Pubdate: Wed, 29 Apr 1998
Source: Oklahoman, The (OK)
Contact: http://www.oklahoman.com/?ed-writeus
Website: http://www.oklahoman.com/

'REMEMBER ALONZO'

To The Editor:

The war on drugs needs a new rallying cry. Nancy Reagan's ''Just Say No''
is old hat. ''Hugs Not Drugs'' is too lovey dovey. ''D.A.R.E. to Resist
Drugs and Violence'' is no longer a grabber. Why not ''Remember Alonzo?''!

The ''Alonzo'' who could become the drug war's new poster boy is Alonzo
Mayes, who played football just down the road at my son's alma matter,
Oklahoma State University.

Projected to be a first-round pick in the National Football League draft,
Mayes tested positive for marijuana at the NFL combine tryouts and his
stock dropped big-time. He slid all the way to the fourth round where he
was the 94th player selected, by the Chicago Bears. Drug use cost Mayes $2
million and maybe $4 million.

Off-field problems also cost Randy Moss of Marshall, who fell out of the
''Top 10'' to be picked No. 21 by the Minnesota Vikings.

Because many of our kids want to make the big bucks more than anything in
life what better example of what drugs can cost you at the bank than Alonzo
Mayes' multimillion dollar blunder?

Virginia Jenner, Wagoner