Advantage Disadvantage Page 12

  Scott began to feel the once-familiar tug-of-war that led to his divorce in Tolono. If she became too dependent, he would not be able to dive into his hoped-for college job. He tucked his worry about her in the back of his mind.

  Twenty-five days of allowable contact flew by so quickly. The East End team did not impress anybody except three important people.

  Coach Venturi never displayed his full arsenal of players. The win/loss record was of no consequence to him. He tried different combinations, styles and defensive strategies. One week, his boys ran the court like an inner-city team. The next four games, they looked like Iowa farm boys playing very deliberately. They tried winning quarters of games by exclusively putting-up ‘three’s’ and even the post players were encouraged to shoot from the perimeter. Other games, he implemented the five pass minimum rule. Players experimented with ultra-aggressive play some games, and other times, a touch foul earned them a seat on the bench. Much to the pleasure of the parents, every boy on the team got serious minutes in summer ball. The coach had hours of film and he began developing his winter game plan as soon as the summer league ended.

  Frank Worrell watched enough basketball to discount the team’s win/loss record in camp. Frank knew about the recruitment of Jamal Imari by the EPSU recruiter, and he spent many nights picking the recruiter’s brain during the summer in the Olgesby gym. Surely, the recruiter wanted to be in many other places beside the hot Chicagoland gyms, however, he needed to demonstrate EPSU’s interest in Jamal by watching him play often. He had seen enough of Jamal’s talents months earlier in the gym and by watching the last season’s East End game tapes, but the presence of college recruiters stroked impressionable athletes. He always wore EPSU paraphernalia when in the gyms and he hated parental pushiness of not-so talented players. He was there to reel-in Jamal.

  Unbeknownst to Scott, the EPSU recruiter was privately very critical about Venturi’s coaching style. Coach Venturi’s stock had fallen in EPSU’s book because of his odd, apparently erratic decisions in the summer. They did not understand his strategy. However, they strung Venturi along because they wanted his help in convincing Jamal to play for EPSU. The coach thought he might be able to structure the coaching job and the player as a two-for-one deal. In the end, EPSU held all the cards and did not necessarily assume it was a package deal. Frank had the big picture: he knew East End was dumping summer games, and he realized before anyone else that Scott Venturi was not going to the next EPSU coach. Frank had a good working relationship with most coaches at Olgesby that summer; he pestered them all with questions. He had the data organized and was completely ready to go as soon as fall football concluded.

  The third person to rationalize East End’s weak record, but strengthened team was Bobby G. He was able to cozy-up to all of the recruiters who paid him introduction money. He tested his judgment about players, teams, and even referees during the summer. At least as financially important, he developed a list of parents who potentially wanted to bet on high school games. He could not wait for his annual transition from street agent to in-season bookmaker.

  Bobby G. had the perfect setup for orchestrating his biggest betting scheme ever. The East End team laid the groundwork by creating super low expectations. However, to insure the value of the play and to inflate the potential winnings he needed a partner. Bobby G. was a shrewd judge of character. Many people were experiencing financial problems.

  The evaporating real estate market put pressure on Billy Rechter’s legal practice and Bobby G. correctly deduced that the extra games the attorney was working were helping to pay his bills.

  Frank Worrell was dressing better and spending more money. He bought a new Porsche to replace the beater car he used to ride. He also racked-up tons of debt, expanded by poor football betting over the years. Keeping up with a rich, successful mistress was an expensive proposition as well. His newfound lover often used her credit cards, but Frank spent his money, paycheck to paycheck. He was always broke and never happy.

  High school teachers did well, but a slush fund could help Coach Venturi pay money to street agents to discourage the flight of good NAU players to parochial teams. By encouraging better players to move into East End’s school district with a “war chest”, Scott hoped to achieve the recognition he craved. Bobby G. tried to shake him down many times, but Scott never had the scratch to pay him.

