San Diego Coach, Players Charged

Facts

Prosecutors have announced an indictment charging a former University of San Diego assistant basketball coach and two former players, including the school's all-time leader in scoring and assists, in an alleged conspiracy to affect the outcome of games.
Federal authorities say Monday that a federal grand jury handed up the indictments on April 8 against former assistant coach Thaddeus Brown, who coached at USD during the 2006-07 season.
Also charged are former players Brandon Johnson and Brandon Dowdy. Johnson, a guard for the Toreros from 2005 to 2010, finished with 1,790 points and 525 assists.

The indictment alleges that Johnson took a bribe to influence the result of a game in February 2010 and solicited someone else in January 2011 to affect the outcome of USD basketball games.

The indictment alleges that this February, Brown and Dowdy solicited someone to affect the outcome of a game at the University of California, Riverside.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

My Take

This type of corruption has been going on for years and many schools like this one, like UNLV, like my beloved USC Trojans have found themselves caught up in shenanigans. That said, I consider this very "Pete Rose-like" and even far more offensive than paying student athletes on the down low.

Point Shaving stands on its own in my book.

You see, when you pay a player for his efforts, that's one thing; however, when you pay a player to determine the outcome of a game - that is crossing a line where words like corruption come into play. A student athlete taking money a-la Reggie Bush is a violation of policy and ethics, but it is not breaking the law. Determining the outcome of games for gambling purposes, to me, that is the worst thing any player or coach can ever do. Such an act spits in the face of the game and the fans who have paid their hard earned money to watch a game; to watch a fair game which should have a fair outcome. It's bad enough the referees dictate the outcomes of games (see Tim Donaghy), but for decades us fans have had to worry about players sub cumming to the almighty dollar also?

FAIL!

It truly is sad and when allegations such as point shaving come into play, it truly is a reminder that unfortunately everybody has a price.

(Image found at lambdaarchives)

Posted in: Sports