LAS VEGAS -- Pamela Tarkanian glanced at her father, who was surrounded by reporters, her two daughters at her side. Gambling allegations
are weak at best''I wish he would just get out of coaching,'' she said, her eyes filling with tears. ''He's getting too old for this. It's just not worth it.''
''Why won't they leave this man alone,'' said Freddie Banks, a softhearted, quiet young man who starred for his hometown Rebels in the late 1980s and who now coaches at Valley High School in Las Vegas. ''He has done so much good for so many of us.''
Here we go again, folks. This time it's point-shaving accusations against Jerry Tarkanian's Fresno State team, particularly guard Dominick Young.
A story in yesterday's Fresno Bee said that university and law enforcement officials were investigating why Young shot poorly near the end of a victory over Wyoming and why the team rarely covered the point spread.
I read the story and it is based on rumor and innuendo, with very few facts for such a devastating implication.
Why was it bannered across the front page on the day that the Fresno State basketball team was playing a critical game in the WAC tournament against Texas Christian? The unsubstantiated rumors have been flying in Fresno for weeks.
To assure the newspaper of national publicity on a high-profile day -- which is assured when the team is coached by Tarkanian, who has been hounded by the NCAA and national media ever since he spoke his mind back at Long Beach State decades ago.
These allegations are ridiculous, based on an airball free throw by Young late in a game against the Cowboys. And it was backed up by Young being seen going to a disco frequented by a guy who reportedly owes a bunch of gambling debts in Las Vegas.
Proving point shaving requires more than a few missed shots and a trip to a disco.
And get this: One of the three writers of the story, Andy Boorgard, said he was under a newspaper ''gag rule'' and couldn't comment on the story to other media members.
Unbelievable. We have to continually battle governmental and private-sector secrecy and here are media members saying ''no comment'' to the rest of the media. Why? What are they hiding?
FRESNO State and WAC officials -- even the NCAA -- said last night that there is no investigation warranted on what they have seen.
And here's how the local Fresno sheriff's department reportedly got involved: The Bee called and said that they should check into it. So they said OK -- and the Bee then reported that the case was under investigation.
Obviously, I have been a supporter of Tarkanian over the years, but the story in question is lousy journalism.
Sometimes the media forgets how its stories impact personal lives. And in our quest for notoriety and profit for ourselves and our particular outlets -- newspapers, radio, TV, etc. -- our judgment gets skewed.
I honestly believe that even the writers of this story feel the allegations are untrue.
They don't add up. But the damage is irrevocable.
An emotionally devastated Fresno State team got blown out yesterday in its biggest game of the season, which likely cost the program and its players and fans a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Worse than that, it unfairly tagged Young for life as a cheater.
He is an easy target because he speaks out. And he takes players who have been in trouble before. Many of them owe a decent life to his care and commitment.
''This is the worst thing that you can be accused of,'' Tarkanian said.''If it was true, I would never coach again. But I know that it's not. You watch and see.''
I agree. Watch and see if it is ever close to being proven.
The Fresno Bee should be ashamed, not Dominick Young or Jerry Tarkanian.