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The CCNY point-shaving scandal of 1950–51 was a college basketball point-shaving gambling scandal that involved seven American schools in all, with four in the New York metropolitan area, two in the Midwest, and one in the South. However, most of the key players in the scandal were players of the 1949–50 CCNY Beavers men's basketball team.

Background

The cheating began with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Invitation Tournament (NIT) champion City College of New York (CCNY). CCNY had won the 1950 NCAA basketball tournament and the 1950 National Invitation Tournament over Bradley University. The scandal involved CCNY and at least six other schools, including three others in the New York City area: New York University, Long Island University (LIU) and Manhattan College, spreading to Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois; the University of Kentucky and the University of Toledo, involving 33 players in all, as well as organized crime. CCNY was eventually banned from playing at Madison Square Garden although the assistant coach, Nat Holman, and head coach, Albert Litschqi, were cleared of any wrongdoing. [1] [2] [3]

Discovery of the scandal

Junius Kellogg, a standout 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Manhattan College center, was offered a $1,000 (equivalent to $12,800 in 2024) bribe to shave points before a game against DePaul. Although he was working for minimum wage (then 75¢ per hour) at a frozen custard shop near campus, Kellogg refused to take the money and reported the solicitation to his coach, Ken Norton. Norton sent him to New York City District Attorney Frank Hogan. To obtain evidence about the corruption, Kellogg wore a wire when he was again approached in a nearby bar. [4]

The scandal first became public when Hogan arrested seven men on charges of conspiring to fix games on February 18, 1951. Among those taken into custody were All-America forward Ed Warner, center Ed Roman, and guard Al Roth, the three stars of CCNY's five that won both the NIT and NCAA tournaments, still the only such double championship in history (and destined to remain such, since teams are no longer allowed to enter both tournaments in the same year). The police had set up an undercover operation. [5] The arrests were made in Penn Station when the players returned from Philadelphia, after CCNY had defeated Temple University, 95–71.

In all, 32 players from seven colleges admitted to taking bribes between 1947 and 1950 to fix 86 games in 17 states. [4] Jack Molinas was not caught in 1951, but after he was suspended for gambling by the National Basketball Association (NBA) he was linked back to the 1951 scandal by bets placed on his then-college team, Columbia University. [6]

Results of the scandal

The following sentences or punishments that were given out to those involved in the case were implemented primarily by Judge Saul S. Streit, unless stated otherwise. [2]

