First of all, congratulations to young OJ Mayo for his fine NBA rookie season. Mayo ended up second in the Rookie of the Year voting.
Secondly, let’s put it out there that many people have a sense that Mayo’s one year stint at USC must have come along with some shady dealing. This week, part of that shady dealing may have seen the light of day.
Reports have come out that USC Basketball Coach Tim Floyd may have given one of Mayo’s associates the whopping sum of $1,000 to help steer the b-ball prodigy to Team Trojan.
If true, for the life of me, I don’t understand the risks either guy took. Why would Tim Floyd risk his livelihood, career, reputation, etc over $1,000? Clearly Mayo was worth way more than that, so how could Floyd rationalize paying such a small sum and taking such a big risk when he had to know if cash was the issue it was going to take a lot more that ten 100 bills to land Mayo.
As for Mayo’s associate, talk about short term thinking. I’m assuming this is a guy in OJ’s inner circle. With Mayo one year from an NBA contract and the talent to earn many more big money NBA contracts over the next decade or more, I don’t see why Mayo’s associate would risk breaking their bond of trust over 1K.
Again if true, it seems to me each guy was taking a stupid risk with very little upside. Now, Floyd is in hot water. And Mayo’s associate may have burned his bridge with the NBA star. The end of the ride is always a tough thing. Even more so when you’ve exiting due to your own extreme stupidity. Haven’t we all been there, after all?
We see this all the time in the human animal. Almost every day in your local paper (if it’s still in business) you find an article about some small town business manager or clerk who scammed the town’s petty cash or education fund or whatever for $5,000 or $10,000 or way less. Why do people take these risks? I will never never understand.
I tell myself that I have good morals and I really think I do, although I’m clearly far from perfect. Ask my wife, co-workers or friends to be sure…
I like to believe and I do believe that I couldn’t be tempted by greed for such a small amount of reward.
I like to think that I could only be pulled into some corrupt enterprise if it was on the level of an Oceans 11 movie. You know, a real caper. A scam so brilliant and audacious that you’re set up for life (if you don’t get caught). You end up living on the beach in Brazil or the Caribbean enjoying the good life and not signing up for any sequels. Straight and narrow after the one big score, you know…
The reality I like to believe is that if some George Clooney-like character ever did offer me a part in a big time con, my first move would be to involuntarily wet my pants. Sometimes fear protects you from your own stupidity and greed.
If the allegations are true, it’s just too bad Tim Floyd and OJ Mayo’s associate didn’t have the intelligence to have bladder problems…
