Friday, January 23rd, 2009 at 4:07 pm  |  36 responses

A Little Mayo Is Good For The Soul

O.J. Mayo shows love to underprivileged kids, and they show love back.

by Tzvi Twersky

For a group of kids from the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club, this week will be remembered for a long time. It will be the highlight of their month, if not their year. Their memorable event? A visit to Footlocker’s House of Hoops in Harlem with free posters, drinks and signed SLAM magazines. If that wasn’t enough, NBA rookie O.J. Mayo, fresh off a plane from Charlotte, made a lengthy appearance and elevated the event from a “great night” to what one girl termed, “[Her] most memorable night yet.”

Ran by Nike Basketball and LRMR Marketing—in conjunction with Eighty81 LLC—the night went off without a hitch.

The kids arrived about 45 minutes before Mayo, and were running all over the store, ogling shoes and shirts (those Hyperdunks are still so nice). At first, DJ Steph Floss spun background music for the kids. As they waited nervously for Mayo’s arrival, the kids, most of whom hailed from the Bronx, began making their way over to the makeshift dance floor, aka the hardwood floor near the entrance. As Jay-Z, Freeway, and other beats flowed over the sound system, an impromptu house party broke out, with the kids circling up and performing “Go Light” to the jeers and cheers of their friends. The energy was palpable, and even employees got involved in the mix. Rob, a long-time store "You're going to lead the League in scoring."employee, while dancing to the music said, “I love it when we show love to the community; this is what it’s all about.” Just when all the Vitamin Water (or “Power Juice” as one kid called it) and fresh copies of SLAM had been given out, the front door opened and a cool breeze walked in.

From the get, it was obvious: O.J. Mayo is one cool cat. As the kids swarmed him, Mayo kept a wide grin on his face. Making his way to his seat, Mayo signed everything thrown his way (assuming it wasn’t a product made by a competitor of Nike). Finally seated in his spot (behind the checkout counter), Mayo continued to sign free swag (and even the occasional PSP and hand). To his right, DJ Steph Flash played a little game with the kids called “OJrivia,” where signed gear was the reward for correctly answered trivia questions. (When asked how many points Mayo averages per game, one kid blurted out “35!”)

After a quarter-hour or so of doing saintly work, Mayo got his hands dirty and answered a few questions from SLAM just hours before his coach, Mark Iavaroni, was let go by the Grizzlies.

SLAM: Your first game you shot 5-20. Did you get a little nervous after that or…
O.J. Mayo: Yeah, I got a little nervous, but I was playing hard. I was taking shots I thought I could make.

SLAM: You scored 15 or more in 29 games, three of them are against San Antonio. You got something against the Spurs or what?
OM: (Laughs). Na. I don’t know. I guess I just get hot against them.

SLAM: In high school you played with Bill Walker, later with Patrick Patterson; any preference?
OM: I like them both.

SLAM: Obviously.
OM: We’re all from West Virginia so—

SLAM: What’s it like for you; you’ve always been a winner; tough losing, eh?
OM: It’s hard. It’s the hardest thing—it’s like the worst thing about my NBA experience so far.

SLAM: Everyone talks about this rookie wall, you believe in that?
Bring the House down.OM: A little bit, it’s tough.

SLAM: Yeh, you getting tired?
OM: A little bit. Yeh, beat up, too.

SLAM: You know, when you was like in 9th grade everyone was loving you, then they were hating you in 12th grade, now they’re loving you again; they’re back on the bandwagon what have you got to say?
OM: They love me they hate me. Just got to keep playing hard, keep trying to become a better player.

SLAM: Is this the first time you’re doing a Boys and Girls Club event or you do these around the country?
OM: Yeh, I do these all around.

Before Mayo walked out the door, he took off his fresh-out-the-box kicks (the Mayo’s of course), signed them, and gave them to a young kid who had somehow gone empty handed. As the kids screamed and yelled in the background, I got a moment of clarity and thought to myself, Everyday you read in the papers that player X got arrested for this and that, but where is the media when the players come down and give back to the community?

