Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

SPORTS Wednesday 27 september
A23

Continued from Page 18 mission, pleaded guilty this
Some of the most explo- month to fraud and other
sive allegations appeared crimes.
to involve Louisville, one of He admitted making pay-
college basketball’s big- ments and loans to NCAA
gest powerhouses, which athletes as far back as 2000
is already on NCAA proba- to get them to hire him.
tion over a sex scandal. Person, associate head
Federal prosecutors said at coach at Auburn, was
least three top high school drafted by the Indiana
recruits were promised Pacers in 1986 and played
payments of as much as for five NBA teams over 13
$150,000, using money sup- seasons.
plied by Adidas, to attend Prosecutors said Person ac-
two universities sponsored cepted about $91,500 in
by the athletic shoe com- bribes from Blazer in 2016
pany. to steer clients to him when
Court papers didn’t name These file photos show, assistant basketball coaches Tony Bland, left, Chuck Person, center, and they reached the NBA.
the schools but contained Lamont Richardson. Some payments were al-
enough details to identify Associated Press leged to have been ar-
them as Louisville and Mi- ranged by Michel, a for-
ami. stars; and various financial $100,000 to the family of a recruit. mer NBA referee turned
“The picture of college advisers and managers. high school athlete to gain The participants in the high-end clothier.
basketball painted by the NCAA President Mark Em- his commitment to play at meeting noted they had to Person was quoted by
charges is not a pretty mert condemned the al- Louisville and to sign with be careful because Louis- prosecutors as telling one
one,” said acting U.S. At- leged misconduct, saying Adidas once he became a ville was already on proba- player:
torney Joon H. Kim, adding in a statement, “Coaches professional. tion. “The most important part is
that the defendants were hold a unique position of Louisville and Adidas an- “We gotta be very low that you ... don’t say noth-
“circling blue-chip pros- trust with student-athletes nounced a 10-year, $160 key,” said the coach, ac- ing to anybody ... don’t
pects like coyotes” and and their families, and million extension of their cording to the FBI. share with your sisters,
exploited them to enrich these bribery allegations, sponsorship deal over the Investigators said agents don’t share with any of the
themselves. if true, suggest an extraor- summer. also wiretapped a call in teammates, that’s very im-
Prosecutors said that dinary and despicable The player’s name was not which Gatto and another portant ‘cause this is a vio-
while some of the bribe breach of that trust.” released, but details in the defendant discussed an lation ... of rules.
money went to athletes Since 2015, the FBI has been criminal complaint make it unnamed coach at Miami But this is how the NBA
and their families, some investigating the influence clear investigators were re- requesting that Adidas pay players get it done.”
went to coaches, to get of money on coaches and ferring to Brian Bowen, who as much as $150,000 to an- As for the suit-maker, Per-
them to use their influence players in the NCAA. did not return messages other recruit, in part to pre- son told the same player:
over their potentially NBA- Kim noted that a special seeking comment. vent him from accepting a “Rashan can get you suits
bound players. FBI hotline has been set up Louisville coach Rick Pitino similar offer from a rival ap- and stuff. ...
The coaches charged are and asked anyone aware said the allegations “come parel company. You’ll start looking like an
Chuck Person of Auburn, of additional corruption to as a complete shock to Louisville interim President NBA ballplayer, that’s what
Emanuel Richardson of Ari- come forward. me.” Gregory Postel confirmed you are.”
zona, Tony Bland of South- Prosecutors said the He said he was “commit- the university has been in- He also warned his player
ern California and Lamont coaches took bribes to use ted to taking whatever formed it is part of the in- to be careful: “Don’t flaunt
Evans of Oklahoma State. their “enormous influence” steps are needed to ensure vestigation and said, “Any the stuff you get.”
Person and Evans were im- to steer players toward cer- those responsible are held violations will not be toler- Prosecutors said Evans so-
mediately suspended. tain financial advisers and accountable.” ated.” licited at least $22,000 over
Bland appeared in federal agents. The development comes Miami said it will cooperate the past two years, while
court in Tampa, Florida, Most if not all of the 10 de- as Louisville is appealing with authorities, while USC Richardson in February
wearing handcuffs and fendants were under arrest. a four-year NCAA proba- said it appointed former was paid $20,000 in bribes,
ankle chains. Lawyers for Gatto and tion over a scandal involv- FBI Director Louis J. Freeh to some of which he kept for
He said little during the three of the coaches did ing escorts hired for players conduct an internal investi- himself and some of which
brief hearing other than to not immediately respond and recruits. gation. he gave to at least one
answer the judge’s ques- to requests for comment. The scandal could cost The investigation began high school athlete to get
tions and did not enter a It was unclear whether Ev- the school its 2013 national after Martin Blazer, a Pitts- him to play for Arizona.
plea. ans had an attorney. championship. burgh-based financial ad- Between July and Septem-
Those charged also in- Adidas said it was unaware In court papers Tuesday, viser to pro athletes, began ber, two advisers arranged
clude James Gatto, direc- of any misconduct by an the FBI said it recorded a cooperating with authori- at least $13,000 in bribes to
tor of global sports mar- employee and vowed to July meeting at which an ties in 2014. Bland, who boasted, “I can
keting for basketball at fully cooperate with au- assistant coach at Louisville Blazer, accused by the definitely mold the players
Adidas; Rashan Michel, a thorities. was briefed on a plan to Securities and Exchange and put them in the lap
maker of custom suits for Gatto and others are funnel thousands of dollars Commission of taking mon- of you guys,” prosecutors
some of the NBA’s biggest accused of funneling to a potential high school ey from clients without per- said.q