Who’s advising Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo these days? Based on the lame excuse that an energy drink he purchased at a gas station is the cause of his recent drug test failure, we’re worried that he may be taking advice from former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, who claimed he was hiking the Appalachian Trail when he was really in Argentina visiting his girlfriend.
Speaking to reporters prior to Saturday’s game against the Wizards, Mayo made the following claims:
"It's not like I went to a GNC and got some kind of Muscle Armor or something. Or ordered some supplement off the Internet or anything. It was just a local gas station that kind of got me hemmed up. … It was an energy drink or something similar.”
Come on, O.J. Are you serious?
We believe the behavior associated with Mayo’s latest statement contains numerous deceptive elements. First, he still fails to say definitively that he didn’t use a performance-enhancing drug. Second, his use of the qualified phrase “kind of got me hemmed up” worries us. The phrase “kind of” suggests something else is involved, and indicates there is more to the story.
Third, his latest statement seems to conflict with his original claim in which he said, “I had no idea that the over-the-counter supplement that I took was a substance banned by the NBA.” In this statement Mayo clearly says he “took” an over-the counter supplement. We have simply not heard athletes, or anyone else, say, “I took an energy drink.” We “take” things such as supplements, pills, and medicine. We “drink” energy drinks.
Finally, a point of logic. It has been reported that Mayo will lose $405,000 as a result of his 10-game suspension. If you were going to be penalized to that extent for innocently buying an energy drink at a gas station, wouldn’t you push back on the system at least a little bit? Maybe push for a reduction? Maybe insist this is unfair or wrong? Not in Mayo’s case – he seems content to sit back and enjoy his time off. We hope he doesn’t decide to head for the Appalachian Trail.
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