Oldrambler, I always assumed from your name that you were tied to Raceland. Nonetheless, it was not my intention to upset you but, instead, to state what I believe to be the obvious. By your hostility, I assume I hit a sore spot.

 

I will be the first to admit that I am an unabashed supporter of Ovinton. That should surprise no one. Unlike most who post about Mayo, I actually know him. I don't have to look to heresay in developing my opinion.

 

None of us fully realize the pressure that has existed for this young man since the seventh grade. I know for a fact, as do a very few more on BGP, of the enormous temptations that he has faced. I also know that he has never been and, to this point, still is not in control of his destiny. I won't go into any detail because I am, again, ath the NMB library and my 30 minutes on this computer are down to 6 minutes. However, those few who know the full facts know of what I refer. Let's keep in mind that Ovinton is eighteen years old. He is still a kid. A kid who is allowed to make very few of his own decisions. I seriously doubt if any of us could do better if faced with similar circumstances. I certainly couldn't.

 

I say we should be a little less critical. It actually appears that many enjoy his problems. Their praise and good wishes appear to be superficial and insincere.

 

Say what you will, oldrambler, but Mayo is obviously the best to ever represent a school in this area. Even you must, if honest, admit that.

Dear scooterbob, You did not upset me at all, like I said it takes far more than a h.s. kid to really upset me, I tend to not live my life through them. My question on the O.J. saga was more related to the persons that he has obviuosly chosen or that someone has chosen for him to direct his future. It seems to me that these people are noting but scum of the earth vultures that want to make a name for themselves off of his talents. This is pretty sick if you ask me. If you know O.J. well then maybe you could talk to him personally and maybe help steer him in the right direction bc the one he seems to be on now, to me anyway is definately one that could cost the kid a great future. Just a couple of examples of this that come to mind are M. Clarrett and the younger Vick brother at Va. Tech. Wether you want to belive it or not I am not against the kid at all, I have openly said that I wish him sucsess. That is not an insincere comment - I don't get a kick out of bashing h.s. kids. IMO no 18 yr. old is in control of their own destiny, that imo is what mentors, close friends that have the kids best interest in heart, coache that are not trying to advance their own stature off of his glory and parents are for. As for you question/comment on I would have to admit that he is the best to ever come out of this area or represent a school form this area - he definately is one of if not the most talented, others that I can think of right off hand arethe Lynch boys from Ashland, D. Rigsby and J. Hall from Fairview, T. Roberts, a couple of the Hensleys at Russell. To me anyway the "best to ever represent a school in tis area" goes beyond what they do on the hardwood or playing field. It just seems to me that some of the decisions that are being made for this kid are not in his best interest and like I said, could ruin a very bright future in athletics for him. What does somewaht upset me is some people that seem to be mind readers and can say what I mean by a certain statement or question that I might have when they don't know me, what I go through on a daily basis or what my motives are or are not. So scbob, you did not "hit a sore spot" or cause hostility as you called it on me, so my advice to you would be that if you know O.J. like you say you do to use some of you efforts that you put forth on bgp defending O.J. (when no one imo is really bashing the kid himself) and use them to help him with some of the advice / bad advice that he seems to be recieving from people that help make his decisions.

Yeah right, and if you get that winning powerball ticket give it away, instead of claiming your millions.

 

If I had that ticket I wouldn't be whining about what I had to go through to get it. If your life is messed up then change it, if your unwilling to do that then go on with what your doing don't complain about how someone else is not letting you live it!!!

If I had that ticket I wouldn't be whining about what I had to go through to get it. If your life is messed up then change it, if your unwilling to do that then go on with what your doing don't complain about how someone else is not letting you live it!!!

:thumb: :thumb: very well said!

If I had that ticket I wouldn't be whining about what I had to go through to get it. If your life is messed up then change it, if your unwilling to do that then go on with what your doing don't complain about how someone else is not letting you live it!!!

 

 

No kid has ever been under the kind of scrutiny O.J. Mayo has been under, including LeBron James. And it's easy to say go on and live your life the way you want to when you are talking about an adult, but O.J Mayo is a kid. He's a kid with a special gift, and the burden of being a savior for his family and those others who are trying to make a living off of him.

 

Maybe one day he'll being mature enough to make the decision you speak of, but I can certainly see why & how his lifestyle is burdening him at the present time.

Oldrambler, I always assumed from your name that you were tied to Raceland. Nonetheless, it was not my intention to upset you but, instead, to state what I believe to be the obvious. By your hostility, I assume I hit a sore spot.

 

I will be the first to admit that I am an unabashed supporter of Ovinton. That should surprise no one. Unlike most who post about Mayo, I actually know him. I don't have to look to heresay in developing my opinion.

 

None of us fully realize the pressure that has existed for this young man since the seventh grade. I know for a fact, as do a very few more on BGP, of the enormous temptations that he has faced. I also know that he has never been and, to this point, still is not in control of his destiny. I won't go into any detail because I am, again, ath the NMB library and my 30 minutes on this computer are down to 6 minutes. However, those few who know the full facts know of what I refer. Let's keep in mind that Ovinton is eighteen years old. He is still a kid. A kid who is allowed to make very few of his own decisions. I seriously doubt if any of us could do better if faced with similar circumstances. I certainly couldn't.