Name Role(s) Sentences/Punishments
John Byrnes [7] Manhattan player Placed on three years probation by Judge James M. Barrett. Was later permanently banned from the NBA and other professional basketball leagues alongside his teammate Poppe in response to the case.
Henry "Hank" Poppe [8] Manhattan player Placed on three years probation by Judge James M. Barrett. Was later permanently banned from the NBA and other professional basketball leagues alongside his teammate Byrnes in response to the case.
Cornelius Kelleher Fixer Sentenced to one year in prison by Judge James M. Barrett.
Benjamin Schwartzberg Fixer Sentenced to one year in prison alongside his brother Irving by Judge James M. Barrett.
Irving Schwartzberg Fixer Sentenced to one year in prison alongside his brother Benjamin by Judge James M. Barrett.
Sol Levy NBA referee & Accomplice of Eddie Gard Received a suspended sentence for arranging the outcome of "fixing" six NBA games in 1950. Was later fired from his position as a referee from the NBA, if not permanently banned from the NBA and other basketball leagues altogether, for what he had done as a referee. Was originally given a three year prison sentence for his work in fixing six NBA games, [9] but ultimately spent a year in prison before being free via appeal due to a technicality at the time. [10] Was later found to have been killed for not withholding his own end of his bargain despite fixing multiple NBA games already, with New York District Attorney Frank Hogan speculating that Levy did not come through for at least three more NBA games he was involved with at the time. [9]
Alvin Roth CCNY player Sentenced to six months in a workhouse, though his sentence was suspended when Judge Saul S. Streit approved of Roth's decision to enter the United States Army as a private for two years instead. Was later permanently banned from the NBA alongside the other CCNY players that were directly involved in the scandal.
Ed Roman CCNY player Received a suspended sentence and was later permanently banned from playing in the NBA alongside the other CCNY players that were directly involved in the scandal.
Ed Warner CCNY player Was sentenced to six months in Rikers Island before later being permanently banned from playing in the NBA alongside the other CCNY players that were directly involved in the scandal.
Harvey "Connie" Schaff [11] NYU player Received a six month suspended sentence before Harvey "Connie" Schaff was permanently banned from playing in the NBA.
Salvatore Sollazzo Fixer Received an eight to sixteen year long sentence in a state prison for being a key figure in the scandal, though ultimately served twelve years in prison.
Eddie Gard Agent of Salvatore Sollazzo & LIU Brooklyn player Originally received an indeterminate sentence of up to three years in prison, but only served nine months in prison and received praise from Assistant District Attorney Vincent A.J. O'Connor for his cooperation in the case. Was later permanently banned from the NBA himself for his direct involvement with the scandal alongside other LIU Brooklyn players that were involved at the time, regardless of whether they were in the school by that time or not like Gard no longer was by the time of his arrest.
Adolph "Dolph" Bigos [12] LIU Brooklyn player Received a suspended sentence and was later permanently banned from playing in the NBA alongside the other LIU Brooklyn players that were directly involved in the scandal.
LeRoy Smith LIU Brooklyn player Received a suspended sentence and was later permanently banned from playing in the NBA alongside the other LIU Brooklyn players that were directly involved in the scandal.
Sherman White LIU Brooklyn player Was sentenced to one year in prison by Judge Saul S. Streit, but only served close to nine months in Rikers Island instead. He was also permanently banned from playing in the NBA alongside the other LIU Brooklyn players that were directly involved in the scandal. Questions of racism were implied to have occurred with him due to his harsher punishment when compared to most other players involved at the time. During the time of the scandal, the New York Knicks were interested in selecting him in the 1951 NBA draft with a territorial pick at hand before his sentencing ultimately barred him from the draft and play in the NBA.
Floyd Layne LIU Brooklyn player Received a suspended sentence and was later permanently banned from playing in the NBA alongside the other LIU Brooklyn players that were directly involved in the scandal.
Natie "Nat" Miller [13] LIU Brooklyn player Received a suspended sentence and was later permanently banned from playing in the NBA alongside the other LIU Brooklyn players that were directly involved in the scandal.
Herb Cohen CCNY player Received a suspended sentence and was later permanently banned from playing in the NBA alongside the other CCNY players that were directly involved in the scandal.
Irwin Dambrot CCNY player Was given a suspended sentence while being a graduate student and dental student at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine at the time. While considered unlikely to have considered a professional basketball career at the time due to his new career path in dentistry, he was still nevertheless permanently banned from the NBA due to his involvement in the scandal alongside the other CCNY players that were directly involved in this case, especially since he was drafted by the New York Knicks as the seventh overall pick of the 1950 NBA draft before the scandal came to light.
Norm Mager CCNY player* Received a suspended sentence and was later permanently banned from playing in the NBA alongside the other CCNY players that were directly involved in the scandal.
Louis Lipman LIU Brooklyn player Received a suspended sentence and was later permanently banned from playing in the NBA alongside the other CCNY players that were directly involved in the scandal.
Richard "Dick" Feurtado [14] LIU Brooklyn player Received a suspended sentence and was later permanently banned from playing in the NBA alongside the other LIU Brooklyn players that were directly involved in the scandal.
Eli Klukofsky Fixer Suffered a fatal heart attack while awaiting his trial and verdict. Was associated with mobdom and potentially could have implicated more mobsters in his trial before his heart attack happened.
Jack Feeman [15] Toledo player Charges against him were dropped alongside the other Toledo players involved due to Eli "Kaye" Klukofsky's fatal heart attack. However, Feeman and the other University of Toledo players were still permanently banned from the NBA despite the dropped charges due to them still being implicated in the case earlier on.
Bob McDonald Toledo player Charges against him were dropped alongside the other Toledo players involved due to Eli "Kaye" Klukofsky's fatal heart attack. However, McDonald and the other University of Toledo players were still permanently banned from the NBA despite the dropped charges due to them still being implicated in the case earlier on.
Carlos Muzi [16] Toledo player Charges against him were dropped alongside the other Toledo players involved due to Eli "Kaye" Klukofsky's fatal heart attack. However, Muzi and the other University of Toledo players were still permanently banned from the NBA despite the dropped charges due to them still being implicated in the case earlier on.
