Sports

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   ADDITIONAL ITEMS • NCAA (External Link) • nba.com (External Link)   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Sunday, May 11, 2008 COLLEGE BASKETBALL: ESPN reports USC's Mayo got cash, benefits from promoter Associated Press LOS ANGELES -- A former associate of USC freshman guard O.J. Mayo claims the basketball star received thousands of dollars in cash and other gifts from an event promoter over the past four years that would violate NCAA rules, ESPN reported Sunday. Louis Johnson told ESPN's "Outside the Lines," that Rodney Guillory, a Los Angeles-based event promoter, gave Mayo about $30,000 and other benefits while he attended high school and his sole season at USC. Mayo has decided to forgo his sophomore year and enter the NBA draft. Guillory received monthly payments from a Northern California sports agency Bill Duffy Associates, the network reported. A phone message left for the agency was not immediately returned Sunday. Johnson said the agency provided Guillory with about $200,000 before Mayo arrived at USC. Guillory used most of the money to support his own lifestyle but also gave a portion of it to Mayo, Johnson told ESPN. Mayo then entered into a verbal agreement that allowed the agency to represent him when he turned pro, Johnson added. Giving college athletes money or other gifts violates NCAA policy. "I will not allow these allegations to become a distraction to me and my family," Mayo said in a statement to ESPN. "I have not engaged in any wrongdoing." Mayo got into some minor trouble with the NCAA earlier this year after he accepted free tickets from Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony to an NBA game. Mayo didn't miss any games but had to contribute $460 -- the total value of the two tickets -- to a charitable organization. USC said in a statement that NCCA and Pac-10 officials have looked into Mayo's status "before and during his enrollment at USC, and did not identify any amateurism violations." Johnson said he doesn't believe USC officials knew Guillory provided cash and other benefits to Mayo. However, he claims some USC coaches had regular contact with Guillory. Johnson, who claims he didn't get paid, also gave ESPN receipts and invoices for many of the purchases.

1. Study backs Paine Field passenger service 2. Boeing Machinists say they're willing to strike 3. Cheers, fears as AM radio towers rise in Snohomish 4. Firefighters battle house fire in Silver Firs area 5. More gain than pain for Everett from Paine Field flights 6. Seattle's Green Lake closed after 50 metal spikes found near shore 7. Local Briefly: Detectives say no signs of injury found on body 8. Vandals cause $12,000 in damage at Evergreen Cemetery 9. Guilty plea in motel death 10. How county residents are dealing with the economy 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Senior housing on way to Lynnwood • Something for everyone • 'Dog'-gone unusual • Ex-employee, blog author sues school district • Everything's coming up Shakespeare • School district budget shows improvement • Christopher's way • 57 years and ticking, washing, drying • Agreement nets Ballinger group $200K • Arlington Fly-In marks 40th anniversary this year • Melody Biringer a wide-ranging entrepreneur • County home market offers low rates, lower prices, wide variety of prope ... • Good investments may be boring but profitable • Fryelands industrial park growing in Monroe • Out of the Blue Aviation expands flight training • Paul Allen’s rare Flying Heritage Collection becomes latest aviation att ... • Warbird's history keeper