Associated Press
LOS ANGELES ó The head of the sports agency representing O.J. Mayo denied any illegal activity involving the Southern California star on Monday, a day after ESPN reported Bill Duffy Associates gave cash to an event promoter who provided gifts.
“We are in contact with the NCAA and the Pac-10 and are working with both in a cooperative investigation to review these new allegations,” USC said in a statement.
Louis Johnson, a former associate of Mayo’s, told ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” that BDA Sports provided Rodney Guillory with about $200,000 before Mayo arrived at USC. Johnson said a portion was given to Mayo.
“I haven’t seen any evidence of them saying we gave O.J. Mayo a dime, and that has not happened,” Duffy told the AP. “I don’t see any evidence of any other type of transaction. This is what this guy is saying. Obviously his credibility should be in question as well.”
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
JACKSON, Miss. ó Count Jackson State in on the Ryan Perrilloux sweepstakes.
Coach Rick Comegy said he is attempting to lure the dismissed LSU quarterback to campus for a visit in hopes of signing the troubled player. Perrilloux could play right away if he decides to transfer to a Football Championship Subdivision team.
“We want to be in the ballpark like everyone else who’s recruiting him and see what the situation is and try to see if he fits our program and those type of things,” Comegy said. “We just don’t want to have to play against him.”
Perrilloux was expected to take over the starting job for the defending national champions after serving as a backup to JaMarcus Russell and Matt Flynn the last two seasons. But a series of off-the-field problems led to his dismissal by coach Les Miles a week ago.
– TAMPA, Fla. ó A University of Florida football player is recovering after being shot in the shoulder while at a Tampa area-park.
Florida coach Urban Meyer says Gator defensive lineman Matt Patchan is expected to fully recover.
GOLF
PONTE VERDE BEACH, Fla. ó For all those questions his win in The Players Championship answered, two big ones remain.
No. 1: Where was THAT Sergio Garcia the last half-dozen years?
No. 2: How soon can we expect him to show up at a major?
Garcia hinted at the answer to the first question the moment after he wrapped his hands around the large crystal trophy.
“First of all,” Garcia said, “I want to thank Tiger for not being here. That always makes things a little bit easier.”
– MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. ó Don’t look for Michelle Wie at this year’s Ginn Tribute hosted by Annika Sorenstam.Wie did not seek an exemption into the event she played a year ago, the tournament said.
TENNIS
ROME ó Maria Sharapova reached a compromise with the WTA Tour and completed a promotional photo shoot before the Italian Open began Monday.
The second-ranked Russian was opposed to the shoot because she does not like distractions before tournaments, and claimed the WTA threatened to fine her more than $300,000 if she refused.
Sunday’s photo shoot to build publicity for the tour championships was reduced to 90 minutes from several hours, Sharapova said.
“I was riding around in a car for an hour talking ó pretending like I’m talking on the phone,” Sharapova said. “The timing compromise was still pretty difficult since it’s before a very big event for all of us. Considering the time reduction, it definitely makes that a lot easier than going into a four- or five-hour shoot with hair and makeup, which adds another hour.”