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Can't buy me love.
OSU bars or limits some boosters
NCAA rules violations bring loss of privileges
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Aaron Portzline
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
His name is on the men’s basketball locker room in the Schottenstein Center, but booster Larry A. Kaufman has been told to distance himself from Ohio State University’s studentathletes.
That was the upshot of a "letter of education" sent to Kaufman, who has given $518,895 to Ohio State since 1974, after it was discovered that Kaufman referred quarterback Troy Smith to booster Robert Q. Baker for employment.
Smith accepted $500 from Baker for work at his Columbus health-care company that was never performed, one of eight NCAA violations the school acknowledged Thursday. OSU denied a ninth allegation.
Kaufman is one of at least 10 boosters who have had their privileges curtailed or revoked by Ohio State as the university waits to find out how it will be penalized for breaking NCAA rules. Seven of the allegations involve men’s basketball, and one each deal with football and women’s basketball.
OSU will learn its fate after an NCAA hearing Dec. 9-10.
As it stands, Ohio State suspended Smith for the Alamo Bowl and OSU’s season opener on Sept. 3 against Miami University, barred its men’s basketball team from competing in a postseason tournament last season and stripped two of the men’s 13 scholarships for this season.
The NCAA can penalize only the university, but the school can control its relationship with boosters.
Athletics Director Gene Smith’s letter to Kaufman, dated April 14, urges him not to employ or refer for employment any current or prospective student athlete. It also says he may not attend OSU football practices or have studentathletes to his house for meals.
Kaufman did not return phone calls yesterday.
Smith and other Ohio State officials would not comment on any part of the university’s response to the NCAA investigation, including the letters to boosters, saying the report would "speak for itself."
"There are legal ramifications to which we’re very sensitive," he said.
Kaufman was among five boosters who received "letters of education" urging them to maintain "strict compliance" with NCAA rules.
Four other boosters were sent harsher letters Wednesday saying they have been "disassociated" by the athletics department, meaning they’re not allowed to donate money, buy season tickets, accept complimentary tickets or have student-athletes to their home for meals.
Baker received a similar letter in April. OSU’s report said all of the disassociations are indefinite.
Among those disassociated is Kathleen Salyers, of Gahanna, whose lawsuit ultimately sparked the investigation of the men’s basketball program. Smith scolded Salyers for providing free housing and other prohibited benefits to former OSU player Slobodan "Boban" Savovic.
"Since you clearly did not have Savovic’s best interest in mind when you provided impermissible benefits . . . we do not want you associated with the program," Smith wrote.
He added, "I understand that you did not know that you become (sic) a booster, but please note that such fact cannot change our conclusion."
Salyers has caused "significant embarrassment" to the university, the letter said.
Salyers said she had no understanding of NCAA rules when she first met Savovic in July 1998 after he arrived from Serbia and Montenegro. She said she housed Savovic and provided him with cash and gifts.
"How was I supposed to know it was a violation when I felt like Ohio State endorsed it all along?" Salyers said. "Does the (OSU) compliance office get a letter to disassociate itself?"
Besides Baker and Salyers, the three other people disassociated from the university all are connected to Savovic and another Serbian player at the center of the allegations involving the men’s basketball program.
Michael A. Sierawski, who gave cash, gifts and transportation to Savovic and fellow Serb Aleksandar Radojevic, also was disassociated. So, too, were Dan and Kim Roslovic, a now-divorced couple who housed Savovic when he first arrived in Columbus.
Salyers, the Roslovics’ former nanny, took in Savovic after Ohio State told him that he could no longer stay with the Roslovics. Later, Salyers sued the Roslovics, saying they reneged on promises to pay her $1,000 a month plus expenses for helping Savovic.
Salyers’ lawsuit unearthed former coach Jim O’Brien’s $6,700 gift to Radojevic, which cost him his job. O’Brien, who was fired in June 2004, is suing OSU for breach of contract.
In addition to Kaufman, a "letter of education" was sent to Dr. Ron Erkis, who provided free or discounted orthodontic care to five members of the women’s basketball team. OSU, in its report to the NCAA, said former women’s assistant coach Chavonne Hammond also received free services.
Erkis vehemently denied that in a statement released yesterday by his attorney, Steve Teetor. The statement said he never agreed not to bill insurance for certain athletes.
"Insurance was always intended to be billed," the statement said. "If the insurance company declined payment, a decision regarding whether or not to pursue formal collection would be made based on the circumstance and needs of the patient. This decision was not affected by whether or not the patient was a student-athlete."
His former partners, Drs. David Kristal and Robert Force, also were sent "letters of education."
So, too, was Sam Farb, who gave Savovic an "impermissible" ride home.
At the end of each "letter of education," Gene Smith notes that he has sent "A Guide to NCAA Rules for Alumni, Fans & Friends."
"I expect you to read it and comply with the rules," he wrote.
Sierawski, the Roslovics and Erkis did not return calls for comment.
Dispatch reporters Kathy Lynn Gray and Jim Massie contributed to this story.
