Ernie Cobb, and Hill said in an article in Sports Illustrated -- for which he was paid $10,000 -- that he made payments to . At one point Hill curses, apologizes sheepishly to the camera, and then falls right back into his expletive-laden speech. I wanted my name cleared and it took a long time.. By Bob Hohler Globe Staff,March 16, 2014, 12:00 a.m. Rick Kuhn (No. Location unknown)Boston College's Ernie Cobb pulls down a rebound off his own shot against Holy Cross's Leo Kane during a men's college basketball. But for many, there is a fierce bitterness that still lingers to this day. He ate, drank and slept basketball. talked to the Nets, their head coach Kevin Loughery called him in and said, You know why I have to let you go, said Alswanger. Studied Special education at Grand Canyon University. Its gonna be no contest. I didnt like dealing with a third party I didnt know and had never metBut the word came back that Cobb was enthusiastic and, dont worry Henry, nothing can screw up now., In the 30-for-30 documentary that ESPN just aired, Henry Hill admits that he never talked to me, said Cobb. He wanted to tell his side of the story. At 11:05 a.m., United States District Judge Leonard Wexler completed his instructions to the jury in the Federal Court Building in Brooklyn as Ernie Cobb awaited his . He listened and did everything I told him to do. Canvas; Clever; Edgenuity; Email / Office 365 / One Drive; Enroll Online; Gaggle (CTE) GCU Learning Lounge; Gradpoint; HMH Reading Inventory; Illuminate Student Log in They left, and that was that. To believe that any of 2023's neo-contenders can become bonafide champs over the next few months is to believe that a once-in-a-quarter-century occurrence is about to transpire. Can you name the Top 25 MLB career leaders in singles, doubles, triples and home runs? In 1984, he obtained acquittal for Ernie Cobb, a Boston College basketball star, on federal charge of point-shaving in Brooklyn federal court. The other two kids made whatever choices they made, but look what was done to Ernie. Players profiled in the book include Rick Kuhn, who pulled his teammates into the plot and paid for it with a 10-year prison sentence; Jim Sweeney, a prep school graduate and honor student who found himself trapped between gamblers and a conscience that wouldn't let him cheat his teammates; and leading . Loughery told me that I had the ability to play in the NBA. He made other African-American ballers feel like they could go there and really showcase what they could do on a national level. Height: 5'11" (180 cm) Weight: 0 lbs (- kg) Position: PG. Things that happened to me and my siblings, it wasnt her fault. I was focused in the moment. Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Please give him a chance. I feel like I did all that fighting after I lost my dream of playing in the NBA, and it was all in vain. Near the Boston College campus, he had a flat tire. Other times, they didnt deliver as promised, which caused some very dangerous and ill-tempered men to lose large sums of cash. rick kuhn boston college now. On June 23 rd, 1983, more than four years after he'd played his final game at Boston College, Ernie Cobb was indicted and charged with taking cash bribes to alter the outcomes of games against . It's been more than 30 years since the . Quiz clue: Category (S = Singles, D = Doubles, T = Triples, HR = Home runs) / Hits . We were looking good as a team and my goal was to be the best player I could possibly be. Couldnt they see how grateful he was, that hed never cheat the thing that gave his life such meaning and purpose? Cobb internalized the subtle looks from his new teachers and administrators, the ones his young mind translated to mean, We dont want you here. He no longer felt encouraged in his new classroom environment, and sensed the sting of judgmental eyes when his hyper personality and wandering mind attracted the attention of adult authority figures. On the stand during the trial, Rick Kuhns girlfriend, Barbara Reed, with whom he shared an apartment during his senior year at Boston College, testified that she overheard Kuhn and Sweeney discussing the Fordham game, saying that they had to keep the ball away from Cobb because he shot the ball all the time. That includes Rick Kuhn, the former minor league baseball player who started the scandal and who Sweeney says got him involved in it. A chance meeting in prison. age of adaline comet. Rocco and Tony Perla were giving money to Rick Kuhn. Cobb was always a competitive kid. I felt bad for my mom, he said. I really wanted to get to the bottom of it from a personal curiosity [standpoint], and then also knowing that this had to be a great story.. 