But what was I going to do, take it to court?It was here that they began telling Perla we would have to have Cobb. They had Kuhn approach Ernie Cobb, the leading scorer on the team, but it has never been proven if Cobb agreed to cooperate. With his name swirling down the vortex of the mob cesspool from the moment the story broke, Ernie Cobb found it difficult to make a living. He wasnt a trial lawyer, so he brought in his colleague, David Golub. He hugged his tearful mother before walking out into the hallway for a few moments. The campus was so beautiful. Rick Kuhn during Boston College men's basketball's 1977-1978 season. Sweeney purposefully misses a free throw to help the fixers win even though he is the best free-throw shooter in the nation. I was like, You gotta be kidding me! Jim Sweeney and Rick Kuhns names werent mentioned anywhere. Professional wrestler Jay Briscoe dies in car accident at 38, Sister Andre, world's oldest living person, dies at 118, Ukraine's interior minister, other officials killed in helicopter crash near school, Qantas flight lands safely after engine trouble prompts mayday call, Meditation may alter gut microbes, study of Tibetan monks suggests. Hill and Burke were brought into the scheme, after receiving approval from Lucchese family capo Paul Vario. I was this poor kid with no financial resources, going on trial with a member of the mob. Hes made a prosperous living in the computer and electronics business - his small independent brokerage that sold parts and accessories to manufacturers did over $50 million in annual revenue at its peak - all while playing competitive basketball around the world into his 50s. Danois, Alejandro. Ernie, dont lie to me, Alswanger instructed him. Ultimately, nothing happened. My moment had arrived. The film goes on to show how nobody really made a lot of money from the fix. It is heartening, by contrast, that the integrity of our coaching and athletic staff, as well as that of our current team, was never in question. Hill gave up everybody including the players involved. I have suffered. But he did take money. Jan. 18 (UPI) -- A man who posed as a cannabis billionaire plead guilty Wednesday to securities fraud for lying to investors about his wealth, education and business. Sweeney, who went on a year later to win the Naismith Award as college basketballs top player under six feet tall, says he was initially recruited into the fix by Kuhn without his knowledge and that he never intentionally threw an errant pass, missed a shot or did anything else to alter a game. When one of his links leads to a purchase of, say, a LeBron James Fathead, he gets a 15% commission. They kept saying that they liked the idea of just shaving points and not blowing the games." But by the next summer, in 1980, he sparkled while playing for the New Jersey Nets during the pre-season. 2015, www.recorder.com/Archives/2015/01/spt-KeepingScore-GR-012415. I never got to realize my dream of playing in the NBA, but Ive been all over the globe and have experienced so many different and beautiful cultures. Tell me what you did and what you didnt do. The government contended that Kuhn was paid $2,500 per game to manipulate the spread in six games and also was given cocaine and Quaaludes. But I found out that I wouldnt be allowed to leave the United States because the government was going to bring me to trial.. The Eagles managed to lose by 22 points, 10381, with the syndicate winning its bet. I was back at home, visiting for the summer and about to return to Israel, Cobb said. A crime story, about the mafia fixing a college basketball game, alleged innocent college basketball kids, and involves small time bookies in Pittsburgh, its really a story of betrayal and people turning on one another, and all being done in the name of greed. Director Joe Lavine. The fact that I went to court and fought for my name, that I stood up for myself and cleared my name, that I was exonerated and acquitted, its a travesty that Im still associated with this., My name is indelibly linked to it, Cobb continued. He says that Hill once referenced his girlfriend Maura (now his wife) in one of his threats, asking Sweeney how would your honey feel if she saw your --- hanging in a bracelet? He also says that other mob clichs like references to cement shoes are not just the stuff of Hollywood. After the four-week trial in 1981, Jimmy Burke was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while Paul Mazzei and Tony Perla were sentenced to ten. Netflix hiring flight attendant for private jet with compensation up to $385,000. He dreamed of walking away from Boston College at seasons end as one of the schools most revered sons before embarking on what he hoped would be an accomplished, financially rewarding career in the NBA. But I know that its not really in vain, because I know the truth.. In this case, while the line may have opened, or at one time gone to two, because of the heavy betting on Holy Cross, the syndicate had to lay as many as seven points, and therefore lost their bet. Testifying for the defense, Boston College basketball Coach Tom Davis said at no point during the 1978-79 season did he notice any of his players giving anything less than a 100 percent effort. would play a few games each year, Cobb was awash with emotions. Kuhn, 28, was one of five people found guilty of conspiracy to engage in racketeering and other charges that stemmed from a point-shaving scheme hatched for the 1978-79 school season. Fourteen hours later, I arrived in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.. (Rick Kuhn, Photo Credit: bostonglobe.com). Seven schools and more than 30 players were implicated in the 1951 probe; more than 20 schools were involved in the 1961 incidents. Walgreens settles West Virginia opioid lawsuit for $83 million. If youve seen the famous mafia flick, you probably remember Liotta making several references to his Pittsburgh connections, his main partners in a drug ring, among other things. Sweeney has mostly shunned requests for interviews and book projects over the years, but decided to put his trust in documentary filmmaker Joe Lavine - a fellow native of Trenton, N.J. - who directed the piece for ESPN. Keeping Score: Close Shave. Greenfield Recorder, Greenfield Recorder, 27 Apr. Needing an inside man, the brothers wanted to recruit Rick Kuhn, a high school friend of Rocco who was entering his senior year at Boston College and was expected to be a key member of the 197879 Eagles team. Im not angry at the school. Kuhn's attorney, Gary Zimmerman, said his client recognized the seriousness of his crimes and that his stiff jail sentence 'was a stern warning to other college athletes.'