O. J. Mayo Involved in a Sports Agency Scandal

[erpowers]

ESPN has reported that a supposed former associate of O.J. Mayo is claiming Mayo was the recepient of about $30,000 in gifts from a person close to the sports agency he (O.J. Mayo) signed with when he announced he was entering the NBA draft. According to the supposed former associate Mayo was given a number of gifts including a flat screen TV and clothes by Rodney Guillory a California event promoter with the understanding that Mayo would sign with DBA Sports Agency once joined the NBA.

If this story is true, what do other think? Is there anyway to stop this kind of stuff from happening. My only solution would be to prevent any sports agents or their representatives who are proven to have done things like this from representing players. I would not mind making it a lifetime ban even for one offensive. So what do others think?

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3390695

[MeanMeanJellyBean]

1. my advice is to change the menu

USC just forgot to hold the Mayo... bada bing

[LSdemocrat]

2. I honestly think the NCAA should lift all restrictions on third party gifts, etc.

If someone with the university or affiliated with the university wants to give something, then that's a problem. But, I see no reason why student athletes shouldn't be able to sign independent contracts for agents, endorsements, etc.

[northzax]

3. well, there's the problem

who's associated with the university? say I am a USC alum, can I sign UCLA players, but not USC players?

personally, I think that the only real solution to this particular case is the Death Penalty for USC, SMU got it and their infractions were no worse or more widespread than USC's. there is obviously no institutional control, and it is spread between two sports (at least). but they won't do that, and that would only affect basketball (not the ultra high revenue football) so, take both teams, ban them from out of conference and post season play for two years. next infraction in a decade means a two year suspension of that sport from all intercollegiate play or practice.

[LSdemocrat]

4. I would actually only restrict you at all if you were also a large backer of the university

So even if you were a USC alum, but not a significant financial backer of USC, I'd still let you sign USC players.

[northzax]

5. define 'significant'

Would it count if I gave the school $100,000/year? What if I gave basketball players at the school $100,000/year? Aren't they roughly the same?