It’s happening to USC again. A Trojan star athlete named OJ, who wears #32 (don’t they ever learn over there?) is causing embarrassment for the ‘SC Athletic Department. But this time, it’s the Department who could get penalized.
A report on ESPN’s Outside The Lines show which aired this past Sunday morning alleges that basketball star O.J. Mayo received tens of thousands of dollars in gifts and benefits from a sports promoter while playing for the Trojans.
The alleged gifts included a flat-screen television, cash, cellphone service, meals, clothes, and other benefits going back to Mayo’s high school days, according to Louis Johnson, a former Mayo confidant who made the allegations on the show.
To corroborate his story, Johnson supplied expense receipts and money transfer orders to the show. Said Johnson: “The fact of the matter is that O.J. has been pimped.”
Great. Just what USC needs. More accusations against a major Trojan athletic star. There is still an ongoing investigation (what’s taking the NCAA so freakin’ long?) into whether former USC football star Reggie Bush, now with the New Orleans Saints, received improper benefits.
Mayo, in a written reply to ESPN, denied any wrongdoing. He claims to have been thoroughly investigated by the school, the Pac-10, and the NCAA before he arrived and was cleared to play.
If the NCAA ever concludes it’s investigation of the Reggie Bush matter, penalties to USC football could be devastating. It could ruin the football program for many years to come.
If eventually found guilty in the O.J. Mayo situation, that, along with the Bush penalties, could be way beyond devastating, and could ruin the entire Athletic Department.
Fight On.
