Post by MIKE MACALUSO on Jun 17, 2005 12:11:47 GMT -5
8-)NOT 'REAL' TRUTH
By LENN ROBBINS
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June 17, 2005 -- On March 20, 1999, St. John's came within 5.5 seconds of getting to the school's second Final Four. It lost to an Ohio State team that, according to an HBO investigative report, was rife with NCAA violations.
One of the key reserves on that team, Sloboban Savovic, allegedly had academic papers written for him, had at least one grade changed and was paid by a New York street agent who now is the vice president of Pinnacle Management Corporation, a city-based company that represent NBA players, "hailing from Belgrade to The Bronx."
Spomenko "Semi" Pajovic, a street agent, allegedly placed Savovic with friends of an Ohio State booster where he received numerous NCAA extra benefits. Savovic scored seven points, grabbed three rebounds and dished three assists in the Buckeyes' 77-74 win over St. John's in the South Regional Final.
Savovic is listed as a one of Pinnacle's clients on its Web site. Pinnacle's founder, Marc Cornstein, is an agent, who several years ago was appointed co-commissioner of the New York State Athletic Commission by Gov. Pataki. Cornstein's father, David, is listed as a special advisor whom Pataki named chairman of the New York Olympic Games.
"We're stunned that HBO Real Sports is perpetuating unsubstantiated allegations that were brought forth in a lawsuit that was dismissed several weeks ago by an Ohio Common Pleas Judge," Cornstein said in a statement to The Post. "Marc Cornstein cooperated with the NCAA's investigation and he is not a party to any of the NCAA's sanctions brought against Ohio State University."
The NCAA is investigating these and other allegations of rules violations at Ohio State and has yet to penalize the Buckeyes. Ohio State, which may have to forfeit its Final Four appearance in 1999, has already self-imposed some sanctions, such as a ban on postseason play last season.
The woman who said she was promised money to be Savovic's nanny, Kathleen Salyers, recently had her suit against Ohio State boosters alleging non-payment thrown out of an Ohio court. She acknowledges in the HBO piece that she has come forward now because she feels cheated.
Former Buckeyes coach Jim O'Brien was fired in July 2004 when then-athletic director Andy Geiger admitted paying $6,000 to Yugoslavian recruit Aleksandar Radojevic, who now plays for the Utah Jazz.
In the report, which airs on "REAL Sports" Tuesday at 10 p.m., former Ohio State assistant coach Paul Biancardi, now the head coach at Wright State, is fingered as the member of the staff who knew academic work was being done for Savovic and arranged to have a grade changed.
Biancardi denies any wrongdoing in the HBO piece. His attorney, Jim Zeszutek, said Salyers is looking to make money off the story and disputes the allegations.
"That is not true and [it's] inaccurate," said Zeszutek.
By LENN ROBBINS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email Archives
Print Reprint
June 17, 2005 -- On March 20, 1999, St. John's came within 5.5 seconds of getting to the school's second Final Four. It lost to an Ohio State team that, according to an HBO investigative report, was rife with NCAA violations.
One of the key reserves on that team, Sloboban Savovic, allegedly had academic papers written for him, had at least one grade changed and was paid by a New York street agent who now is the vice president of Pinnacle Management Corporation, a city-based company that represent NBA players, "hailing from Belgrade to The Bronx."
Spomenko "Semi" Pajovic, a street agent, allegedly placed Savovic with friends of an Ohio State booster where he received numerous NCAA extra benefits. Savovic scored seven points, grabbed three rebounds and dished three assists in the Buckeyes' 77-74 win over St. John's in the South Regional Final.
Savovic is listed as a one of Pinnacle's clients on its Web site. Pinnacle's founder, Marc Cornstein, is an agent, who several years ago was appointed co-commissioner of the New York State Athletic Commission by Gov. Pataki. Cornstein's father, David, is listed as a special advisor whom Pataki named chairman of the New York Olympic Games.
"We're stunned that HBO Real Sports is perpetuating unsubstantiated allegations that were brought forth in a lawsuit that was dismissed several weeks ago by an Ohio Common Pleas Judge," Cornstein said in a statement to The Post. "Marc Cornstein cooperated with the NCAA's investigation and he is not a party to any of the NCAA's sanctions brought against Ohio State University."
The NCAA is investigating these and other allegations of rules violations at Ohio State and has yet to penalize the Buckeyes. Ohio State, which may have to forfeit its Final Four appearance in 1999, has already self-imposed some sanctions, such as a ban on postseason play last season.
The woman who said she was promised money to be Savovic's nanny, Kathleen Salyers, recently had her suit against Ohio State boosters alleging non-payment thrown out of an Ohio court. She acknowledges in the HBO piece that she has come forward now because she feels cheated.
Former Buckeyes coach Jim O'Brien was fired in July 2004 when then-athletic director Andy Geiger admitted paying $6,000 to Yugoslavian recruit Aleksandar Radojevic, who now plays for the Utah Jazz.
In the report, which airs on "REAL Sports" Tuesday at 10 p.m., former Ohio State assistant coach Paul Biancardi, now the head coach at Wright State, is fingered as the member of the staff who knew academic work was being done for Savovic and arranged to have a grade changed.
Biancardi denies any wrongdoing in the HBO piece. His attorney, Jim Zeszutek, said Salyers is looking to make money off the story and disputes the allegations.
"That is not true and [it's] inaccurate," said Zeszutek.