Spicy Mayo: O.J. Has Tainted His Legacy Before It Began

O.J. Mayo has found himself in a situation many college athletes only dream about.

He is about to become an NBA Star.

He will soon have an annual salary exceeding what most kids his age will never see.

He will be recognized all around the world for what he can do with a basketball.

Yet, there is one thing O.J. Mayo may never have: The fan's trust.

Late Sunday night, Mayo had been connected to a story that showed he had received thousands of dollars in cash and other benefits while he was in high school and during his freshman year at USC. 

According to Louis Johnson, who worked with Mayo and was considered to be in his inner circle, O.J. accepted over $30,000 in money and gifts from 43-year-old Los Angeles event promoter Rodney Guillory.  Among the gifts Mayo received included a television, plane tickets, meals, clothes, and cell phone service. 

Johnson claimed Guillory was given in excess of $200,000 to fund the gifts he would offer to Mayo by a Northern California sports agency called BDA Management.  In return for all of the gifts, Mayo would then commit to signing a contract with BDA, allowing them to represent him the moment he turned pro.

ESPN began its coverage and within hours, Mayo was verbally denying everything. 

"I had no knowledge of anything like that.  I'll find out more when I meet with Mr. Duffy and Mr. [Calvin] Andrews [of BDA]," Mayo said.

Once considered the next LeBron James, Mayo had the option of coming clean and displaying an image almost all athletes never can: a role model.

Unfortunately, this story is only going to grow, and soon Mayo will discover his name will be forever tainted, and anything he says will always be taken with a grain of salt.

O.J. Mayo will find out the consequences that come with being a high-profile college athlete.  All of the cash and gifts might have been nice in the short run, but the long-run effects will never go away.

The age-old argument of whether or not college athletes should be paid is ludicrous.  Yes, playing a sport in college requires a major commitment.  But most of these athletes are already getting extended deadlines and extra help in class. 

As a college student myself, I have attended classes with other student athletes and have physically seen professors allow each to "take an extra day" when papers are due or when a test would be administered. 

What about the average student who goes to work before or after class, and sometimes both?  Should they be compensated for their commitment or given more time to complete a scholastic task?  Absolutely not.

Someday, it would be nice to see these college athletes act more like the adults they wish to be treated (and paid) like.