Truth is, SLAM was one of the only—if not the only—publication in the building. Other publications were the ones losing out, however, as Mayo brought Christmas to Harlem in January.

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  • John Posted: Jan.23 at 4:22 pm
    After the youtube video of his last highschool game broke I thought he was going to be another punk in the NBA, but I am impressed. Kudos to him and continued success

  • Julius J. Hornswaggle IV Posted: Jan.23 at 4:29 pm
    “Everyday you read in the papers that player X got arrested for this and that, but where is the media when the players come down and give back to the community?” I ask myself the same question, Tzvi. There are so many very good people in the NBA.

  • Ryan Jones Posted: Jan.23 at 4:29 pm
    The only bad news: All those copies of Slam were signed by me. Sorry, kids.
    For real though, who knew OJ might not be a scumbag? Wait, that’s right — we did!

  • Julius J. Hornswaggle IV Posted: Jan.23 at 4:30 pm
    Good for Slam for being in the house.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jan.23 at 4:33 pm
    Great stuff, Tzvi. Thanks.

  • Tzvi T Posted: Jan.23 at 4:50 pm
    I used to think some things about players; now I wont judge them before getting a closer look.

  • Ed The Sports Fan Posted: Jan.23 at 4:55 pm
    Yep.

  • Tarzan Cooper Posted: Jan.23 at 5:12 pm
    this tzvi character writes for slamonline? he must be commenter-turned-writer of the month. can i get a chance?

  • Holly MacKenzie Posted: Jan.23 at 5:33 pm
    Yes, yes, yes! I love your final graph about the media choosing to focus on the negative rather than the positive. That is spot on and another reason why I’m a SLAM girl for life. I love the love. And I love Mr. Mayo. He is exactly where he’s supposed to be and it’s great to see.

  • Double R Posted: Jan.23 at 6:07 pm
    To answer your question positive news about a celebrity, sports figure or someone in the public eye doesn’t sell or grab the attention of the masses like negative news. “It is what it is.”

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jan.23 at 9:18 pm
    Tarzan, he’s working for us as an intern. He’s just been commenting a lot as well.

  • T Money Posted: Jan.24 at 1:29 am
    Tzvi has to be the most gangsterest name ever.

  • Judah Mischel Posted: Jan.24 at 3:08 pm
    Great article- good job T Squared! Troof

  • Gumdrop Posted: Jan.24 at 5:30 pm
    “OJrivia” is an example of why we shouldn’t let stupid people think up words. Also why we should stop children from enjoying themselves, they mess things up.

  • Gumdrop Posted: Jan.24 at 5:32 pm
    Also if you guys let Tarzan write force him to properly punctuate his sentences. can i get a hellz ya?

  • josh Posted: Jan.24 at 6:57 pm
    I’m feeling this article…. I like the questions he asks Mayo… and I think it’s well written.

  • Steve Posted: Jan.24 at 6:58 pm
    Great article. You couldn’t be more right. We need more positive articles like this.

  • yitzy rubin Posted: Jan.24 at 7:22 pm
    agree with tmoney; tzvi is an incredibly gangster name. nice article kid

  • Enrique Beha Posted: Jan.24 at 7:43 pm
    I think this writer is FANtastic!

  • little ro ro Posted: Jan.24 at 8:59 pm
    yo i like this t-squared kid he’s got all the right moves. way to write playa

  • Hursty Posted: Jan.24 at 10:02 pm
    Gumdrop, you need some punctuation of your own.

  • boch Posted: Jan.24 at 11:08 pm
    great job TZVI, congrats

  • Jedidiah Beaufont Posted: Jan.24 at 11:55 pm
    Yes!! You’ve done it again Tzvi. Great stuff.