Bill Walker [17] Toledo player Charges against him were dropped alongside the other Toledo players involved due to Eli "Kaye" Klukofsky's fatal heart attack. However, Wallar and the other University of Toledo players were still permanently banned from the NBA despite the dropped charges due to them still being implicated in the case earlier on.
Jackie Goldsmith Fixer & LIU Brooklyn player Sentenced to around two-and-a-half to four years in prison for fixing games involving not just LIU Brooklyn, but also Manhattan College as well. Despite not playing professional basketball since 1948 back in his time with the Toledo Jeeps in the National Basketball League (a precursor/rivaling league to the NBA), Goldsmith was still considered a player to be permanently banned from the NBA alongside other LIU Brooklyn players that were involved with the scandal at the time, regardless of whether they were in the school at the time or not like Goldsmith no longer was by the time of his arrest.
Charles "Bud" Grover [18] Bradley player Was ultimately acquitted in his part in the scandal alongside three other Bradley University students that were implicated in the case. However, despite his acquittal, Grover was still permanently banned from the NBA alongside the other Bradley University players involved in the scandal, regardless of whether they were acquitted or not.
Jim Kelly Bradley player Was ultimately acquitted in his part in the scandal alongside three other Bradley University students that were implicated in the case. However, despite his acquittal, Kelly was still permanently banned from the NBA alongside the other Bradley University players involved in the scandal, regardless of whether they were acquitted or not.
Bill Mann Bradley player Initially faced three years in prison after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor on accepting bribes from gamblers to hold down scores to Judge Saul S. Streit before praise from Assistant District Attorney Vincent A.J. O'Connor for his cooperation in the case led to him getting a suspended statement instead. Regardless, he was still permanently banned from the NBA afterward alongside the other Bradley University players implicated in this case. Mann was originally selected as the 21st overall pick of the 1951 NBA draft by the original Baltimore Bullets NBA franchise, but never had a chance to play for Baltimore after being drafted by them. [19]
Gene Melchiorre Bradley player Initially faced three years in prison after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor on accepting bribes from gamblers to hold down scores to Judge Saul S. Streit before praise from Assistant District Attorney Vincent A.J. O'Connor for his cooperation in the case led to him getting a suspended statement instead. Regardless, he was still permanently banned from the NBA afterward alongside the other Bradley University players implicated in this case. Melchiorre was originally selected as the #1 pick of the 1951 NBA draft by the original Baltimore Bullets NBA franchise, but never had a chance to play for Baltimore after being drafted by them.
Aaron Preece Bradley player Was ultimately acquitted in his part in the scandal alongside three other Bradley University students that were implicated in the case. However, despite his acquittal, Preece was still permanently banned from the NBA alongside the other Bradley University players involved in the scandal, regardless of whether they were acquitted or not. Preece was originally selected as the 72nd pick of the 1951 NBA draft by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now the Atlanta Hawks), but never had a chance to play for that franchise after being drafted by them. [20]
Nick Englises Gambler Was given an indeterminate sentence of up to three years in prison.
Tony Englises Gambler Was sentenced to six months in prison.
Joe Benintende Gambler Was sentenced to around four to seven years in prison.
Jack West Fixer Was sentenced to around two to three years in prison.
Mike Chianakas [21] Bradley player Initially faced three years in prison after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor on accepting bribes from gamblers to hold down scores to Judge Saul S. Streit before praise from Assistant District Attorney Vincent A.J. O'Connor for his cooperation in the case led to him getting a suspended statement instead. Regardless, he was still permanently banned from the NBA afterward alongside the other Bradley University players implicated in this case.
Fred Schlictman Bradley player Was ultimately acquitted in his part in the scandal alongside three other Bradley University students that were implicated in the case. However, despite his acquittal, Schlictman was still permanently banned from the NBA alongside the other Bradley University players involved in the scandal, regardless of whether they were acquitted or not.
Dale Barnstable Kentucky player Was given a suspended sentence, placed on an indefinite probation period, and was barred from all professional sports play for three years. In addition to that, he was also permanently banned from the NBA alongside the other University of Kentucky players that were implicated in the scandal. Barnstable was originally drafted by the Boston Celtics in the seventh round as the 73rd pick of the 1950 NBA draft, but he never properly played for the Celtics before the scandal broke through to catch him.
Ralph Beard Kentucky player† Was given a suspended sentence, placed on an indefinite probation period, and was barred from all professional sports play for three years. In addition to that, he was also permanently banned from the NBA alongside the other University of Kentucky players that were implicated in the scandal.
Alex Groza Kentucky player† Was given a suspended sentence, placed on an indefinite probation period, and was barred from all professional sports play for three years. In addition to that, he was also permanently banned from the NBA alongside the other University of Kentucky players that were implicated in the scandal.
Bill Spivey Kentucky player After being barred from collegiate play on March 2, 1952 through accusations made by Kentucky teammates despite never being directly implicated in the point shaving case (which subsequently led to the University of Kentucky being suspended from basketball play during the 1952–53 NCAA basketball season), he was originally indicted for perjury by New York District Attorney Frank Hogan before his case resulted in a mistrial and was subsequently dismissed afterward. Despite the mistrial and subsequent dismissal of his situation, Spivey was ultimately permanently banned from the NBA at the time alongside the other University of Kentucky players implicated in this scandal (despite the Cincinnati Royals briefly trying to sign Spivey at one point), though unlike the other players involved, Spivey would sue the NBA and de facto commissioner Maurice Podoloff in 1960 for $800,000 before ultimately accepting a settlement of $10,000. Spivey eventually was able to technically play in the NBA by a loophole of sorts for an all-star game organized in Baltimore with the Baltimore Bullets (current Washington Wizards) on February 11, 1968, where he joined the Eastern Basketball League Baltimore Bullets team that went up against the original Baltimore Bullets all-star team.

