I have known O.J. for some time. Like so many highly talented kids (and Yes a person of 18 or even 19 is a Kid, whether he's holding a basketball or a rifle in Iraq) there is some bad in O.J. but I can assure you there is much more of the good in this young man.

 

He has been in a unique position of being in the spot light with his name in banner Sports headlines, on T.V., ESPN, USA Today and the whole bit ever since the seventh grade. In the 7th and 8th grade at Rose Hill, he showed maturity well beyond his years. The HATRED and JEALOUSY abounded on a nightly basis against this kid. Adult and teenage fans would ridicule and ride him unmercifully. Older, stronger players were jealous of his skills and often tried to hurt him or "take him out" in the hopes of winning. The attitudes and actions of jealous and angry fans and players who hated him were relentless. Their actions were far worse than anything O.J. did on or off the court. For the most part he took it much better than 95% would have done.

 

As a 7th & 8th grader he was very competitive and never backed down to older, stronger competition. As O.J. became stronger and improved, and as the abuse continued, he did occasionally retaliate and/or stand his ground as he did in Charleston in the game against Capital High. It's true he did not handle the situation well in Charleston that night. He's already said he has learned from his mistakes and would have handled things differently in hindsight.

 

I would challenge anyone who has undergone the daily emotional stress of being in the regional and national public spotlight since such an early age to have handled it much better than O.J. You can just go back and read the old posts of how unfairly he was portrayed here on Bluegrass Preps in previous years and it will be crystal clear. He not only does a credible job of maintaining control on the court, but handles the media and fan hype quite well, and does a good job with the taunters and haters who are out there working on him in public places off the court as well.

 

Excellent post. Those who excel often have a bevy of loyal supporters and an even larger group of those who want to tear them down. OJ has an abundance of both and those who have been "upset" by his achievements are often haunted long after he has left the scene of those achievements.

I am not using heresay in any of my opinions, just facts. Fact one: OJ was suspended from his school in Ohio last year, good example of poor decisions. Fact two: OJ is suspended AGAIN this year for getting two technical fouls, another prime example of poor actions on the court compounded by trying to get the suspension overturned, which in my opinion and many others gives the appearance of OJ thinking that the rules do not and should not apply to him. Fact three: OJ has been to not one, not two, but three high schools, not a good example of stability and before anyone says that OJ had no choice in his school situation save your breath and try to be honest. And before anyone signs up for the ten percent from his NBA contract let me throw out a few names; Felipe Lopez, Omar Cook, DeJuan Wagner and LaBradford Smith. All of these players had great high school and/or college careers and were "can't miss" prospects, at least on par with OJ. And guess what? It did not work out. So before we all get in line for the shoe purchase to help support OJ maybe, just maybe, it would be a good idea to wait and see how this young man, not a kid, pans out first.

I am not using heresay in any of my opinions, just facts. Fact one: OJ was suspended from his school in Ohio last year, good example of poor decisions. Fact two: OJ is suspended AGAIN this year for getting two technical fouls, another prime example of poor actions on the court compounded by trying to get the suspension overturned, which in my opinion and many others gives the appearance of OJ thinking that the rules do not and should not apply to him. Fact three: OJ has been to not one, not two, but three high schools, not a good example of stability and before anyone says that OJ had no choice in his school situation save your breath and try to be honest. And before anyone signs up for the ten percent from his NBA contract let me throw out a few names; Felipe Lopez, Omar Cook, DeJuan Wagner and LaBradford Smith. All of these players had great high school and/or college careers and were "can't miss" prospects, at least on par with OJ. And guess what? It did not work out. So before we all get in line for the shoe purchase to help support OJ maybe, just maybe, it would be a good idea to wait and see how this young man, not a kid, pans out first.

Super Post!!!! I couldn't agree with you more!:thumb: By the way I love your avatar!

Frances, I also respect your opinion as I do ladiesbballcoach. However, I must add that, as with ladiesbballcoach, your opinions on Mayo are based on heresay. The fact that many defend Mayo rather than defame him should not be interpreted as idolatry. You make a concerted effort to always defend any and all things Ashland related. I always figured it was loyalty and never considered it as idolatry. Was I wrong?

 

Scooterbob -

 

I think you misunderstand my position on Mayo. I'm neither a "basher" nor a "devoted fan". I consider myself a fan, from the standpoint of admiring his abilities. I also recognize that as he has gone through his relatively short life, he has been catered to by a group of people that see him as nothing more than a meal ticket. At this point, it is a miracle that he doesn't treat everyone like mud on his shoe, considering that his "handlers" act as they do.

 

All that said, he is old enough to take responsibility for his actions - whether those actions are good or bad. This is true for EVERY 18 year old in this country, and I consider Mayo no different in that regard - his basketball abilities notwithstanding.

 

I'm all for Mayo, and I wish him the best. I hope that he goes to the NBA and has a long career. I bear him no grudge whatsoever. He is now past the point of being able to lay any shortcomings at the feet of his "posse", and I look forward to the day that he leaves them behind.

