Coach Takes on Gambling Industry But Republican Leaders Won’t Budge
Jump to full article: ABC News, 2000-08-01
Author: Brian Ross
Intro: “It’s got to be some hanky panky someplace,” says legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, who, along with other college officials, is going on the offensive this week against money and politics.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association has come to believe that millions of dollars from the gambling industry has blocked a bill in Congress that would outlaw gambling on college sports in Nevada casinos.
“It’s unbelievable, number one, and it’s indefensible, number two,” Paterno says.
And what Paterno is talking about is very much on display in Philadelphia.
College officials say the anti-gambling bill is being blocked behind the scenes by Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, who in public says he supports it. . .
Late today, a spokesman for Lott says he’s just been too busy over the last year to meet with Paterno.
But already this week in Philadelphia Lott has found time for no fewer than five cocktail parties and one lunch involving big contributors and Washington lobbyists.
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