. When he returned to the United States, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he became a Special Education teacher and high school basketball coach. The jury of eight women and four men reached its verdict after three days of deliberations and a trial that lasted five weeks. BOSTON - NOVEMBER 17: Rick Kuhn (#35) during Boston College men's basketball's 1978-1979 season. Jan. 18 (UPI) -- The Justice Department Wednesday filed a complaint against a sheriff's department in Cumberland County, Tenn., alleging it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act when firing an officer with an opioid use disorder. "He said he had a betting thing set up in a way to make money during the season so that we could be taken care of," said Reed, now a nurse in Syracuse, N.Y. Reed also testified that Kuhn threatened to kill her if she ever told of the scheme. I was so thankful, and was willing to work as hard as I possibly could, both in my studies, and in basketball, to be able to get the most I could out of the experience.. Sweeney had enough of that over a few months 35 years ago to last a lifetime. His testimony continued terribly, he was a nervous wreck, he was rambling about unnecessary information and he couldnt even look in Burkes direction. But I dont feel any bitterness toward the prosecution. The final player involved in the fix, Rick Kuhn, is introduced. Kuhn was thus expected to keep the score below the six- to seven-point margin. The 80-minute documentary tells how BC forward Rick Kuhn conspired with two of his hoodlum friends from Pittsburgh to bet against the Eagles. Rocco Perla received a four-year sentence and Rick Kuhn was sentenced to a ten-year bid as well, which was later reduced to 28 months. Of course, of course I was upset, but what could I do? All because, he says, of those five crinkled $100 bills dropped at his feet one day in the locker room. By my junior year, it was show-time, said Cobb. Said Hill, "He wanted me to fly up to Boston. Ernie, and anybody who truly knew him, who knew about his character and what type of young man he was, we were all heartbroken. I was having a lot of success, we were turning around the fortunes of the program and I was getting a lot of press in the Boston Globe and area newspapers. It is unclear how much money the players involved in the point-shaving scheme were paid. With Roccos high school buddy Rick Kuhn entering his senior year at Boston College, where he was expected to be a contributor to the schools basketball team, the brothers figured they could make a ton of money. All Kuhn had to do was ensure that the Eagles fell short of the point spread in the games that they bet on. The conviction of former Boston College basketball player Richard Kuhn for his involvement in the point shaving scandal during the 1978-79 basketball season was Mazzeis connection to Kuhn was through fellow gangsters Rocco and Tony Pearla. The very next day, the Nets cut me., When the F.B.I. Hes a good person. He quickly thrived and was recognized as one of the leagues best players. He killed people. Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Columbia University has announced economist Nemat "Minouche" Shafik will become the university's 20th president and the first woman to serve in the role in its 268-year history. Fellow player Michael Bowie begins to ask questions, but Sweeney argues that they are still winning. . But Cobb denied receiving any money and he was not indicted. talked to the Nets, their head coach Kevin Loughery called him in and said, You know why I have to let you go, said Alswanger. will air the latest installment of its acclaimed 30 For 30 series with a look back at the infamous Boston College basketball point shaving scandal from the 1978-79 season. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I have an incredible circle of supportive friends and have met some amazing people who have impacted my life in ways that I cant even begin to describe., Mr. I hadnt seen Ernie for several years, Jack Hennessey, a psychologist at Boston College that had served as an informal academic advisor during Cobbs days as a student, told the New York Times in April of 1984. And he also cultivated interest, in the area's black community, in terms of being engaged and intrigued bywhat was going on with Boston Colleges basketball program. Said Hill, "I asked the players which of the upcoming games they felt we could shave. Im stuck. Kuhn, who ultimately served four years in prison for conspiracy and racketeering, hatched a plan with Hill associates Tony Perla, his brother Rocco Perla, and Paul Mazzei to shave points - losing by more than the point spread or winning by less than the point spread - in several BC games between December 1978 and March 1979. He was determined to prove that he could do the work, which would enable him to further chase his athletic dreams. After he interviewed him, he fell in love with him and told me, Hes innocent. Hill stated that, at the time, he and Burke were watching the game on television at Burke's home in Queens, and Burke put his foot through the television in anger at having lost $50,000 ($186,700 today). Im going off on the basketball court, scoring like crazy, the gamblers are losing their shirts, and they start talking about, We have to have Cobb. Anybody thats ever seen me play knows that I was only stuck in one gear, and that was super-charged-turbo! Holy Cross was favored to win and, consistent with the scheme, were bet on to win by a margin greater than the seven-point spread. 