 

I say we should be a little less critical. It actually appears that many enjoy his problems. Their praise and good wishes appear to be superficial and insincere.

 

Say what you will, oldrambler, but Mayo is obviously the best to ever represent a school in this area. Even you must, if honest, admit that.

 

Are you basing your statement on the present, or are you saying that O.J. as an eighth grader was better than anyone else who ever played in the area?

Is O.J. really the # 1 in the Class of 2007?

 

There is another choice to the traveling circus...

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/5539492

Is O.J. really the # 1 in the Class of 2007?

 

There is another choice to the traveling circus...

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/5539492

 

Raz,

I think that may be the same article I posted on 4/26 in the thread about NCH celebrating without Mayo, Walker, et al....

It is a good article!.

 

Here is an interesting opinion article by Jeff Goodman on the Fox site that came out within the last 24 hours. It discusses a different #1 player in the 2007 class and has some questions about the "circus act of sorts" around Mayo. Check out why & who the other #1 could be:

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/5539492

 

WoodyJr

Isn't OJ 18? If he wanted, could he not leave behind those that are on his coattails since none appear to be his parents?

Isn't OJ 18? If he wanted, could he not leave behind those that are on his coattails since none appear to be his parents?

 

Did you not depend on your parents/guardians when you were 18?

 

Aside from that, and 18 year old kid in his situation needs more guidance than your average 18 year old.

Did you not depend on your parents/guardians when you were 18?

 

Aside from that, and 18 year old kid in his situation needs more guidance than your average 18 year old.

 

I would agree - with the caveat that the "guidance" be good guidance. What are we to make of the quality of the guidance he is currently receiving?

 

Frances

Raz,

I think that may be the same article I posted on 4/26 in the thread about NCH celebrating without Mayo, Walker, et al....

It is a good article!.

 

Here is an interesting opinion article by Jeff Goodman on the Fox site that came out within the last 24 hours. It discusses a different #1 player in the 2007 class and has some questions about the "circus act of sorts" around Mayo. Check out why & who the other #1 could be:

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/5539492

 

WoodyJr

 

Sorry did not see it. But I liked the article.

No kid has ever been under the kind of scrutiny O.J. Mayo has been under, including LeBron James. And it's easy to say go on and live your life the way you want to when you are talking about an adult, but O.J Mayo is a kid. He's a kid with a special gift, and the burden of being a savior for his family and those others who are trying to make a living off of him.

 

Maybe one day he'll being mature enough to make the decision you speak of, but I can certainly see why & how his lifestyle is burdening him at the present time.

 

And I can to! I'm sure he's got a lot of things to deal with. I met him in Frankfort at the SL game breifly seems like a great kid, but you can't deny his off the court troubles. I'm sure being in 3 different high schools in four years isn't good. Being in every AAU b-ball thing going is rough. If he had wanted to not move or transfer he could have prevented this. I know people are telling him how much he'll be worth in a couple of years but that isn't now. He'll grow up and things will be different someday it's just not what they think it's going to be when they get there sometimes I'm crossing my fingers for him and I hope he does well. Good Luck OJ. Now the other side of things is how many special things have been done for him, is it fair to other kids that 2 of the top kids in the nation are on the same team? How good would and above average high school kid be with either Walker or Mayo? How much pub. would another kid get if he was with that traveling circus? The playing field should be as close to normal and level as it can be but because of him and others like him it's all out of wack! Can you make stars out of players? If you put them with good players and travel and pub your games and get into classes you can win SURE. From what I've seen myself BOTH these kids would be above average players on a team by themself, now with Ellis rebouding and just throwing it pass mid-court and it's a wide open dunk fest at the other end makes both them look GREAT. SL got them into a half court offense and they were just average. OJ can create shots but has trouble if the person guarding him is as quick. JMHO...............LTW.

I would agree - with the caveat that the "guidance" be good guidance. What are we to make of the quality of the guidance he is currently receiving?

Frances

 

 

And there is where the problem lies.....Its almost like he has to choose between bad guidance or none at all.

And there is where the problem lies.....Its almost like he has to choose between bad guidance or none at all.

 

I'd say that that captures the situation nicely. On the other hand, he is now 18 years old, and he now has the legal standing to throw off the yoke of these leeches, and surround himself with a more stable group of people.

 

Like all of us, I seriously doubt that at the age of 18 he possesses the wisdom to do so...

 

 

Frances

I'd say that that captures the situation nicely. On the other hand, he is now 18 years old, and he now has the legal standing to throw off the yoke of these leeches, and surround himself with a more stable group of people.

 

Like all of us, I seriously doubt that at the age of 18 he possesses the wisdom to do so...

 

 

Frances

 

That's the point I was trying to make as well.:thumb: :thumb: