USC loves drinking that O.J.
The story’s been floating around that O.J. Mayo is about to declare that he’s on his way to USC. I’ve had just about enough USC coverage for this lifetime.
They’ve become a pro football factory in a soft conference. I worship at the altar of Reggie Bush and his highlight moves like everyone else, but seriously, during USC’s run to one uncontested national title over three years, they might have played like 5 good teams. They were treated like a pro football team by the media and the public, and deservedly so. But fine, that was one sport. The L.A. sports scene was struggling, and the opening was there. Now they’re set to take over college basketball?
If the story is true, O.J. Mayo is making an incredible business decision. He’s pimping the system as hard as he can. Reggie Bush, when not cramming for mid-terms was working out with LaDanian Tomlinson just like every other “student” athlete. Why do I get the feeling that O.J. will be running with the likes of KB24, Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Shaun Livingston, and basically every pro in the L.A. area. Mayo will be the dominant force in college basketball as a freshman, even moreso than Carmelo was.
Think about this, Joakim Noah is the reigning MOP, and he wasn’t even that great until the tourney. Mayo might be better than him already. O.J. is going to be the proverbial man among boys until he plays Greg Oden. Mayo can pick any school in the country and turn it into a Final Four threat. I don’t think I’m overstating his potential here. Pimpwiz agrees, and that’s good enough for me. The most overexposed football school will now become the most overexposed basketball school. Even obviously pro-USC sites like trojanwire are skeptical about this move. They’ll get one hyped up year for their program and then what? Collegiate athletics are supposed to create a buzz for a school, and a run through through the NCAA tourney can bring in lots of revenue and make a high school kid want to go there for college, even if he or she just wants to go to the games and doesn’t play a sport. The last school in the country that needs help generating buzz is USC.
It was one thing when there was a UCLA running back named Abdul-Jabbar who wore #33. Lew Alcindor is the UCLA legend, not Kareem. But USC has a different kind of name legacy with their greatest athlete ever produced. Reggie Bush? Hollywood Leinhart? Marcus Allen? Carson Palmer? Scalabrine? Those guys were all great, but there’s someone better. The Juice.
Even if Mayo were to become the greatest freshman in college history, he will never be the real O.J. from USC. When I think USC, what comes to mind are Orenthal James and stabbing. (Allegedly, and not guilty by our laws of course.) If you have your choice of going to any school in the country, why would you do this to yourself? My wish is that Mayo turns his back on the NCAAs and leaves that to the amateur athletes (who don’t exist), while he get his money from a shoe deal and works on his game in another pro league for a year. My second wish is that he would pick any school in the country other than USC.
I guess all that’s left is to plead with him not to wear #32. And stay away from Kato.
9 Responses to “USC loves drinking that O.J.”
Jul.11 at 2:19 am
RB3 says:
I agree with O.J. not wearing number 32, he needs to set his own legacy at USC the better question is why isn’t he doing a diary or something to the extinct of the “Through the Fire” documentary like Bassy did. Everyone in America wants to know what goes on behind the scenes with the next big thing! Also can SLAM publish some pics of Bill Walker dunking on folks?
Jul.15 at 4:00 pm
power chair walker holder says:
power chair walker holder I never thought about this .
Jul.17 at 5:02 pm
Deon Berry says:
I think that even if is a one year and out player, atleast let him generate some publicity to a basketball program thats been overshadowed by football. I personally would love to see him there. It’s garunteed to bring other top high school prospects. If he comes those other top players our going to come because they see it as a chance to be apart of history. Just enjoy it while it lasts. With all the badgering that he’s recieving he’ll leave elsewhere and ultimately he’ll leave with every other top prospect and USC wont see another one in a long time.
Look at what Greg Oden did for Ohio State. He signed and then bam. other top players followed suit now Ohio State will enter the season in the top 5 to reach the 2007 NCAA Championship.
Jul.18 at 6:09 pm
Zach F. says:
With Farmar out at UCLA and no other superbig prospects coming into the PAC-10, USC will have a great chance to win it, they may even be the favorites. Also the recruits possibly coming w/ mayo: bill walker-vince carter jr., Keneen Ellis-6′11″ will need to bulk up, and possibly aaron pouge. If they win the pac-10 they could have a pretty good tourney run until they meet up with oden at osu or hansborough and lawson/ellington/wright at nc. Still then with that much talent can’t count them out until the game is over.
Aug.3 at 7:09 pm
WVPS says:
OJ Mayo did not grow up in Cincy! He is from Huntington WV as is Bill Walker. If you check your factbook you will find that there are 6 Div I prospects from this small town in the class of 2007 to include 3 of the top 15 in the nation. Tell me the last time a town of 50K produced that type of BBall tallent? Check out Patrick Patterson who is the third of the top 15 trio.
Aug.5 at 2:47 pm
LA's#1fan says:
one of the greatest college RBs of all-time, but me and my cuz got into a heated argument about whos USC’s best RB; Reggie or O.J. I say Reggie
Aug.29 at 11:48 am
Jerry F. says:
I figure OJ will either go to USC. Fla. Or Kansas St. All three Mayo, Walker, and Patrick Patterson have offers from Florida. OJ transferred to Huntington High today and will rekindle a friendship w/ one of his close friends growing up Patterson. I wouldn’t be suprised to see the 3 go to college together unless mayo heads to USC and Walker follows him which I doubt since Bill is on the sidelines alone, at North college Hill.
Mar.26 at 6:03 pm
Tyrone says:
Cmon OJ Simpson was and is USC football….Sorry Reggie……his name is OJ Mayo….Simpson Mayo….this is something to give him more publicity before he even gets to tha pros……..Be Real
Apr.22 at 9:05 pm
C Town says:
if oj shouldn’t wear no. 32, which he has worn pretty much all his life then what # will he wear? He didn’t base his choice of 32 on Simpson.