Time to ante up

Charges expected in gambling investigation at Florida State

Publicly, at least, law enforcement officials are keeping a lid on their gambling investigation at Florida State University. What’s become clear in recent days is that the probe is nearing a conclusion -- perhaps within the next three weeks -- and criminal charges are likely.

Asked where the case is headed, Florida State Police Sgt. Bill Wooten, who is overseeing the gambling task force, told SI.com: “We’re looking at the possibility of charging some individuals, but at this point I can’t make any further comment."

News of the gambling probe surfaced after FSU quarterback Adrian McPherson was booted from the squad in late November for the alleged theft of a blank check. Athletic director Dave Hart asked McPherson if he was involved in gambling. McPherson has repeatedly denied such involvement, and there’s no indication he’s a subject in the criminal investigation.

Investigators seized the computer of a former FSU student during a search last month, examining it for possible records and names linked to gambling. The student's roommate was a former Seminole baseball player, prompting officials, in the course of their investigation, to question current players.

Wooten downplayed the impact of the investigation, saying the potential number of arrests wouldn’t be significant. The case will be reviewed by the state attorney’s office before there's a decision on whether to bring charges.

“Right now, we’re just tying up loose ends," Wooten said.

Since we're on the subject of gambling, let’s go to the mailbag and see what users have to say about the NCAA’s position on the issue, as well as Pete Rose’s on-going battle for reinstatement and other topics.

Please tell me who would watch Utah-Wyoming at midnight EST if there were no gambling? NCAA football and basketball would become extinct on TV, like the XFL, if there were no gambling. The one problem I have in college sports is the potential for point shaving, because most kids have no money and this is a way to support themselves.
-- Cary Markowitz, Roslyn, N.Y.

You’re right, there’s a ton of money bet on college sports, especially college football. You could further argue it’s this gambling interest that helps drive the TV ratings, which in turn earns the NCAA billion-dollar TV contracts.

The fact of the matter is that the NCAA owns the product, and most sports fans -- gamblers or not -- want to see the product. If the NCAA wanted to, it could take a hard line toward the policies of the media outlets it is affiliated with, and opt not to sign a deal with CBS or ESPN. Is the NCAA really so insecure to think that if it threatened to cut ties to these companies that it would lose the money? I certainly believe that if forced to, any media would cut their ties to just about anything connected with gambling in order to allow the NCAA to put its product on their air. Instead of appearing so two-faced, the NCAA -- if it really wanted to -- has enough clout to actually do what it says it wants to do.
-- J. Miller, Newport Beach, Calif.

Yeah, there’s something about talking out of both sides of your mouth.

In some respects, these allegations against NCAA director for gambling Bill Saum aren't all that salacious. But, because of Saum's role in selective enforcement cases, I think it's reasonable to turn the table on him. When questioned about his ownership of IGT stock (the world’s largest manufacturer of slot machines), what did Saum do? Deny, deny, deny -- until he was cornered with evidence to the contrary. Then he backpedaled. Certainly not the type of cooperation he is looking for when he investigates alleged NCAA rules violations. I think the NCAA's lack of understanding of the gravity of its top cop profiting from gambling activities, to borrow a favorite NCAA enforcement credo, points to a “lack of institutional control" on its part.
-- Marc Isenberg, a-game.com, Los Angeles

You got it. The NCAA and its decision-makers sure clam up when it’s their turn to answer tough questions.

I am sorry for you and all the Pete Rose fans in this world, but he should never be let in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Outside every major league locker room is a sign that says if you gamble on baseball, you will be banned for life. Pete is a gaming addict, but he knew the rule. This rule is made for the integrity of the game, not to kick out a man who played the game harder than anybody, and loved the game more than anybody. No second chances here. Baseball made the rule, and Pete is OUT.
-- Ted Whitman, San Diego, Calif.

You’re right about the clubhouse sign warning players not to bet. But more importantly here, it was Rose himself who signed the agreement that imposed his lifetime ban. Too bad he didn’t deal fully with this mess a decade ago when he had the chance.