 

 

Frances

I am not using heresay in any of my opinions, just facts. Fact one: OJ was suspended from his school in Ohio last year, good example of poor decisions. Fact two: OJ is suspended AGAIN this year for getting two technical fouls, another prime example of poor actions on the court compounded by trying to get the suspension overturned, which in my opinion and many others gives the appearance of OJ thinking that the rules do not and should not apply to him. Fact three: OJ has been to not one, not two, but three high schools, not a good example of stability and before anyone says that OJ had no choice in his school situation save your breath and try to be honest. And before anyone signs up for the ten percent from his NBA contract let me throw out a few names; Felipe Lopez, Omar Cook, DeJuan Wagner and LaBradford Smith. All of these players had great high school and/or college careers and were "can't miss" prospects, at least on par with OJ. And guess what? It did not work out. So before we all get in line for the shoe purchase to help support OJ maybe, just maybe, it would be a good idea to wait and see how this young man, not a kid, pans out first.

 

 

Now there, fellow posters, is a real assault on the rules of evidence. Cite a couple of facts and then bury us with personal opinion, supposition, and statements that seem to reek of, you got it, jealousy. The fact that Blue Blazer fully concurs merely adds substance to the obvious conclusion.

Scooterbob -

 

I think you misunderstand my position on Mayo. I'm neither a "basher" nor a "devoted fan". I consider myself a fan, from the standpoint of admiring his abilities. I also recognize that as he has gone through his relatively short life, he has been catered to by a group of people that see him as nothing more than a meal ticket. At this point, it is a miracle that he doesn't treat everyone like mud on his shoe, considering that his "handlers" act as they do.

 

All that said, he is old enough to take responsibility for his actions - whether those actions are good or bad. This is true for EVERY 18 year old in this country, and I consider Mayo no different in that regard - his basketball abilities notwithstanding.

 

I'm all for Mayo, and I wish him the best. I hope that he goes to the NBA and has a long career. I bear him no grudge whatsoever. He is now past the point of being able to lay any shortcomings at the feet of his "posse", and I look forward to the day that he leaves them behind.

 

 

Frances

 

Frances, we have found common ground. Those who have reached the age of eighteen should be held responsible for their actions. However, they also have every right to pursue all avenues which may offer a defense or, at least, may mitigate the circumstances.

 

There seems to be a good plurality, if not a majority, of those who have "viewed" the video of the incident who have concluded that the referee is, at best, not "without sin" and, at worst, a fake and troublemaker.

 

This being at least a material interpretation of the matter clearly leads to the conclusion that Mayo has every right to pursue what he sees as justice.

This certainly includes an investigation of the intent of the referee in calling the two technical fouls in the first place. What was his intent? It is a reasonable issue.

 

Some BGPers are practicing automatic judgment and conviction and seem to want a quick execution. Our system doesn't, and shouldn't, work that way.

 

We who are supporters of Mayo are not idolators. That is insulting. However, we are loyal to one whom we know and care about. I believe most would find that position as a positive and not a negative in today's society. As a national celebrity of sorts, he should have no more rights than anyone else. However, he should have no less rights either.

... We who are supporters of Mayo are not idolators. That is insulting....

 

I realize that not everyone that roots for OJ to do well would, could, or should be labeled as an idolator. I was simply playing off of your post that accused others of jealousy. Without a doubt, there are some that truly suffer from jealousy of OJ, and his potential future. Likewise, there are some that suffer from idolatry of that same potential future.

 

In my opinion, there are very few that can truly be cast in either of those camps. Rather, the majority lie somewhere in between.

 

 

Frances

The referee flopped and this is a travesty. I do not condone misconduct but the referree should never be allowed to ref again.

And there is another eight letter word that describess the attitude of a few toward him - IDOLATRY.

 

 

 

 

Frances

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :thumb:

Yeah, I cannot reveal his Clark Kentness, but I can tell you this Old Rambler....he is a walking talking information filled historian and Statistician of local sports and Professional Baseball. I dare you, no I take that back, I double dare you, no I take that back as well, I double Dog dare you... ask him anything about local sports from 1947-2007, you cannot stump him. He is Ashland's version of ESPN's the SCWAB.

:thumb: :thumb: :lol: Thanks for the warning. Sound slike he is aTomcat. I am a Raceland Rambler first and a Ashland Tomcat second so we should get along. I am sure we will butt heads sooner or later, everyone on here usually does. As long as it is in good fun that is fine.

I watched the video on u-tube from several different angles. the punishment does not fit the crime. The first T was for carrying the ball up the floor after the dunk. I dont think they were any trash talking. If they were the Ref was on the wrong side of the floor to see it. OJ then walked on down the floor and was elbowed at mid-court by a Capitol player. He did not retaliate. If you watch the Ref and the other Ref's he was only watching OJ. None of the other Ref's had their whistle in their mouths. He had his out of his mouth and then put it back in when Oj walked back to midcourt and When Oj walked by the Capitol player that elbowed him he just looked at him. Then he blew the second T for no reason what so ever except head hunting. At that point OJ could not believe he called that one and went to ask what he did. He is a captain he can approach the Ref. Thats when Hulk Hogan fell on the floor and floped like a fish. The ref is the one that was unfair in this situation. He should be the one suspended. I give you the first T but no way the second. He should not be sitting out any games this is unfair.

Do you know him?

 

actually I do...

... Thats when Hulk Hogan fell on the floor and floped like a fish....

 

I got a good chuckle out of this one. :thumb:

 

 

Frances

actually I do...

Well thats great, I'm just saying what I think about him.

Come on, TOPCAT, don't question TinCup11. He already has everything figured out. Nonetheless, I'll bet the ultra-egotist portrayed on his avatar would jump at the chance to coach this "unseemly teenager".