# Corruption in College Basketball - DoJ to have major presser at 12pm (EST) today. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 26, 2017, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345 "2017-09-26T13:38:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/1 "2017-09-26T13:38:01Z")
Looks like it will include Auburn University as Asst Coach Chuck Person is named. Also hearing about a “major international sportswear company” being involved as well… > **[Press Conference Advisory](https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/press-conference-advisory-2)** > [@](#): > > There will be a press conference today at noon to announce charges of fraud and corruption in college basketball. Federal criminal charges have been brought against ten people, including four college basketball coaches, as well as managers, financial advisors, and representatives of a major international sportswear company. The press conference will be livestreamed on Facebook @USAOSDNY. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/2 "2017-09-26T13:40:58Z")
I’d love to hear Sonny Vaccaro’s take on this. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/3 "2017-09-26T15:21:34Z")
[AP story here](https://apnews.com/d11ec527467340baaa63d53683b906e9/NCAA-coaches-among-10-charged-with-fraud-and-corruption) > [@](#): > > Four assistant basketball coaches from Arizona, Auburn, the University of Southern California and Oklahoma State were among those arrested on federal corruption charges Tuesday after they were caught taking thousands of dollars in bribes to steer NBA-destined college stars toward certain sports agents and financial advisers, authorities said. > > The coaches were identified in court papers as Chuck Person of Auburn University, Emanuel Richardson of the University of Arizona, Tony Bland of USC and Lamont Evans of Oklahoma State. They are in federal custody and expected to make court appearances later Tuesday. > > They were among 10 people charged in Manhattan federal court. Others included managers, financial advisers and James Gatto, the director of global sports marketing at Adidas. The details were to be discussed at a news conference on Tuesday afternoon. > [@](#): > > In criminal complaints, investigators said many coaches have “enormous influence” over their players and how they select their agents and other advisers when they leave college and enter the NBA. > > “The investigation has revealed several instances in which coaches have exercised that influence by steering players and their families to retain particular advisers, not because of the merits of those advisers, but because the coaches were being bribed by the advisers to do so,” the papers said. What I don’t see (or know) is what law they are accused of violating. Hopefully that will be divulged as a part of the press conference. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/4 "2017-09-26T15:40:50Z")
USC corrupt? Whoda thunk it? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/5 "2017-09-26T15:44:31Z")
[According the DoJ website, the press conference will stream on Facebook](https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/press-conference-advisory-2): > [@](#): > > The press conference will be livestreamed on Facebook @USAOSDNY. I’m off now to try and figure out what that means (I don’t really use Facebook, eh.) ETA: Well that didn’t take me long: [U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York](https://www.facebook.com/usaosdny/) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/6 "2017-09-26T16:15:22Z")
:mad: I hate a press conference that doesn’t start on time. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/7 "2017-09-26T16:18:25Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [AP story here](https://apnews.com/d11ec527467340baaa63d53683b906e9/NCAA-coaches-among-10-charged-with-fraud-and-corruption)What I don’t see (or know) is what law they are accused of violating. Hopefully that will be divulged as a part of the press conference. My first guess is fraud, specifically “taking advantage of others” for financial gain. Especially since they’ve mentioned the extreme amount of influence coaches have. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/8 "2017-09-26T16:28:31Z")
Whooooo…they got a whole lot of evidence. I bet every freaking coach in NCAA basketball and football is shitting their pants right now! ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/9 "2017-09-26T16:49:46Z")
So if you’re a 20-year-old kid, about to turn pro and navigate the agent and sponsor minefield for the first time, and your friendly assistant coach takes you aside and says, “Son, I know some good people who can help you out here” . . . he really doesn’t have your best interests at heart! ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/10 "2017-09-26T17:18:22Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Looks like it will include Auburn University as Asst Coach Chuck Person is named. Maybe ESPN will start calling him “Chuck Person of Interest”. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/11 "2017-09-26T20:13:33Z")