* – At the time of the scandal, Norm Mager was playing with the Baltimore Bullets of the NBA.
† – At the time of the scandal, both Ralph Beard and Alex Groza were both playing with the Indianapolis Olympians of the NBA.

Aftermath

The scandal had long-lasting effects for some of the individuals involved, as well as college basketball itself. Long after the scandal was over, coaches would warn their players what could happen to their lives if they chose to make some "fast money". [22]

While Kentucky was forced to cancel one season of play (1952–53), it was the only program that was not permanently hobbled by the scandal. To date, Bradley is the only other affected school to have appeared in a final major media poll. However, none of the programs would suffer more than CCNY and LIU. Following the discovery of several other irregularities, CCNY deemphasized its athletic program and dropped down to what is now Division III. LIU shut down its entire athletic program from 1951 to 1957, and did not return to Division I until the 1980s.

Documentaries

Main article: City Dump: The Story of the 1951 CCNY Basketball Scandal

In 1998, George Roy and Steven Hilliard Stern, Black Canyon Productions, and HBO Sports made a documentary film about the CCNY Point Shaving Scandal, City Dump: The Story of the 1951 CCNY Basketball Scandal, that appeared on HBO. [23] [24]

The story is also detailed in The First Basket, a 2008 documentary covering the history of Jewish players in basketball.

Pop culture references

The scandal is referenced in the HBO series The Sopranos during the episode " Rat Pack", which was the second episode of the fifth season, first broadcast on March 14, 2004. After learning of the death of New York mob boss Carmine Lupertazzi, Corrado "Junior" Soprano confirms that Lupertazzi invented point shaving for "CCNY versus Kentucky, 1951. Nobody beat the spread. I bought a black Fleetwood."

Jay Neugeboren's 1966 novel Big Man is based on what happens to an All-American African American basketball star five years after he was caught in this scandal.

A 1951 movie, The Basketball Fix, was based on the scandal.

See also

References

  1. ^ Nat Holman: The Man, His Legacy and CCNY. "The 1951 Basketball Scandal" Archived 2007-12-05 at the Wayback Machine - The City College Library - City College of New York
  2. ^ a b Goldstein, Joe, "Explosion: 1951 scandals threaten college hoops" - ESPN - November 19, 2003
  3. ^ Conrad, Mark. "Sportslaw History: The City College Scandal" Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine - Mark's Sportslaw News
  4. ^ a b Junius Kellogg is dead at 71 Refused bribe in '50s scandal, The New York Times, Frank Litsky, September 18, 1998. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  5. ^ "The Big Money" - Time - February 26, 1951
  6. ^ Goldstein, Joe. "Explosion II: The Molinas period" - ESPN - November 19, 2003
  7. ^ "John Byrnes College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  8. ^ https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/hank-poppe-1.html
  9. ^ a b https://nbahoopsonline.com/Articles/2019-20/Scandals.html
  10. ^ https://www.espn.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/3690/when-an-nba-referee-was-convicted-of-shaving-points
  11. ^ "Connie Schaff College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  12. ^ https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/dolph-bigos-1.html
  13. ^ https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/nat-miller-2.html
  14. ^ https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/dick-feurtado-1.html
  15. ^ "Jack Feeman College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  16. ^ "Carlos Muzi College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  17. ^ https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/bill-walker-4.html
  18. ^ "Charles Grover College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  19. ^ https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mannbi01.html
  20. ^ https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/preecaa01.html
  21. ^ "Mike Chianakas College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  22. ^ Callahan, Tom. "When Scandals Do Not Scandalize" - Time - November 30, 1981
  23. ^ Roy, George, and Steven Hilliard Stern. City Dump: The Story of the 1951 CCNY Basketball Scandal. - Time Warner - Black Canyon Productions, and HBO Sports. March 24, 1998.
  24. ^ City Dump: The Story of the 1951 CCNY Basketball Scandal. - IMDb

Further reading

External links

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