Point-shaving scandal more molehill than mountain at San Diego

The theme was a college basketball game-fixing scheme naming Johnson, once a talented offensive player for the Toreros, as a defendant in a federal indictment.

After a fix or a point-shaving conspiracy is uncovered, reasonable minds first look for game details and the amount of money involved. Next, alarms sound and some clowns jump into knee-jerk reaction mode by decrying the evils of gambling.

Johnson could be in big trouble. The headlines are bold. But how big is the story?

“Yes, it’s very possible something did happen. It might be nothing major. I think they’re trying to make a club sandwich out of a piece of cheese,” said Jimmy Vaccaro, director of operations for Lucky’s sports books and an authority on this subject in general.

The San Diego case is intriguing because 10 characters are indicted, there is a link to Las Vegas and the charges include marijuana distribution, sports bribery and illegal bookmaking. More details will be made available by the FBI, but it appears this is neither a major wagering scandal nor a sign of a larger existing problem.

Of course, there are always pinheads pushing that theory. ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” aired last week with a panel discussion on the San Diego point-shaving issue, and Las Vegas Hilton sports book director Jay Kornegay was a panelist.

Respected host Bob Ley was off, and the sit-in pinhead host asked Kornegay, “If the NCAA can’t really do anything about it, why not make gambling on college sports illegal?”

To a ridiculously dumb question, Kornegay wisely responded that pushing betting underground won’t stop it, and Al Capone once said Prohibition was the best thing to ever happen to him.

Vaccaro sat in the eye of the storm of the Arizona State point-shaving scandal in 1994. That one was a big deal. Vaccaro, who ran the Mirage sports book, helped alert authorities that something might be amiss. He took in the neighborhood of $580,000 on the fourth fixed Sun Devils game.

San Diego, which competes in the West Coast Conference, normally plays games with smaller wagering limits. There are no indications Las Vegas or offshore books took alarming amounts of money on Toreros games that the FBI is targeting in February 2010.

“We’re still looking at some numbers. From what I’ve heard, there’s definitely some action on some of the games in February,” Kornegay said. “But overall, I don’t think it is significant money.”

Kornegay and NCAA representatives met in Las Vegas in March. He said he has not yet been contacted by the FBI or NCAA in regard to the San Diego case.

“There is nothing more threatening to the integrity of sports anywhere than the uncovering of a point-shaving scheme,” NCAA president Mark Emmert said in a statement.

Let’s be real: If the NCAA is seriously concerned about the integrity of all its games, why was Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor playing in the Sugar Bowl and why was Auburn quarterback Cam Newton playing in the BCS title game?

We all need to feel the games we’re betting are legitimate. The importance of that point is not debatable.

Several detailed reports indicate Johnson could have played a role in fixing the San Diego-UC Riverside game on Dec. 4, 2009. But those types of incidents are extremely isolated.

“I don’t think it goes on as much as the people who say, ‘It happens more than you know,’ ” Vaccaro said. “Just because a guy misses a 37-yard field goal, the game is not in the tank.

“I really believe the Arizona State debacle, nothing will ever duplicate that level. Everybody here is on alert. It’s much, much harder in today’s climate because everybody is on their toes.”

As with any scheme, if multiple figures are in on it, the chances increase the cover will get blown, so to speak.

“I find it very difficult to believe that it’s a rampant occurrence. It’s too difficult to pull it off. There’s just too many people involved, and somebody is going to talk,” Kornegay said. “We have an excellent record in the industry. You can count on one hand the number of scandals we’ve had in the last 30 years.”

Guilty or not, Brandon Johnson can count on being remembered with questionable characters such as Stevin “Hedake” Smith, John “Hot Rod” Williams, Harvey “Scooter” McDougle and Tim Donaghy.

n BOTTOM LINES — Every team in the NBA playoffs is flawed. That was obvious going in, and it’s more apparent now. Underdogs went 7-1 against the spread in the eight series openers.

The New Orleans Hornets, plus-650 on the money line, stung the Los Angeles Lakers 109-100 on Sunday. The Lakers were one of three favorites to go down, and the others narrowly escaped.

Contact sports betting columnist Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. He co-hosts the “Las Vegas Sportsline” weeknights at midnight on KDWN-AM (720) and thelasvegassportsline.com.