O.J. Mayo has caused a stir in the college basketball ranks after reports allege that an agent got his claws into the superstar who is leaving the college life after one year. Mayo enrolled at USC (because a new rule says he had to) to play for one year and then jump in the NBA. Mission accomplished for Mayo; big problem for college hoops.

Mayo was delivered to Bill Duffy Associates by a “runner;” that is, a person promising to deliver Mayo to the Agency when he is ready to turn professional.

Rodney Guillroy became a trusted friend to Mayo when he was starring as a 15-year-old in club and Five Star camps. Guillroy then set up a relationship with BDA to receive money to keep the rising star on a path to that agency. In return, Guillroy could live comfortably and Mayo gets to continue to play basketball and grow his reputation from West Virginia all the way to the Southern California campus.

Here is where this business gets messy for me, because

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Tyler Hansbrough could be in for a rough senior year.

He’ll likely become Carolina’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder. His name could be atop the ACC’s scoring list, supplanting J.J. Redick. He may sweep the player-of-the-year awards again, too. Hansbrough might even win that elusive National Championship.

But there will be plenty of questions along the way.

Is he overexposed? Can he win the big one? Will he be a good NBA player? Does anybody play harder? Why doesn’t anyone else get the calls he does?

There will be idiotic commentary. See Mike Freeman’s column on Cbssportsline.com.

The seeds have already been planted. Soon we will witness the mother of all backlashes. And here’s the shame of it, none of this is Tyler Hansbrough’s fault.

Blame the media for the silly columns. Blame the TV directors and newspaper lay-out editors for how visible he is.

Trust

There’s nothing like being a future pro-player, invited into The Green Room for the NFL Draft.

Fans get to watch the Draft from the comfort and anonymity of a sports bar or living room. Fans dress for the NFL Draft in their best jeans and team jersey of their choice.

The Green Room is the place to be for the top projected picks decked out in their best suits, with wristwatches that cost as much as Corvette’s.

All eyes are on those select few lucky enough to be awarded entry into The Green Room.

On Saturday, Jake Long, Chris Long, Glenn Dorsey, Vernon Gholston, Matt Ryan, and Darren McFadden are on The Green Room’s guest list.

Historically, for most of the invited players, it’s a quick lunch, some chatter, and then they’re flown away on a private

I believe in following the rules, I’m a stickler for them...and this morning Dave Rothenberg and I had a very good discussion on when rules need to be changed and why. If you missed it, here are my thoughts on something that the NHL actually did right.

The NHL playoffs should gather recognition for great plays by talented players; but the big story line goes to one of the biggest pests, Sean Avery of the New York Rangers. On Sunday night Avery stood in front of New Jersey Devil goalie Martin Brodeur and flailed is arms and stick as if he were on fire in an attempt to distract the goalie and help his team. It was such an odd sight and no penalty was called. The reason there was no penalty to be issued against Avery for his odd attempt at screening Brodeur was because there was no penalty on the books for his action. Upon further review, the league decided Monday to say that Avery’s act is a form of unsportsmanlike conduct and will be a two minute penalty.

For

It was strange coming back home after the championship game in San Antonio last week. Friends and co-workers looked at me with pity and sorrow; they said things like, how you doing?

I was so tired I didn’t think much of it. Everyone was looking at me like someone had died in my family. Finally I asked, What!? My friend pointed out, Well,, college basketball is over and the Canes didn’t make the playoffs, how do you do a sports talk radio show? I simply explained the same way you always do from 3-7p.m. - you give opinions about things going on in sports, that’s how.

Sports doesn’t stop and neither does the talk shows we do just because the local teams are done. If you have cared to notice some interesting things are going on in the NHL playoffs even without the Canes. The defending champs are on the ropes, the two seed out West is struggling in Round One, Sidney Crosby is about to lead the Penguins into Round 2, and the Flyers through