Did the press conference also include the accusation that “a company” (that may or may not be Adidas) paid $100,000 to the parents of “a player who committed, on or about June 3, 2017, to” a school “which is described as a public research university with enrollment of 22,640 located in Kentucky” (that may or may not be Brian Bowen and Louisville, although Bowen’s mother responded to the statement with, "“I don’t know anything about that. I’m not aware of anything like that. Not me. I had no idea.”)? Keep in mind Louisville is still on probation after the incident that, most likely, will cost it its 2013 men’s basketball championship. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/12 "2017-09-26T20:50:50Z")
[For those not familiar with the Brian Bowen angle](http://heavy.com/sports/2017/09/brian-bowen-louisville-bribe-adidas-recruit-charges-rick-pitino/): > [@](#): > > The recruitment process of a five-star forward to the University of Louisville is under scrutiny after program officials and an Adidas executive allegedly paid $100,000 in exchange for his commitment. > > Brian “Tugs” Bowen II, a 6-foot-7 small forward from La Porte, Indiana, committed to the school over the summer in what was widely seen as a surprising move because the school wasn’t on his initial list of options. Bowen is originally from Saginaw, Michigan and moved to Indiana during high school. > > The process that led up to his mysterious recruitment is becoming clear, and it started with the Department of Justice announcing Tuesday that it filed charges against 10 men who played a role in bribing the families of multiple basketball recruits in exchange for college commitments. If you read the rest of the article, you’ll see that it doesn’t look good for Louisville or Coach Patino. ETA: I’m wondering why Adidas wasn’t arrested and incarcerated tho; they were a part of this. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/13 "2017-09-26T21:01:13Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [For those not familiar with the Brian Bowen angle](http://heavy.com/sports/2017/09/brian-bowen-louisville-bribe-adidas-recruit-charges-rick-pitino/):If you read the rest of the article, you’ll see that it doesn’t look good for Louisville or Coach Patino. > > ETA: I’m wondering why Adidas wasn’t arrested and incarcerated tho; they were a part of this. Nitpick: Pitino. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/14 "2017-09-26T21:05:12Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Nitpick: Pitino. :smack: Damn you, autocorrect! ETA: Believe me, I know how to spell Slick Rick’s name. And when I want to misspell it, I use Patina, as an insult. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/15 "2017-09-26T22:53:48Z")
This is definitely a Hooolllllyyyyy Shhhiiiiiiiittttttt moment. I knew that college basketball was corrupt, but I didn’t think it was $100k to the 19th best prospect in a year corrupt. You’ve gotta wonder how many other players are getting paid and how much they are getting. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/16 "2017-09-26T23:36:06Z")
I’m shocked. Shocked to find corruption in a business that uses free labor to generate profits and high pay for coaches and administrators. Now I suppose you’re also going to tell me people gamble on the outcome of these basketball games. I can’t imagine how things turned out this way. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/17 "2017-09-26T23:37:53Z")
Man, this is gonna be huge. Surprised that so far no athletes seem to be included as knowing participants. ---
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/18 "2017-09-26T23:55:43Z")
If Nike is also involved I’ll be surprised if Calipari’s name doesn’t float to the surface somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/19 "2017-09-27T00:03:36Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > ETA: I’m wondering why Adidas wasn’t arrested and incarcerated tho; they were a part of this. Two Adidas execs were [arrested and taken into custody today](http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2017/09/adidas_nike_officials_charged.html). So far only Adidas has been named, but three of the four schools are Nike schools, so I assume more names are coming. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345/20 "2017-09-27T00:12:54Z")
This is so stupid. Shoe companies and agents are paying college athletes to wear their shoes/accept their representation if they hit. But what if they just take the money and do what they want? These aren’t binding contracts, are they? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corruption-in-college-basketball-doj-to-have-major-presser-at-12pm-est-today/797345.md?page=2)