4. Posted by bigboo's bro Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

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    I understand why Mayo and other kids take the money: they're young, they love the attention, and they think they will get away with it. I don't think the kids should go unpunished, but they are at the bottom of the bad-guy pyramid in these situations. But let's not make believe they take the money to pay for grandma's dialysis or baby formula. I don't think Mayo needed 30K to spend on bling.
  5. Kurt L
    5. Posted by Kurt L Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:54 pm EDT

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    What needs to be addressed is that these "one-and-done" athletes can take the money with no repurcussions. The school may be investigated and punished, but by the time that happens, the athlete is long gone to the NBA or NFL. They are doing nothing illegal by taking cash and gifts from agents and boosters—they're simply violating the rules of an organization that they plan to have only a fleeting association with. Everyone is powerless to hold the athlete accountable. I defy anyone to find one 18-19 year old kid who won't take the money, knowing that there is no group that will be able to punish them in any way.
  6. Defender90
    6. Posted by Defender90 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:40 pm EDT

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    The Mayo and Bush (Reggie, not Michael) stories have nothing in common, other than USC. If the Mayo story is true, USC should be held accountable: Guillory had to be a known entity around the program after the Trepagnier story in 2000 and his tanking of Fresno State for simiilar offenses in 2002. On the other hand, there is no reason to believe Pete Carroll/USC had any idea who was paying the rent for Reggie Bush's parents' house... please.
  7. bigboo's bro
    7. Posted by bigboo's bro Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

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    Kurt L, excellent point. I figure the way to address it is to take scholarships from the teams that choose to accept the one-and-dones. For every player that leaves after just one year to go pro, you lose four four-year scholarships. For each player who leaves after two years to go pro, you lose two four-year scholarships. I bet then you wouldn't have to listen to all the douchebag coaches talking about how it is time for so-and-so to go to the next level (i.e., before they are declared ineligible). If somebody has to actually think about whether or not a player really wants to be a student before making an offer and admitting him, I think you will see a big change for the better.
  8. monterey ray
    8. Posted by monterey ray Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:31 pm EDT

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    With the illegal war on iraq, with the president, cheney and is pirates profiting on the war. why such a fuss with mayo. he is the victim. he didn't have any money, money was given to him. i would have done the same thing. when you are hungry, you eat a sandwich if someone offers it to you.
  9. Scott H
    9. Posted by Scott H Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:19 pm EDT

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    "Bad Guy" should rename himself "Stupid Guy." What a dopey comment, "But like most people from . . . . " Every reasonable and rational individual I know understands that every major sports program has challenges with these kids who come from marginal circumstances only to have to deal with these temptations. Stupid Guy would be among the first to cross the line if he where in similar circumstances I'm sure. Perhaps Stupid Guy should just read and not post. I'm actually embarrassed for him.
  10. T H
    10. Posted by T H Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:20 pm EDT

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    OJ Mayo is a trouble maker. He was suspended in HS for bumping a ref. He was not allowed to play his senior year in Ohio so he transferred to WV. Not only is he arrogant he thinks he is important enough to do whatever and walk away. Thanks OJ, wow!! that name rings a bell!!
  11. upgreydd
    11. Posted by upgreydd Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

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    Yeah, the USC haters will jump all over this. 1st, if the story is true, he was taking money while the 1 and done rule wasn't in effect, then they spring this rule on these kids. 2nd the school didn't know that he was getting the money, nor the NCAA, even though they both looked into it, once he said he was signing. 3rd They guy didn't pick the school, he's not a booster, he's in the business of getting the best players to sign with the agent, not a school, so USC is a victim as well, unless the knew. No one cares that Rose was paid $500,000 this year, and Beasly get paid to, Mr. agent himself David Faulk let that be known.
  12. BIG DADDY
    12. Posted by BIG DADDY Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    I could really care less if he took money or not. All i know is the players need to be paid something. I know alot of people don't understand how this really works. But, if it wasn't for the so called players who are getting paid were would must of be. The last time I checked the KNOWLEDGE bowl doesn't bring in millions of dollars.
  13. kurgan
    13. Posted by kurgan Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:47 pm EDT

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    Kurt L. said: "On the other hand, there is no reason to believe Pete Carroll/USC had any idea who was paying the rent for Reggie Bush's parents' house... please."
    Kurt, the "don't ask, don't tell" policy will not work for Carroll nor Floyd. They both have a responsibility to maintain an environment that regulates these issues and frankly, they do not.
    That is widely known.
    The loose policies and "win at any cost" philosophy is catching up to them.
  14. Nine
    14. Posted by Nine Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:39 pm EDT

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    why not take the money if you're mayo??? and ya he got a scholarship to usc...big deal. hes still being exploited. mayo doesnt need usc. usc needs him. hes going to the nba to make millions if he goes to LA Trade Tech.
  15. ross2424@...
    15. Posted by ross2424@... Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:51 pm EDT

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    he is a scrub anyway. Will get his rookie contract and make millions in endorsments and will be out of the league in 3 years. He is too immature still for the NBA level and doesnt have the talent or body to make up for his lack of maturity and his lack of basketball knowledge. He will be back playing pickup basketball at the local YMCA while telling stories about how he was "the next big thing".
  16. Alan J
    16. Posted by Alan J Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:45 pm EDT

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    I bet you guys are the same ones who were blasting the Sooners when Bomar receive several hundred dollars under the table, Now the tables have turned, Well well well!! How on gods green earth could anyone have seen money exchanged under the table boys??
    BUSh was driving around in a car the coaches new he could not afford, wearing bling he could not afford flying all over the place staying in 5star hotels, were talking 100's of thousands of dollars,hotels,plane tickets,cars, homes,suits,room serivice,agents running amuck in the locker rooms, now the Mayo payment plan. Get real boys!!! SMU death sentence was minor incomparison to this.

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