35, fourth from left), Ernie Cobb (No. After his junior campaign, where he converted 52% of his shots, an inordinate number for a small perimeter shooter, and averaged 22.8 points per game, he was recognized as one of the most lethal scorers in the country. Press release from the City of Menifee: MENIFEE - Menifee's street projects and construction updates are getting an upgrade! Id made remarkable strides from being sent to a juvenile detention facility, from not being able to read as a high school freshman, said Cobb. Ernie Cobb. Out of all the schools recruiting him, Cobb decided to accept Boston Colleges scholarship offer. And he also cultivated interest, in the area's black community, in terms of being engaged and intrigued bywhat was going on with Boston Colleges basketball program. We were all so excited for him. It was a meaningful existence, a testament to persistence and the strength of believing in the beauty of ones dreams, that hed worked so diligently to reconstruct from the ashes of juvenile delinquency and poverty. He was 83. Sweeney said he decided to cooperate with Lavine and co-director Cayman Grant because he believed they would treat the subject fairly. I moved on many, many years ago, and I think the worst thing you can do is blame others or even blame yourself because thats kinda like a poison that just stays with you. We got really close and he looked out for me. So, in very basic terms, if B.C. I went to an all-black school where everyone knew each other, said Cobb. If you missed Part I, you can read it here. I was excited about school and learning. So from then on I had a juvenile record. Coach Alswanger was always schooling me about a winner never quits, a quitter never wins, about integrity, honor and character. I went into that same Caldors and got arrested again for stealing one.. He was adamant, that he would take the stand in his own defense, despite his lawyers pleas not to do so. I told him, you cant just be great on offense, you gotta play great defense as well.. They showed me these pictures of these mafia guys and were asking me, Do you know him? The film represented something of a white whale for executive producer and co-director Joe Lavine, who for years attempted and failed to get the project green-lighted before finally landing at ESPN. Some 36 years later, there doesn't seem to be a lot of love lost between key characters Rick Kuhn, Ernie Cobb, and Jim Sweeney, the trio of Eagles allegedly paid to keep scores as close as they . It was like a paradise to me, coming from where I came from. But its the points that Cobb and teammate Michael Bowie didnt score during the 1978-1979 season which has spawned a federal investigation. City State. After he interviewed him, he fell in love with him and told me, Hes innocent. At that point, I was looking forward to a trial, said Cobb. All Kuhn had to do was ensure that the Eagles fell short of the point spread in the games that they bet on. But the Justice . He says he believes his experience could serve as a test case for others, to help prevent anything like it from happening in the future. Sometimes, B.C. The arresting officer for the second incident took an interest in the young kid, and saw more than just a young man escalating into juvenile delinquency. But changing his behaviors did not happen overnight. I told him that he was going to have to work very hard and that he was going to have to do things the right way if he wanted to be successful, said Alswanger. Golub was a brilliant lawyer, and he told me that hed have to interview Ernie first to see if he was gonna take the case on. . Or write about sports? But Im so proud of him because he picked his life back up and made the best of it. Thats the story chronicled by the latest edition of ESPNs 30 for 30 documentary series, Playing for the Mob, which premieres Tuesday night at 9 p.m. On October 7, ESPN will air the latest installment of its acclaimed "30 For 30" series with a look back at the infamous Boston College basketball point shaving scandal from the 1978-79 season . Cobb insisted on having his day in court, of clearing his name. Hed have to start setting goals. He jumped in the air, as if soaring for a rebound, as cheers filled the courtroom. I think it will always be in the back of my mind somewhere. Kuhn acknowledged his role and was the only player convicted. We had a good old time. hoops that blazed a trail, Mills continued. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. The motley crew next ensnared Boston College's leading scorer, Ernie Cobb. Stamford (108,056) Ernie Cobb (Boston College basketball), Gary Cobb (NFL, 11 years), Donna Lopiano (Raybestos Brakettes), Dick Mayer (1957 U.S. Open golf champion), Andy Robustelli (Pro Football . Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey. Uh-oh, overstock: Wayfair put their surplus on sale for up to 50% off. He told me to keep playing and working hard and that one day I might get another chance., When the story first broke in January of 1981, Cobb was in shock. But I dont feel any bitterness toward the prosecution. Of course, the damn players had a million excuses, Henry Hill wrote in Sports Illustrateds bombshell story, How I Put The Fix In, which was the magazines cover story on February 16th, 1981. But I wasnt sure if I was really up to B.C. Were really happy with it. Burkes gang had just successfully pulled off the Lufthansa airport heist at New Yorks JFK airport, where theyd stolen an estimated $5 million in cash and $875,000 in jewels, the largest cash robbery in America at the time. Utah Jazz, 6th round (1st pick, 109th overall), 1979 NBA Draft, More Ernie Cobb pages at Sports Reference, More Ernie Cobb Basketball Reference pages. His mother, Hattie, worked as a domestic and struggled to provide for her four children. He acknowledges taking $500, but says he never did anything to fix games. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 8:19PM. Couldnt they see how grateful he was, that hed never cheat the thing that gave his life such meaning and purpose? The day I got to Stamford High School, Coach Alswanger was there waiting for me. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. He had all of this ability, and he worked so hard, said Alswanger. I got to meet Calvin Murphy after the game because Mr. Alswanger knew him, said Cobb. At the close of the two-week trial, Alswanger was the last character witness who took the stand in Cobbs behalf. We are not making it all up in our heads, thinking well of Kris Dunn because we want to: he has real talents to bring, and a body that for the time being will allow him to use them. When the evidence came up at the first trial, it didnt match up, but they still came after me a few years later. Who was involved in the Boston College basketball scandal? Lavine was able to get Sweeney, Hill, before he died, Ernie Cobb, Boston College's leading scorer that season, Michael Bowie, another player on the team, and others from the FBI agent on the case . A wake will be held for Dr. Cobb-Stevens on Monday, July 16, from 4-7 p.m. at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 475 Main . Here was this kid who had all the odds stacked against him, and he was so committed to being successful., His focus and work ethic was amazing, Alswanger continued. The 1968 Topps Baseball Card series includes 598 cards and features multi-player rookie cards. Detroit Mercys Antoine Davis Creeping Up On Pistol Pete Maravichs All-Time NCAA Scoring Mark, A Poor Mans Danny Ainge A Poor Mans Jeff Hornacek: Michael Cooper Torches JJ Redick, I Guard 1 Through 5 | Heats Bam Adebayo Believes He Is NBAs Best Defender And Has Been The Past Two Years. Hill claimed he made between $75,000 . Ernie Cobbs story, in retrospect, is a modern-day adaptation of a Horatio Alger novel, seemingly lifted straight from the pages of Ragged Dick, where the impoverished boy, through determination, honesty and courage, rises out of despair toward a life of comfort and respectability. He refused to take a plea deal in return for a reduced sentence. Alswanger talked with Ernie, who was entering the 9th grade, about his expectations. Checkout the latest stats of Ernie Cobb. He tried to subsist as a substitute teacher, and even caddied at the Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, the affluent suburbs where hed previously been arrested for stealing bikes as a kid. For all I know, he told them I was in, that it would cost an extra $2,500 per game and he was trying to hustle the gangsters while pocketing the extra money. And he was all about the team and winning, despite the fact that he was an offensive machine. rick kuhn boston college now. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Playing for the Mob makes good use of Scorseses classic, splicing in Goodfellas clips between interviews and using Liotta as the films narrator. College: Boston College. Jack McCluskey | Special to ESPNBoston.com, '30 For 30' tackles BC point-shaving scandal, Steve Addazio calls Tyler Murphy clincher vs. USC, Harvard's Zack Hodges gets his shot with Colts, Wesley Saunders helps Harvard recover to capture crucial Ivy win, Beanpot final, consolation moved to Feb. 23, Signing Day Notes: Fences going up for local programs, Boston College unveils 25-man recruit class, Northeastern knocks BC from Beanpot throne. Im not angry at the school. I told him, I think were gonna blow them out, we look really good. Birthplace/Hometown: Stamford, Connecticut, Height: 5-11 (180cm) Weight: 180 (82kg), Current NBA Status: Unrestricted Free Agent. But when I was about eight years old, they started the busing experiment and I had to leave my community to go to school in the suburbs.. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. I had the complete package, said Cobb. It all seemed like a fairy tale, until he was indicted for allegedly fixing college basketball games for the mob. I walk in the bathroom, and who was in there but Peter Vario, the big-time mobster that was on trial with Ernie, said Alswanger. The campus was so beautiful. Jim Sweeney and Ernie Cobb) were brought to trial for point-shaving during the '78- '79 season. It was the streets.. Boston College 84 Reuben Holmes, Alabama State 107 Bart Kofoed, Kearney State 130 Art Sabb, Bloomfield College 153 Keith Webster, Harvard 1988. Id like to thank all the people who stuck by me all the time, Cobb said after the verdict was announced. Hed averaged 21.3 points per game during the 1978-1979 season, leading the Eagles to a 21-8 record. inStamford,Connecticut "I don't need to atone for anything that happened at Boston College," he says, "and I don't need to ask for anyone's forgiveness. He eats it up. It was like this whole new world opened up to him and his desire to succeed was unreal. Do you have a blog? I could see myself coming into my own one day and doing that. I never got to realize my dream of playing in the NBA, but Ive been all over the globe and have experienced so many different and beautiful cultures. Check out the detailed 1976-77 Boston College Eagles Roster and Stats for College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. All of those guys walkedin his footsteps., He was the African-American guard in the modern era of B.C. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. Do you recognize him? And my answer every time was, No! I didnt recognize any of those mobsters because I had never met them. Heading into his senior season in 1978-1979, as the team captain, Cobb was hoping that he could lead his team to the NCAA Tournament. He stopped in my office with his bike with the flat tire and borrowed $20 to get it fixed and to get home. But well come back to that later. rick kuhn boston college now 19 3407 . Boston College Point Shaving. He wanted to win every foot race, every pickup game of basketball and sandlot football, or any other endeavor that ended with a final score and winning result. The characters and events were later immortalized by the actors Ray Liotta and Robert DeNiro in the classic film, Goodfellas. Cobb was drafted by the Utah Jazz in the 6th Round and cut during training camp. Sign up to receive The Shadow League Newsletter in your inbox. The reasons for their failure may have been inherent to the whole project. At 11:05 a.m., United States District Judge Leonard Wexler completed his instructions to the jury in the Federal Court Building in Brooklyn as Ernie Cobb awaited his judgment. Select the second team from the drop down menu. Cobb had been a prolific shooting guard at Boston College in the late 1970s, a team captain whod etched his name into the schools record books as its third-leading career scorer. I understand that they want to disassociate themselves from the scandal. Joe Streater was not part of the Boston College point shaving scandal that was popularized this week by ESPN's latest 30 for 30, . 1050. I could have sneezed and they would have sent me to the principals office.. Here was someone who believed in him, someone who was willing to work with him and teach him about this game of basketball, which he loved more than anything. Proactive and highly responsive counselor to students, parents, faculty, community and district needs. I never lied about that. And in that article in Sports Illustrated, Henry Hill says, The word came back that Cobb was enthusiastic. The key phrase there is The word came back. I dont know what Rick Kuhn was telling Henry Hill or the Perla brothers. I just knew that not only was I going to make the team, but I was going to be a factor in the NBA. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis and Brandon Ingram will play outsized roles in how their respective teams close the season. But by his sophomore year, when he was inserted into the starting lineup, it was apparent that the 5-foot-11 scorer brought a dimension to the Boston College squad that it sorely needed when he averaged 17.4 points per game. I dominated all those guys on the playground and they laughed at me when I got cut. He was hopeful that hed have another chance to make it in the NBA. No one in my family had even graduated from high school. I had my own place to live and all the food I wanted to eat. The Shadow League is a narrative company. At trial in 1981, the government's case consisted primarily of the testimony . Masters Degree in Education. They were so many activities and all this food. We spoke to everybody, whether they ended up in the film or not.. who were in it from the beginning, and Ernie Cobb . 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