Throwing The Game

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While the spread varied with each game, one factor was constant--the pivotal role Nevada played in executing the scheme. After Pendergast raised money in Chicago, he wired it to Irving in Reno. For the Penn State game, Irving bet $4,400 with the sports book at the Reno Hilton. When Penn State, a 14-point favorite, won by 30 points, Irving collected the group's winnings and wired an initial $6,000 payment to Pendergast, who gave Lee $4,000 in cash as his share.

For the Michigan game, Pendergast and two friends flew to Las Vegas on March 1 and bet $20,150 with the sports book at Caesars Palace that Northwestern would lose that night by at least 251/2 points. When Pendergast phoned Lee in Ann Arbor and conveyed that number, Lee was reluctant to go ahead because "the spread was too high." But Pendergast, according to court papers, was insistent, and to sweeten the deal offered to double Lee's take to $8,000. Only then did Lee agree.

As it turned out, Lee's misgivings were well placed. Northwestern lost, but by only 17 points, and Pendergast lost all his bets.

Ultimately, Pendergast, Irving, Lee and Williams would lose even more. When the game rigging was uncovered, they were sent to prison.

Since his release, Pendergast has become an advocate for the pending legislation that would end legal betting on college sports in Nevada. He has acknowledged his guilt and cooperated with authorities, but he has also singled out Nevada as the linchpin of the scheme. He told lawmakers and others on Capitol Hill in February, "Without Nevada, without the option of betting money in Nevada, the Northwestern basketball point-shaving scandal would not have occurred."