If you can’t win on the court, win in the court!!
Huntington News – Jan. 31, 2007:
The basketball court received a taste of civil jurisprudence when Cabell County Chief Circuit Judge Dan O’Hanlon granted petitions for a Temporary Restraining Order from O.J. Mayo, Brandon Hutchinson, Mike Morton, C.J. Crawford, Lambros Svingos, and Colin Oakley.
Judge O’Hanlon’s intervention came after the parties attempted to resolve their grievances with the Secondary Schools Activity Commission which maintained that the suspensions can not be appealed.
Stemming from Friday night’s Huntington High vs. Capital game, Mayo was levied with two technical fouls and an accusation that he pushed a referee to the floor. The reserves allegedly left the bench which resulted in their ejection.
Following the statements by WVSSAC executive director, Mike Hayden, that no appeals were permitted, at least three DVD recordings of the events have been posted and/or seen which clearly repudiate Lazo’s version of events.
The judge ruled…. that “were a fair and impartial administrative hearing available to plaintiff, there is a reasonable likelihood that he would prevail.”
A little background on O.J. Mayo. He is the top high school player in the country and would go the NBA right out of school if it wasn’t for the ridiculous age rule. So instead he is going to USC for one year to play college ball. He chose USC for business reasons and not anything having to do with academics.
If you watch the video of the incident you can see how the official over reacts and basically ejects the kid for no reason. Shenanigans have been called and it looks to be the case. The sports blogosphere has been all over this.
I’m having issues with tiny url so check Deadspin, the Big Lead, even ESPN should have something on this. The video is on the web.
I don’t blame O.J. for suing. Kid has to protect his yet to be defined image that will help him make millions.
Not sure why this is ludicrous?
This kid is considered the top basketball player in the country. An accusation that he “pushed” a referee could cost him millions of dollars in draft money.
Also if you watch the video of the incident its CLEAR that the referee took a dive (like a soccer player). The referee told the players coach before the game that he was going to single Mayo out….
#2 – If that last – a pregame statement of intention to treat the kid unfairly – can be documented, then the dishonest referee and the stupid commission that blindly backed him both deserved to be sued. As #1 said, the kid has a talent-based future to protect.
Who sued, the kid or his parents? Maybe if I have time today I’ll look up the full story. Basketball – something to do with round objects thrown with accuracy, as I recall.
#3, I thought it was a game where big kids get to wear shorts in the winter and squeak their shoes.
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I seen some bad amateur officiating, but c’mon, the majority of officials are very dedicated, unthanked, and abused. They do it solely for the love of the game. They may not be major league caliber, but they deserve major league thanks for the job they do.
Huntington WV… also spawned that well adjusted virtuoso Randy Moss.
…We are unMarshalled.
I agree, not ludicrous at all. This sin’t a child insisting he was safe when the ref called him out, this is a ref with a grudge trying to sideline someone’s future.