Memphis Grizzlies O.J. Mayo Suspended 10 Games By NBA

This just hasn't been O.J. Mayo's season. First he gets beat up by Tony Allen over a game of cards, then he loses his starting 2-guard spot and now per this tweet by Commercial Appeal word is out that he will suspended for ten games by the NBA for violating the league's anti-drug program. Here is an except from the NBA's press release:

The NBA announced today that O.J. Mayo of the Memphis Grizzlies has been suspended without pay for 10 games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program. His violation of the program involved a positive test for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

Per CBS Sports, here is a statement released by Mayo through the Grizzlies organization:

“I’m extremely disappointed that I’m going to miss the next 10 games, particularly as our team is making a push for the playoffs. I had no idea that the over-the-counter supplement that I took was a substance banned by the NBA. It was an honest mistake, but I take full responsibility for my actions. I apologize to my fans, teammates and the Grizzlies organization for regrettably not doing the necessary research about what supplements I can put in my body.”

If I lost 10 games pay equaling up to $405,000 I'd be pretty disappointed too. We've said before that it may be time for a change of scenery for Mayo, who is a still a very capable NBA scorer and defender and near the beginning of his career. If I were in the Bulls front office I'd be blowing up the Grizzlies phone lines because I'm sure right now Mayo can be had for the "low", and Memphis' season is all but in the tank anyway.

So far this season O.J. "Da Juiceman" Mayo (courtesy of @DragonflyJonez) is averaging 12 ppg and about 2 apg. Hope the young man can get it together and become the star many people believe he can be.
-ALR

Tony Allen & O.J. Mayo Fight On Plane Over A Game Of Cards

Yo O.J.... you can't be losing money in cards, start poppin' off at the mouth then get touched up by your teammate. According to reports on cbssports.com and yahoo sports, Memphis Grizzlies guards O.J. Mayo and Tony Allen got into a little tussle over lost money in a card game of 'Boo-Ray". Here is some info from the story:

Mayo owed Allen money from a card game, “Boo-Ray” and sources said Mayo became increasingly belligerent and antagonistic toward Allen when asked to settle the debt. Sources said Allen walked away from Mayo to go the restroom and returned to find Mayo continuing to berate him. Eventually, Mayo inched close to Allen, and sources said Allen hit Mayo.

“Tony warned [Mayo] to watch his mouth, and [Mayo] wouldn’t do it and just kept going off on him,” a source with knowledge of the incident told Yahoo! Sports.

So, basically, Mayo lost twice. Rumor is that Allen touched O.J. up and left him with a swollen face. Mayo was not at the arena for the Grizzlies victory against the Thunder last night, with the team saying he was out with "bronchitis". Sure he was. Allen got the start and put up 19 points in the victory. Another round won by Tony. There have also been some rumors that Mayo is on the trading block and could soon be on his way out of Memphis, which may be a good thing for both sides.

With this latest altercation and also coming off Gilbert Arenas' suspension for bringing guns to an NBA arena (which was also stemmed from a game of "Boo Ray") expect many teams to begin banning their players from gambling. I think the bigger lesson is pay up when you start losing your doe'.

We did learn one other thing about O.J. Mayo; he ain't bout that life!

-ALR