People say Pete Rose “only" bet on his team to win. Well, what about the possibility of making a managerial decision to dip further into his bullpen in order to insure victory that day, but leave tired arms for the next couple of games? Such action could lead to a future loss. That would be OK with Rose because he probably didn't have any money on the subsequent games.
-- Tim Coppola, Overland Park, Kan.

This is precisely why sports leagues are so uptight about gambling. The games can’t afford even the appearance of impropriety or suspicion.

I am 25 years old and the reason I started watching boxing was because of Mike Tyson. When I was a kid I thought he could not be beaten, but along the line he lost whatever held him together. The man is nuts and proved it once again by tattooing his face. How crazy can you be?
-- Terrence Flowers, Indianapolis

Let’s just say Iron Mike is borrowing a page from Dennis Rodman’s circus act. His days of raising hell in the ring are over, so he’s reduced to selling a freak act -- and folks are buying.

Mike Tyson shouldn’t have to worry about any harm or pain with his new tattoo -- it’s near his brain.
-- Ron Goodwin, Carson City, Nev.

Don’t sell him short. He’s smart enough to market himself so he can pocket $5 million fighting Clifford Etienne.

It's an embarrassment to the sport of football that schools are using sex as a selling point for their school. Someone needs to force the head coaches of those schools to explain why they are doing this.
-- Ryan Day, Olathe, Kan.

The reasons are obvious. Sex obviously sells and some coaches are desperate in their recruitment of impressionable teenagers.

I do not agree with the do-gooders who continue to sing the heavenly praises of Title IX as such a major step for college athletics. Neither Title IX nor affirmative action accomplished anything that wasn't happening through simple common sense and social evolution at the time. For these self-righteous glory hunters to stand up during moments like Pat Summitt's historic win or the Women's World Cup victory and suggest that their soapbox chest-pounding had more to do with it than the hard work and sacrifices these women have put forth is an insult.
-- Robert Igoe, Altoona, Pa.

I’m not on any soap box, but it’s silly to think Title IX didn’t give a good kick to common sense and social evolution.

I was wondering if anybody should feel their intelligence insulted by Mr. LeBron James' attorneys. They are now recasting his taking of jerseys in exchange for promotional consideration (having his picture taken for public display at that store) as a "gift" for academic achievement. That's right, a 3.5 GPA at St. Vincent-St. Mary entitles you to a $900 gift if you have your picture taken and put on the wall at a sports wear store -- I'm sure that their wall of academics will be a major promotional draw. I wonder how many other students at SVSM who get a GPA of 3.5 or higher will get this offer?
-- Dave Salisbury, Kettering, Ohio

Best they can hope for is the Akron Aeros to pony up a ticket on “A Student Night."

It is a joy to watch Yao Ming play in the NBA. Not only does he appear very talented, but he goes about his work with dignity that his NBA peers should take note of and try to emulate.
-- Marshall Howell, Henderson, Ky.

Sounds like Yao Ming is the class of the league.

Maybe fan actions wouldn’t have become such a big issue if the media hadn’t perpetually focused on the "great" SEC fans.
-- Rusty Ray, Escanaba, Mich.

What? The SEC leads the free world in cheating, but their fans aren’t out front on this rowdiness issue. Closer to home, you had hooligans on the streets of Columbus, Ohio, setting fire to cars after Ohio State beat Michigan last November. Sorry, this can’t be reduced to a regional or conference issue.

From a Minnesota Twins fan who grew up in the 1950s and '60s, I see Harmon Killebrew on Ted Williams’ list of Top 25 hitters. He hit a lot of home runs and struck out a lot, too. He never had a great batting average. I don't see Tony Oliva, Zoilo Versalles, Rod Carew or George Brett. All were better hitters, if not power hitters, than Killebrew. I think Ol' Ted's bias is showing. The Mariners now have a guy who is probably better than all of them -- Ichiro Suzuki.
-- Dave Ritchie, Woodinville Wash.

Not sure what Ted was thinking, but I, too, was surprised to see Brett missing from the list. Two others who got stiffed were Roberto Clemente and Carl Yastrzemski.

Mike Fish is a senior writer for SI.com.

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