Posted on 01/25/2012 12:28:16 PM PST by GSWarrior
On the morning of April 11, 2011, University of San Diego basketball coach Bill Grier received a surprise visit at his home from two FBI agents who told him that one of his former players, USD's alltime leading scorer Brandon Johnson, and another ex-USD player named Brandon Dowdy were being charged in federal court at that very moment with trying to fix games.
That information was shocking enough, but when the agents told Grier about the third defendant linked to USD basketball, former assistant coach T.J. Brown -- a man Grier thought highly of even as he dismissed him in 2007 to make room for his incoming staff -- Grier almost had to take a knee. "This thing shook me to my core," Grier said. "It really hit home for me when one of our players approached me and said, 'Coach, I don't know how much of my career was real.'"
The U.S. Attorney's office charged 10 people that morning -- including Johnson, Dowdy and Brown -- with "conspiracy to commit sports bribery, conduct an illegal gambling business, and distribute marijuana." Johnson, Dowdy and Brown are the only three sports figures named in the alleged conspiracy.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnnsi.com ...
This is how I see all professional sports. It’s the way I’ve seen it for decades. When a lot of money is involved in something so subjective, you can pretty much count on it.
No. You CAN count on it. Period.
Perhaps, but this is not professional sports.
That line gets more blurry with each passing day.
—Perhaps, but this is not professional sports.—
Yes. And it demonstrates just how widespread it is.
It’s probably happening in high school footbal in Texas. ;-)
I guess you missed the Giants-Packers game a couple of weeks ago. Granted the ref(s) didn't affect the outcome, but no one should doubt the effort.
ML/NJ
Not that it means anything, but Jim Harbaugh was the Head Coach at University of San Diego, before going to Stanford.
Head football coach...
I wouldn’t have the slightest idea of what to do to fix it, but it seems to me that basketball in particular leaves the door a mile wide open, if a player (or players) can see to it that they still win the game, just not by so much.
Not my beloved Toreros! (USD Law - Class of `88).
You spent too much time on the wrong side of campus. Besides, when would a law student notice anything illegal??
MBA class of ‘86!
Would that mean that 0.01% have both sides trying to shave
at the same time? :)
That would be something to watch ;)
I thought somebody had to care about the team enough to bet on them before you could make any money shaving points. People really bet on USD? Really?
Touche’ Pikachu. You’re making me miss the Dog Patch.
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