[email protected]
Can't buy me love.
OSU bars or limits some boosters
NCAA rules violations bring loss of privileges
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Aaron Portzline
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
His name is on the men’s basketball locker room in the Schottenstein Center, but booster Larry A. Kaufman has been told to distance himself from Ohio State University’s studentathletes.
That was the upshot of a "letter of education" sent to Kaufman, who has given $518,895 to Ohio State since 1974, after it was discovered that Kaufman referred quarterback Troy Smith to booster Robert Q. Baker for employment.
Smith accepted $500 from Baker for work at his Columbus health-care company that was never performed, one of eight NCAA violations the school acknowledged Thursday. OSU denied a ninth allegation.
Kaufman is one of at least 10 boosters who have had their privileges curtailed or revoked by Ohio State as the university waits to find out how it will be penalized for breaking NCAA rules. Seven of the allegations involve men’s basketball, and one each deal with football and women’s basketball.
OSU will learn its fate after an NCAA hearing Dec. 9-10.
As it stands, Ohio State suspended Smith for the Alamo Bowl and OSU’s season opener on Sept. 3 against Miami University, barred its men’s basketball team from competing in a postseason tournament last season and stripped two of the men’s 13 scholarships for this season.
The NCAA can penalize only the university, but the school can control its relationship with boosters.
Athletics Director Gene Smith’s letter to Kaufman, dated April 14, urges him not to employ or refer for employment any current or prospective student athlete. It also says he may not attend OSU football practices or have studentathletes to his house for meals.
Kaufman did not return phone calls yesterday.
Smith and other Ohio State officials would not comment on any part of the university’s response to the NCAA investigation, including the letters to boosters, saying the report would "speak for itself."
"There are legal ramifications to which we’re very sensitive," he said.
Kaufman was among five boosters who received "letters of education" urging them to maintain "strict compliance" with NCAA rules.
Four other boosters were sent harsher letters Wednesday saying they have been "disassociated" by the athletics department, meaning they’re not allowed to donate money, buy season tickets, accept complimentary tickets or have student-athletes to their home for meals.
Baker received a similar letter in April. OSU’s report said all of the disassociations are indefinite.
Among those disassociated is Kathleen Salyers, of Gahanna, whose lawsuit ultimately sparked the investigation of the men’s basketball program. Smith scolded Salyers for providing free housing and other prohibited benefits to former OSU player Slobodan "Boban" Savovic.
"Since you clearly did not have Savovic’s best interest in mind when you provided impermissible benefits . . . we do not want you associated with the program," Smith wrote.
He added, "I understand that you did not know that you become (sic) a booster, but please note that such fact cannot change our conclusion."
Salyers has caused "significant embarrassment" to the university, the letter said.
Salyers said she had no understanding of NCAA rules when she first met Savovic in July 1998 after he arrived from Serbia and Montenegro. She said she housed Savovic and provided him with cash and gifts.
"How was I supposed to know it was a violation when I felt like Ohio State endorsed it all along?" Salyers said. "Does the (OSU) compliance office get a letter to disassociate itself?"
Besides Baker and Salyers, the three other people disassociated from the university all are connected to Savovic and another Serbian player at the center of the allegations involving the men’s basketball program.
Michael A. Sierawski, who gave cash, gifts and transportation to Savovic and fellow Serb Aleksandar Radojevic, also was disassociated. So, too, were Dan and Kim Roslovic, a now-divorced couple who housed Savovic when he first arrived in Columbus.
Salyers, the Roslovics’ former nanny, took in Savovic after Ohio State told him that he could no longer stay with the Roslovics. Later, Salyers sued the Roslovics, saying they reneged on promises to pay her $1,000 a month plus expenses for helping Savovic.
Salyers’ lawsuit unearthed former coach Jim O’Brien’s $6,700 gift to Radojevic, which cost him his job. O’Brien, who was fired in June 2004, is suing OSU for breach of contract.
In addition to Kaufman, a "letter of education" was sent to Dr. Ron Erkis, who provided free or discounted orthodontic care to five members of the women’s basketball team. OSU, in its report to the NCAA, said former women’s assistant coach Chavonne Hammond also received free services.
Erkis vehemently denied that in a statement released yesterday by his attorney, Steve Teetor. The statement said he never agreed not to bill insurance for certain athletes.
"Insurance was always intended to be billed," the statement said. "If the insurance company declined payment, a decision regarding whether or not to pursue formal collection would be made based on the circumstance and needs of the patient. This decision was not affected by whether or not the patient was a student-athlete."
His former partners, Drs. David Kristal and Robert Force, also were sent "letters of education."
So, too, was Sam Farb, who gave Savovic an "impermissible" ride home.
At the end of each "letter of education," Gene Smith notes that he has sent "A Guide to NCAA Rules for Alumni, Fans & Friends."
"I expect you to read it and comply with the rules," he wrote.
Sierawski, the Roslovics and Erkis did not return calls for comment.
Dispatch reporters Kathy Lynn Gray and Jim Massie contributed to this story.
[email protected]