5 Convicted in Boston College Betting Case By Bart Barnes November 24, 1981 A federal jury in Brooklyn yesterday convicted former Boston College basketball Even though he was not guilty, Boston College has erased them from their memory. The Boys of Dunbar, A Story of Love, Hope and Basketball. But that had nothing to do with shaving points., At the time, I was nave, Cobb continued. NEW YORK -- Former Boston College basketball player Rick Kuhn, jailed for his 1981 conviction in a point-shaving scandal, has asked for a reduction of his 10-year prison sentence. Sweeney goes on to sell his computer service company and make millions. Film. Black Test Car orA Dark Machine of Destruction? They were aware that bookmakers generally accepted large bets on this game both because Boston College and Holy Cross were traditional rivals and because the game was being nationally televised. Mazzei and Tony Perla were sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. To allay any suspicions of foul play, they decided to bet on Boston College to win by more than the point spread ("cover the spread") in a game that they were confident the Eagles would win handily. The Perla brothers proposed a simple scheme: they, along with Kuhn, would select certain basketball games where the projected point spread separating Boston College from its opponent was expected to be significant. If you missed Part I, you can read it here. But Kuhn was a player of limited ability, so he recruited his roommate and best friend, who also happened to be the most important player on the floor, the teams senior point guard, Jim Sweeney. Kuhn, who ultimately served four years in prison for conspiracy and racketeering, hatched a plan with Hill associates Tony Perla, his brother Rocco Perla, and Rocco Perla and Kuhn were high-school classmates. The conspirators chose the January 17, 1979, game against Connecticut to implement this plan. They contacted a local friend, Paul Mazzei, who was known to have influence within major New York gambling circles. My girlfriend and I bought a new stereo, television and some furniture. Sweeney claims that hes heard network execs at a sports business conference in Florida express a desire for such a character to pop up with occasional humorous commentary. So I guess the thought process was, Well, if there were criminal activities going on, it had to be the brothers! My name and picture, and Michael Bowies as well, was on the front page of every newspaper in the country.. Jan. 18 (UPI) -- The husband accused in the New Year's Day disappearance of Massachusetts mother of three Ana Walshe made a series of Internet searches about dismembering bodies and disposing of them, prosecutors said in court Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Henry Bramwell set sentencing for Jan. 8. I never lied about that. And look what he did to the lives of those kids. Thus, for example, if participating bookmakers determined Boston College to be an eight-point favorite in a particular game, Kuhn would be paid a bonus, usually $2,500, if they won by less than eight points. Justice Department files complaint after officer fired for opioid use disorder. When he finished with his testimony, he made a beeline straight for the restroom. Burke was sentenced to twelve years' imprisonment. Hill flew into Boston, at the behest of Jimmy Burke, late in 1978 to meet with Mazzei, the Perlas, Kuhn and Sweeney at the Logan Airport Hilton and ensure that everything was in place. He tried to subsist as a substitute teacher, and even caddied at the Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, the affluent suburbs where hed previously been arrested for stealing bikes as a kid. Its the same crew that had a connection to BC basketball player Rick Kuhn, who hailed from the area. Man, I would watch Jo Jo White, Dave Cowens and John Havlicek playing on television, on that same famous floor where Bill Russell and Bob Cousy and all of those great Celtics teams won all those championships, said Cobb. Art. It was national news that brought Cobb, Sweeney, and Kuhn under massive headlines. The narrator explains that the strength of how Henry Hills testimony is would determine if Burke was going to be convicted. Convinced that Cobb was innocent after his mentee walked him through everything that had transpired, and certain that he was being used by the federal government to send more organized crime figures to prison, Alswanger began working the phones. Everybody involved in the scandal got sentenced except for Hill and Sweeney. At trial in 1981, the government's case consisted primarily of the testimony of Hill and three other witnesses: Sweeney and Joseph Beaulieu, both Boston College players, and Barbara Reed, a 23-year-old nurse who lived with Kuhn during the 197879 Eagles season. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Rocco says Sweeney told him he missed it to avoid a pair of cement shoes. Zimmerman also asked the court to consider Kuhn's 'crime-free background' and his cooperation with federal authorities in the Cobb case. Sweeney has won several FIMBA tournaments as a player in the 50-plus division. The headlines in Boston, and around the country, said that Cobb and fellow senior Michael Bowie, the teams two African-American stars, were the players that were implicated. Hallway for a few games each year, Cobb continued, dont lie to,. 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