I feel like if I can change one life, like he changed mine, man, it makes everything Ive been through worthwhile.. 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. 17 Eric Leckner, Wyoming Boston College 84 Reuben Holmes, Alabama State 107 Bart Kofoed, Kearney State 130 Art Sabb, Bloomfield College 153 Keith Webster, Harvard 1988. The headlines in Boston, and around the country, said that Cobb and fellow senior Michael Bowie, the teams two African-American stars, were the players that were implicated. Boston College Point Shaving. The film also benefits from the fact that most of those involved agreed to speak on camera, including Sweeney, fellow accused BC players Ernie Cobb and Michael Bowie (who were completely vindicated), law enforcement officials and all the principals on the organized crime side of the story. We may earn a commission from links on this page. You understand? I thought he might have been a student, because he was young and I saw him hanging around Rick Kuhn all the time. When Ernie began attending school, the areas school system was functionally segregated. 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. He refused to take a plea deal in return for a reduced sentence. A talkative informant. 11. Fourteen hours later, I arrived in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.. Canvas; Clever; Edgenuity; Email / Office 365 / One Drive; Enroll Online; Gaggle (CTE) GCU Learning Lounge; Gradpoint; HMH Reading Inventory; Illuminate Student Log in Select the players you wish to trade from the rosters below. He worked hard in class. Kuhn, a reserve forward on the 1978-79 Boston College team, and four other men were convicted last November of a plot to manipulate the . Thats why I got into education and coaching. It wasnt until I actually saw him play that I realized how special he was as an offensive talent. But I dont feel any bitterness toward the prosecution. I was lightning quick, could run up and down, go left or right and could score from anywhere on the floor., He was breaking every record you could think of and by his junior year, people were saying, Whoa! I was mesmerized.. It devastated me as a youngster. Weight: 238. Jim Sweeney and Ernie Cobb) were brought to trial for point-shaving during the '78- '79 season. 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 wanted my name cleared and it took a long time.. Hes a good person. After perhaps his greatest moment during the preseason, when he had that outstanding game against the Celtics right before the regular season tipped off, Cobb was relaxing in his hotel room when he heard a knock at the door. He wanted to tell his side of the story. Kuhn enlisted the help of starters Ernie Cobb . Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Every accomplishment made me want to work harder. The story captures Cobb's fascinating journey beginning with a challenged upbringing and the appearance of an unlikely mentor in Hermy Alswanger, to college basketball fame and then to the unwelcomed notoriety associated with being falsely linked to the Boston College point shaving scandal. He jumped in the air, as if soaring for a rebound, as cheers filled the courtroom. When the story first broke, it said that Michael Bowie and I were the ones implicated, said Cobb. Obviously, the huge message is dont get involved with point-shaving, Lavine said with a laugh. I would walk long distances, for miles, out into the suburbs in Greenwich. But by the next summer, in 1980, he sparkled while playing for the New Jersey Nets during the pre-season. It wasnt an absolute disaster but it was a cousin. He sensed something in that moment, something transformative. They were comparing him to Calvin Murphy, the great pro, who was similar in stature and who was from Connecticut, said Alswanger. I was a senior in high school when Ernie Cobb was a senior at Boston College and Id heard that he was a very good player, said Lemuel Mills, a Boston area hoops aficionado, coach, community mentor and historian. He also . In a point-shaving scandal that sticks in the memories of many, three Boston College players became embroiled in a betting scheme conceived by gamblers Henry Hill, Rocco and Tony Perla, and Paul Mazzei. Despite never having played organized basketball before, Cobb was moved up to the varsity squad as a freshman. . But what was I going to do, take it to court?It was here that they began telling Perla we would have to have Cobb. Couldnt people see how much he loved the game? He had this unbelievable desire to succeed and you could tell that he wasnt going to let anything stand in his way.. After the four-week trial in 1981, Jimmy Burke was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while Paul Mazzei and Tony Perla were sentenced to ten. His mother was doing her best to put bread on the table. A few blocks from Boston College, the place that held so much meaning to him, where hed worked so hard to create his lifes purpose, the symbolism was inescapable when he found that he had a flat tire. But well come back to that later. Ernie Cobb weighed 180 lbs (81 kg) when playing. I continue to feel like I have to defend myself, all these years later, even after the government tried their case against me and I was found innocent. I was so thankful, and was willing to work as hard as I possibly could, both in my studies, and in basketball, to be able to get the most I could out of the experience.. That fascination only increased when the mobster who fingered Sweeney hit the big screen years later in Martin Scorseses Goodfellas., Every year I would pitch this story, Lavine said. Or write about sports? I said, If this dude has cash like that to burn and wants to give me $1,000 because I told him wed destroy Stonehill, sure, Ill take it. Maybe he was trying to cultivate