  Marcus Imari might want to help with the bookmaker’s plan, Bobby G. thought. Marcus had been out of work for so many years and his “free ride” with the Handelairs had to end. If Marcus might go along, maybe Jamal could be reeled-in too with enough money to pay for going to any college – forgetting the scholarship.

  Bobby G. called his new partner on the phone. “I’m so excited about our plan”, Bobby G. gushed, “we’re gonna rock the house. My version of Advantage/Disadvantage – we create the advantage, we take money from the disadvantaged. We have already talked about your job in this. I want to lay out the rest of the plan to you now so you will stop asking questions for a while. OK, here it is. In the beginning of the season, I will be betting on East End, accepting wagers from all those homers willing to bet against me. I will easily build up winnings because East End will be so underrated that they will regularly beat the point spread. I will keep the gangs happy by helping them beat the homers with bets on other schools. Near the end of the season, East End will be overrated and I will wager all my winnings against them for a huge score. I will open the betting to homers and gangbangers for this select game, and they will all lose lots of money. Then it’s you and me bro, phat city.”

  “Now I see,” said his accomplice. “I’m in! Advantage/Disadvantage…I like it.”

  “OK, remember my code. When you call me, you ask for ‘Jack Benny’. If I do not hear that, I hang up. You need a code name to use when I call you. How about using one of my all-time favorite comic’s names, ‘Red’ as in Red Skelton?”

  “Whatever! Anyway, the plan sounds good. I like it. Alright Jack, I’ll see you during hoops season.”

  “Yep Red. We’re going to make some real money this b-ball season.”

  Chapter Twenty-two. Windy City Daily’s Board of Directors

  Summer was always a tough time for the newspaper. People vacationed and circulation dropped. Advertisers went on hiatus. When the leaves started to turn and the crisp fall air arrived, for Frank hope sprang eternally. Football season meant summer was over and it was back to school. It became open shopping time to buy clothing, shoes, school supplies, and books. The paper swelled with ads and revenue picked up. However, for this paper, November brought on high school basketball season – the most profitable time for the Windy City Daily. Sitting around the boardroom at the Windy City Daily were the majority shareholders represented by Robert Arthur, III, chairman of the board of directors. He was a businessperson by trade, not a reporter. Nancy Kapist was reviewing the past quarter’s income statement and future projections. As she told an optimistic story, the chairman interrupted the numbers chart and zoomed ahead to personnel.

  The chairman asked, “What plans does that prep sports writer-geek have for the basketball season?”

  “Well Mr. Arthur. Frank Worrell plans a bigger coverage year than ever before. His pre-season articles will focus on headline breaking recruiting rumors and commitments. He will appear on television twice a week reviewing plans and summer wrap-ups before the season starts. Moreover, during that period, he will publish our annual pre-season high school basketball poll pullout section. As you know, that pullout derives the highest revenue per page of anything we put out. During the season, Frank will have excellent coverage leading to the state finals and concurrently he will continue his appearances on the cable TV show sponsored by our paper. I’d expect more than our fair share of scoops and insights to drive paper and ad sales, better perhaps than even the past few years.”

  “Nancy that all sounds great, and I know Worrell has delivered in the past but didn’t I hear that he has been talking to the Tr
ibune about a job?” asked Chairman Arthur.

  “Yes sir, he has come through for us. It is not even the seven-year itch for Frank. This comes up every year!”

  “It will cost us and you dearly if he leaves, you know.”

  “Yes, Mr. Arthur. I will make sure he has the right frame of mind to deliver this year. I’ve got him under control, sir.”

  “You better, Nancy. He means a lot to our bottom line. Would it help if we shine his apple next board meeting? Maybe create a made-up award to stroke him?”

  “I don’t think so, sir. I know how to take care of him.”

  Chairman Arthur responded, “Nancy I am holding you personally responsible for this guy. If he leaves the Windy City Daily we are screwed – make sure he stays and has a productive season.”

