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The sports agency representing former USC basketball player O.J. Mayo denied it did anything illegal in recruiting him. ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” reported that Mayo received about $30,000 and other benefits while in high school and during his freshman year at USC.
A statement issued by Bill Duffy Associates said the agency’s recruitment did “not involve any conduct … that could have remotely jeopardized O.J. Mayo’s collegiate eligibility. Everything in the report that suggests otherwise is false.”
The NCAA, which reviewed Mayo’s situation before his arrival at USC, said the information was “new” and has opened another investigation.
Chiefs sign four from tryout
Four players from the Chiefs’ recent tryout camp were signed to two-year contracts. They are wide receiver Kevin McMahan, fullback Steven Jackson, tackle Ken Shackleford and linebacker E.J Kuale.
McMahan, who played in college at Maine, was on the Chiefs’ practice squad for part of last season. Jackson, from Clemson, has been to camp in the last two seasons with the Vikings and Panthers. Shackleford, who played at Georgia, went to camp with St. Louis last year. Kuale went to camp two years ago with New Orleans.
Goaltending change coming?
An NCAA committee has recommended changing the goaltending rule so that a ball that is above the rim and already hit the backboard could not be touched, no matter whether it was going upward or downward. Previously only a ball on a downward flight was subject to a goaltending call.
The chairman of the committee said the change “better defines and discerns” the act of goaltending.
Wizards rookie makes U.S. team
Wizards rookie defender Jonathan Leathers has been selected to the U.S. Under-23 team that will compete in the Festival International Espoirs de Toulon in Toulon, France. Leathers will be making his first-ever appearance for the U.S. at any level. The U.S. U-23 team will be the team that represents the country this summer in the Olympics in Beijing.
And the nomination goes …
The Kansas City Sports Commission seeks nominees for its Kansas City Collegiate Athlete of the Year awards to be presented at the commission’s annual banquet June 19. This goes to the top college male and female athletes regardless of school classification who attended a Kansas City area high school. Nominations should be sent to Kevin Wicker at KWicker@sportkc.org.
Quick hits
•Bears kicker Robbie Gould agreed to a five-year, $15.5 million contract extension. The deal that includes a $4.25 million signing bonus is the highest for a kicker.
•Former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh is scheduled to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Sen. Arlen Specter today to discuss New England’s videotaping practices.
•Former Kansas State cornerback Dyshod Carter was one of five individuals arrested in Glendale, Ariz., for trying to buy 7 kilos of cocaine from an undercover DEA agent.
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