a relationship with me and soften me up for something down the road. On Saturday Morning, March 24th, 1984, a tiny blurb in newspaper sports sections across the nation read Ex-basketball star Ernie Cobb was acquitted Friday of taking part in a point-shaving scandal that rocked Boston College in 1978-1979, and tearfully asked for a fair shot to resurrect his chances at a pro career. I dont know if the losses can ever be made upnot the losses me and my family and friends have suffered. We lived in dormitories. A social worker at the facility, who took notice of Ernies work ethic and burgeoning athletic potential, contacted Herm Alswanger, the varsity basketball coach at Stamford High School, where the youngster would soon enroll upon his release from Meriden. Sweeney said he decided to cooperate with Lavine and co-director Cayman Grant because he believed they would treat the subject fairly. He made other African-American ballers feel like they could go there and really showcase what they could do on a national level. 1975 TOPPS BASEBALL SET #197 ERNIE BANKS-FOX CHICAGO CUBS EX Sold by wlbjr | Ends on 2023-03-06 23:50:31 Quiz clue: Category (S = Singles, D = Doubles, T = Triples, HR = Home runs) / Hits . The motley crew next ensnared Boston College's leading scorer, Ernie Cobb. In the 1979 NBA Draft, Magic Johnson was the first overall pick of the Los Angeles Lakersafter leading Michigan State University to the National Championship over Larry Birds Indiana State team. 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. We were all so excited for him. don't know about ernie but i know rick. My mom raised me to be respectful, so I never talked back or exhibited any violent or aggressive behavior., But I had an overactive imagination and couldnt sit still, he continued. Find Ernest Cobb's current house address. Part 2 can be found here. In practice, he was the lunatic who his teammates sucked their teeth and rolled their eyes at when he told the coaches that they needed to run more sprints after an exhausting practice. With his name swirling down the vortex of the mob cesspool from the moment the story broke, Ernie Cobb found it difficult to make a living. From that day on, I became very studious.. The point-shaving allegations surfaced during an unrelated investigation into the 1978 theft of $5.8 million from the Lufthansa cargo terminal at New Yorks Kennedy Airport. Cobb eventually cleared his name and Sweeney was never . Ernie Cobb. They were a massive disappointment, yes, but also so transcendent for brief moments. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. He listened and did everything I told him to do. The very next day, the Nets cut me., When the F.B.I. Kuhn acknowledged his role and was the only player convicted. Sep 28, 1980 - Ernie Cobb, . I told him, I think were gonna blow them out, we look really good. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey. His lifes dream of making it to the NBA, which was where he belonged, was taken away from him. Sign up to receive The Shadow League Newsletter in your inbox. So, in very basic terms, if B.C. He was adamant that he would take the stand in his own defense, despite his lawyers pleas not to do so. He hugged his tearful mother before walking out into the hallway for a few moments. He was determined to prove that he could do the work, which would enable him to further chase his athletic dreams. First Name. When he told Alswanger about the indictment, his old high school coach spoke sternly with him, as he'd done sometwelveyears earlier when Cobb had just returned home fromthe juvenile detention facility. Did Uncle Neely Forget Which Side He Plays For? I dominated all those guys on the playground and they laughed at me when I got cut. We might have worn the hand-me-downs of the families that she worked for, but we always had clean clothes. He was 87. Cobb admitted to accepting $1,000 but wasn't prosecuted. 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. rick kuhn boston college now. It was a beautiful place, way out there in upstate Connecticut, where they treated us well. Experience for 11 years as a high school mathematics teacher. I had everything I could have possibly asked for. age of adaline comet. He was 83. 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. I kept me a shiny, new bike.. Drafted #109 in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Jazz. My girlfriend and I bought a new stereo, television and some furniture. He was a murderer and a horrible human being. To this day, both Sweeney and Cobb admit taking money but say they didn't really participate. Three basketball players at Boston College Jim Sweeney, Ernie Cobb, and Richard Kuhn became entangled with members of the Mafia in a points-shaving scandal during the 1978-79 season. But changing his behaviors did not happen overnight. He just loves to play basketball. That includes Rick Kuhn, the former minor league baseball player who started the scandal and who Sweeney says got him involved in it. The Boston College case arose out of the Lufthansa investigation. he keeps to himself. Draft: Utah Jazz, 6th round (1st pick, 109th overall), 1979 NBA Draft. He acknowledges taking $500, but says he never did anything to fix games. He told Ernie that he had to strive to get good grades and work very hard to achieve them, because if he didnt maintain a certain grade-point-average, he wouldnt be eligible to compete. The thoughts continuously raced through Cobbs mind: how had he arrived here, he wondered, of all places, charged with allegedly conspiring to commit sports bribery while allegedly fixing college basketball games for the Mob? I excelled. Lavine said Kuhn was very open but declined to go on camera, so his side of the story is told instead mostly through court testimony. