It's crazy.
No, not the Cavaliers leading by two.
O.J. Mayo.
He was sitting courtside at the game. Now I know Mayo because he's from my hometown of Huntington, WV. I know his family. Played ball with his dad in high school and went to school with his mom and dad.
Now Mayo is in the middle of this report about him getting cash in his four years of high school and at USC from people involved in the agency he just signed with to represent him. So I just walked up to him and started talking. He greeted me and we talked for a minute while Diddy's new R&B group from Making the Band, Day 26, was performing.
Mayo says he doesn't know what's going on and plans to find out when he goes back to school He just visited his mom for Mother's Day this weekend and he says he's focusing on the upcoming draft. He was in Cleveland from a connecting flight as he heads back out to Cali.
Now anyone who saw the ESPN piece has painted a picture that looks like Mayo did take money. In the end, it's a he said, he said story.
Mayo has been through stuff like this in terms of his name in the middle of controversy. He's made it this far so I don't sense him rattled by it at all. Kind of scary someone that young may be immune to stuff like this.
Now even though I know him, know his family, one, I'm going to report it like I see it. Mayo does know something and anyone who thinks he's the first guy to be in this situation should think again.
Now, back to the halftime.
Did you see how Paul Pierce fouled James? He basically grabbed him around the shoulders and took him out of bounds on the baseline. James was on the break and the only thing Pierce could do was grab him.
Well, he could have taken a charge, but the way LeBron was motoring to the lane, he took a different option. I'm not gonna lie, I would hate to try to stop the guy on the break.
Before we get back to the game, consider this.
James has only made close in shots, He's missed all six jump shots, That's got to change. He has three fouls. If he picks up a fourth, that's a problem for the Cavaliers.
As for the Celtics, Kevin Garnett leads all scorers with 13 points. He's playing really good. James has 12. The key to this game is whoever gets better supporting help for James or Garnett, that team will win the game.
See you at the buzzer.
- Duane Rankin