  Far away from the board meeting, Frank was interviewing Marcus and Jamal about East End’s team. Frank wanted to verify his understanding of what seemed to go wrong with Coach Venturi’s summer team. Jamal explained that the Coach used the summer for several reasons: the backup players got serious minutes but would mostly will be on the bench in-season; Coach Venturi experimented with different alignments to see what kind of schemes suited the team; and he also probed at some of the teams that also would be on the regular season schedule. They put an emphasis on conditioning and fundamentals, not winning.

  The Imaris confirmed Frank’s suspicions. The Coach was dumping games to better prepare the team for the season. However, one thing bothered Frank.

  “Jamal, may I ask you something?” asked Frank.

  “Yup,”

  “Nearly every other premier player has announced a commitment to offered scholarships. You are one of the few holdups. Why wait? Once the season starts, the NCAA prohibits you from signing a letter of intent until April.”

  “What’s the problem with that?” Marcus asked.

  “Maybe it’s not a problem. However, if you string recruiters along, they will continue to hassle you throughout the year. Why risk a university reneging on a scholarship offer? Something does not make sense. Look, my information is solid. Do not take offense, but I understand that while you have a few schools looking; only EPSU has offered you a full-ride. Why screw that up? I don’t get it.”

  Marcus and Jamal looked at each other trying to figure out what to say. Should they tell Frank the truth? He seemed always to know more than he let on. Sensing their reluctance to talk, Frank sweetened the pot.

  “Jamal, how’d you like to be one of the featured players on my TV pre-season show? I have complete latitude to pick players to highlight.”

  “Sure I would. Awesome”

  “Well, then. Well then, just fess up. Tell me why you have not accepted your scholarship offer yet.

  Marcus jumped into the conversation. “Frank, this is confidential. You did not hear this from us. Venturi is a good guy. He allows me to be an assistant coach and statistician for the team, which I love, but he is a real control freak. He’s asked us in no uncertain terms to not accept EPSU’s offer until he said it was ok.”

  “Why does he care?” asked the reporter.

  “I can only guess that it’s one of two things - he wants to orchestrate a big announcement and use it for motivation.”

  “That can’t make sense because he’s running out of time. In two weeks, the season starts and you will be on an NCAA signing freeze. Or, what?” asked Frank.

  “Or … it’s that he’s trying to work a package deal for Jamal and a coaching job for himself,” said Marcus.

  “How would you feel about playing for Venturi at college?”

  Jamal replied, “I don’t care. I’m kind of anxious to get the announcement over and have fun this year, without recruiting pressure.”

  “Well, I’ll tell you what. I will let you know when I can have you on the pre-season show. It is best if you wear your uniform on TV. It probably will be a week from Friday.”

  “Dude, I’m in.”

  Frank left the meeting without learning too much new. He already deduced that Coach Venturi was dumping summer games, now he understood why. He also heard that Jamal secured the EPSU scholarship offer and he knew that the coach was officially in the running for the coaching job.

  Chapter Twenty-three. Love is in the Air(ball)

  Nancy Kapist was nervous after the board meeting. The chairman reiterated the whole paper’s dependence on Frank’s contribution and that Nancy was completely responsible for him. She figured that she needed to secure his promise for the year, his full commitment to writing with excellence. She needed to inject her magic on Frank to keep him in line, like a booster shot to keep immunized.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi babe,” the editor replied, “how have you been?”

  “Good, I guess. I am a little depressed. You know how I always feel at the start of the fall basketball season, about being stuck covering high school sports. It’s an old story – previously plowed ground.”

  “We talked at length about you at the board meeting,” she told him as she launched into her fully dishonest, manipulation-mode. “The chairman understands your contribution to the bottom line of the paper. I brought-up my desire to transfer you to another department. He wishes he could authorize me to move you over to the crime desk right now, but with general paper revenues down, the paper needs you for this year doing what you do.” She marveled at her own ability to lie to Frank. She blew smoke rings as she puffed on her tapered cigarette waiting indifferently for Frank’s response to whimper back through the telephone.