  • ShiaZ Posted: Jan.25 at 6:20 am
    Tzvi T. is the man, great article

  • OJ Mayo Fan Site | OJMayonnaise.com - Pass the OJ, Hold the Mayo Posted: Jan.25 at 1:22 pm
    [...] Online has a good article and interview about how O.J. Mayo shows love to underprivileged kids. Before Mayo walked out the door, he took off his fresh-out-the-box kicks (the Mayo’s of [...]

  • sruli Posted: Jan.25 at 1:35 pm
    excellent

  • momma-D Posted: Jan.25 at 1:56 pm
    I guess i should have simply agreed ! Yes!

  • jen Posted: Jan.26 at 5:30 pm
    Great article. Hope to see OJ doing more stuff like this here in the M-town as well.

  • Ap Halevi Posted: Jan.26 at 6:27 pm
    Woa this is simply geshmak

  • Garritanyo Posted: Jan.27 at 12:00 am
    If this article is anything it’s a move in the right direction. Sports is increasingly being covered with National Enquirer methods and although many sport writers have acknowledged this trend there is a lack of effort on their part to find and publish positive articles like this one about a professional athlete giving back. SLAM and other sports media groups should make a considerable effort to move its focus away from enforcing tired stereotypes of black athletes in trouble and support more articles like this one. Good job Tzvi

  • Buzzer Beaters | Hoops Addict Posted: Feb.7 at 12:09 am
    [...] O.J. Mayo is quickly becoming my favourite NBA rookie due to his great play on the court and amazing stuff like this off [...]

  • Opie Posted: Feb.22 at 3:23 am
    Tzvi- Well written article.It is good to finally have a athlete that kids can look up to as a role model. I don’t know why Gumdrop is a hater. Tzvi is a gangster name.

  • goat Posted: Mar.1 at 2:30 am
    There is no denying the OJM is the mack daddy on and off the court. Kudos. Its always good to to hear the positive side of sports players personal lives and not just the monetary and legal mumbo-jumbo that clouds the radio stations.
    Well done Tzvi Dawg.

  • Kirsch Posted: Mar.4 at 11:48 am
    thanks for a great read tzvi…if i close my eyes i can almost feel like im there!

  • Adrian Bond Posted: Mar.9 at 12:21 am
    Mayo, keep up the good work!! I hope that we can get some other pieces in Memphis to alleviate some of the attention that defenses give you, so that you can reach your full potential…ie.Pau Gasol!!………………..Adrian Bond

  • SLAM ONLINE | » The Year in Review Posted: Apr.17 at 1:23 pm
    [...] Worst Field Goal Percentage on 2-Point Jump Shots: On the other end of the spectrum, at an abysmal 32 percent, is Josh Smith. Fortunately for Smith, he is a much better athlete then the guys at the top-end of this stat. But if he wants to be complete, he better learn how to hit a midrange J. Next-to-bottom is Baron Davis and Ron Artest. Wow! I love this stat (and GMs do to, I presume). Best Game by a Rookie: Everyone is thinking Love, Rose, Mayo, etc. Nope. I think, feel free to disagree, that a G-State Warrior had the best game by a rookie. Nope again. Not Anthony Randolph or Rob Kurz; rather Anthony Morrow had arguably the best game of any rookie. In just the fourth game of the season Morrow exploded unto the scene. He shot a tidy 15-20, finishing with 37 points and adding 11 boards along the way. The rookie ended up leading the League in three-point percentage at 46.7 percent. Not bad—for an undrafted player. Worst Game by a Rookie: This time I am going with one of the obvious rookies. Again, the arguments against this are as strong as the reasons I picked this, but it’s my pick. And, so, OJ Mayo’s inaugural NBA game wins this coveted category award. Against Houston, Mayo clanked most of his shots, shooting 5-20, while grabbing 5 boards and turning the ball over 3 times. It could have been worse, but not much. Kevin McHale looked like a genius for a night. On the flipside though, Mayo loves to give back to the community. [...]

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