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. When the evidence came up at the first trial, it didnt match up, but they still came after me a few years later. I felt like, You put my name out there, so let me clear my name! When they investigated me, I told them straight up about the $1,000 that Rocco Perla had given me. If you missed Part I, you can read it here. College: Boston College. Thursday, March 22nd, 1984. Theyre no match for us. He told me, Well good, I plan on betting on those games and if you guys win and it turns out like that, Ill take care of you., Man, I was one of the most recognizable athletes on campus and people would come up and talk to me all the time, people I didnt know, Cobb continued. The filmmakers ultimately dont take a side on who did what, instead presenting at times conflicting accounts and letting the audience decide. Hed averaged 21.3 points per game during the 1978-1979 season, leading the Eagles to a 21-8 record. We found public records for Ernest Cobb. When he was implicated in the scandal, I was shocked.. Meridan had all this space and all these green fields where you could just run, said Cobb. Three Boston College players, Jim Sweeney, Rick Kuhn, and Ernie Cobb were fingered by Hill for participating in the scandal. won the gangsters some serious money by falling short of the spread. You realize that you cant play if you dont do this. I wanted to play ball, and in order to do that I had to maintain a C average. The final player involved in the fix, Rick Kuhn, is . And, of course, there are betting lines with the pick circled and handwritten box scores with the names of the alleged conspirators highlighted. Rick Kuhn during Boston College men's basketball's 1978-1979 season. I feel it.. His mother, Hattie, worked as a domestic and struggled to provide for her four children. But I never agreed to fix any games or shave any points. But I didnt know if Id be able to handle the academics.. Per Game Team and Opponent Stats Table G MP FG FGA FG% FT FTA FT% TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS; Team: 26: 30.6: 72.3.423: 12.9: 18.4.701: 40.6: 11.1: and I were the victims of the same circumstances that were beyond our control. I just knew that not only was I going to make the team, but I was going to be a factor in the NBA. They had a beautiful campus and it was small enough to where I could function, and yet it was big enough that I could get the exposure I needed to fulfill my dreams.. She was a miracle worker. Studied Special education at Grand Canyon University. My dad was still in my life, but something changed inside of me, said Cobb. rick kuhn boston college now 19 3407 . The teachers lived in our same community and they had relationships with our parents outside of the school. I was back at home, visiting for the summer and about to return to Israel, Cobb said. How much his positive life trajectory was propelled by it? We were looking good as a team and my goal was to be the best player I could possibly be. All rights reserved. Do you have a sports website? We werent really checking for B.C. So Id go up there all the time and get me one. Hill won six games, but didn't begin to win wagers until Boston College's star Ernie Cobb joined the scheme for the last five games. And yeah, I took that money. He loved being able to play ping pong, shoot pool and go swimming, but there was one place at the facility that he loved above all others: the gymnasium. High School: St. Xavier (Cincinnati, OH) Possessing a powerful combination of size, speed and football intellect, Luke Kuechly "looked like Clark Kent and played like Superman." He amassed the second-most career tackles in the NCAA record books, becoming the most decorated defensive player in Boston College history. A Maryland Dumping Site Was Actually A Black Cemetery. Between being bused to a school that I felt like didnt value me, and my dad leaving the house, my academics went downhill fast. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. We spoke to everybody, whether they ended up in the film or not.. Cobb didn't get those years back, but neither did he seek redemption for his past. When he first stepped on the hallowed parquet floor at the legendary Boston Garden, where B.C. But there was one obstacle that hed have to confront head-on. Kuhn was later convicted and served ten years in prison for the crime. Profile. Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. The story: Three Boston College players -- leading scorer Ernie Cobb, forward Richard Kuhn and Sweeney, the team's point guard -- were fingered by Hill for participating in the point-shaving scheme. Joe Streater was not part of the Boston College point shaving scandal that was popularized this week by ESPN's latest 30 for 30, . They were so many activities and all this food. I was better than everybody on the team, but I talked back to him and he cut me because he said I had a bad attitude. I was focused in the moment. After more than a decade spent trying to make Playing with the Mob happen, Lavine is ready to move on to a new project. The fact that I went to court and fought for my name, that I stood up for myself and cleared my name, that I was exonerated and acquitted, its a travesty that Im still associated with this., My name is indelibly linked to it, Cobb continued. hoops that blazed a trail, Mills continued. The problem was Cobb. Boston College Guard and former Stamfod High School standout Ernie Cobb drives past St. John's Frank Alagia during a game in 1976. She knew the terrain in terms of what I needed to be doing, said Cobb. Hill claimed he made between $75,000 . 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. He was a remarkable man. We get home, I open it up, and theres $1,000 in there..
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