  “We’ve had this discussion every year. Can you tell me when I’ll become a real writer?”

  “Ronnie, you forget about the following you’ve developed. You get tons of fan mail from your TV show. You make a lot more this year than ever before. I know, you have told me it is never enough money. Trust me, Sweetie. I can make it happen, just not right now, kid.”

  “I hate when I’m being lied to,” Frank whined.

  “Babe, my hubby’s travelling. Why don’t you come over for dinner and help me look at the stars,” she seduced.

  Her invitations always melted Frank’s career problems away. He was putty in the editor’s literal hands. Frank knew Nancy was a master of manipulation but could not resist. He jumped in a cab headed for her penthouse.

  Meanwhile, another affair had been struggling to survive in the suburbs. Scott and Elizabeth had gone from white heat to one-sided dependency. Elizabeth, long separated from Marcus, craved Scott’s attention. As the season approached, Scott found himself making many excuses to avoid her. She simply did not understand the level of his commitment and desire to have his best season ever, leaving no stone unturned. He watched tape endlessly and his pre-season plan book was bulging with drawings of plays and opponents’ tendencies.

  They were walking in a remote suburban park holding hands when Marcus jogged nearby. He looked, took a double take and approached. Elizabeth and Marcus’ best friend, Scott Venturi, were locked in a kiss like teenage lovers in a kiss. He was as shocked as they were when he confronted them.

  “What the fuck is this?”

  No one answered.

  “Scott, I might have expected this from her, but you? I thought you were my runnin’ mate. I mean, good, solid friends?”

  “Marcus, we are, man. I thought you split from Elizabeth … a long time ago?”

  “Fuck you. This makes me wonder how long you two have been at it. Has this been going on for what – a year or two?”

  “Marcus, this just started in the summer, long after you and I called it quits,” begged Elizabeth.

  “Well, you learn something new every day. I guess we are officially quits now. News to me! What a chump I am. In addition, both of you could not wait until Jamal finished high school. What would the fuckin’ school board think of this?” threatened Marcus.

  “Take it out on me Marcus. However, do not ruin it for Jamal. Please, your son is a great kid. Why should any of us hurt him?” Scott begged.

 
“I gotta think about this – I’m so pissed. I am not sure what I’m going to do, or who I will tell. Both of you … stay the fuck away from me. Scott, find another chump to be your team statistician and assistant coach. Elizabeth, you already found your chump.”

  Chapter Twenty-four. Television News

  Time was running out before the high school basketball season began. EPSU was putting tremendous pressure on Jamal to commit to the university, while dodging Scott’s calls. Everyone was frustrated, especially Jamal. Marcus tried to calm him down on the ride to the television studio to appear on the Windy City Daily Prep Show, featuring Frank Worrell. Although Jamal was used to large basketball crowds, this was citywide cable TV.

  Frank began his show with some film highlights his crew shot during the Olgesby summer camp. Jamal was getting ready in the green room. This was going to be exciting. Marcus’ advice was for Jamal to be positive, but not arrogant, be humble and nice, and vocally support his teammates and coach.

  Coach Venturi arrived at Elizabeth’s house to watch Jamal on TV. After dinner, they sat on the couch excitedly anticipating Jamal’s first television interview.

  The new segment on Frank’s show began, “A sleeper team in the near suburbs is East End High School. Under Coach Scott Venturi, this team has steadily improved over the last three years. They play in a tough league and they have had some rough spots in summer league, but they seem ready to be competitive in their league. We are thrilled to have with us the captain of East End’s basketball team. He is 6 foot 5 inches and an imposing force on the hard court, and he has earned a 3.2 GPA. Please welcome Jamal Imari.”

  Jamal heard the small studio audience applause as he walked onto the TV set. Elizabeth beamed with pride as she watched her son on television. Frank was a little surprised because per his instructions, high school players normally walked on the set wearing the top of their school’s away uniforms. Jamal had a cotton shirt on.