DETROIT - North Carolina fans should hope Ty Lawson makes wiser decisions Saturday against Villanova than he did earlier this week during the school's trip to the Final Four.
Lawson, a 21-year-old junior widely expected to turn pro this spring, said Thursday that he went to Detroit's Greektown Casino and won $250 at the craps table. Nice haul, but Not Too Smart.
There is nothing bad, illegal or even in violation of the complex NCAA rule book about what Lawson did. It just doesn't look or sound good for a player -- a star and one of the team's most visible leaders -- to show up in a gambling establishment only days before his team plays a Final Four game.
It's not the act itself. It's the appearance, even if the player was only following the example set by coach Roy Williams, who isn't shy about discussing his casino sorties and habit of betting on the golf course.
I'm definitely not casting the first stone on this thing. It's been several years, but I've done both. Williams' actions wouldn't offend me at all unless his gambling gets out of control.
But Williams and his players also need to understand that gambling and high-dollar gamblers have a long, ugly history in their sport. A nearly nationwide point-shaving event in the 1950s eventually led to the end of Raleigh's immensely popular Dixie Classic tournament and created considerable turmoil in the Carolina and N.C. State programs.
It all happened because the college players needed some spending money and the crooks had their ways of getting to the players. The involved players were not hardened criminals or low-lifes. They simply were drawn into situations they didn't understand, couldn't control and didn't have the knowledge to avoid. They didn't even get paid very much to miss shots and make turnovers.
Ultimately, however, that point-shaving scandal almost collapsed college basketball. It's a history lesson worth being taught to each generation of players.
Williams was right when he said the NCAA was inviting trouble when it put the Final Four in an area dotted by casinos.
On the other hand, the day may not be far away when legal gambling houses are important economic generators in cities throughout the country. Any state with a lottery is already in the gaming business in the most technical sense. Legalized gambling simply is here to stay whether everyone likes it or not.
The best long-term defense for schools and their programs is to make casinos completely off-limits to players. That way, at least the players will realize they are breaking a school rule if they visit one.
-- Caulton Tudor
Columnist 
Comments
Sleeper
Mon, 04/06/2009 - 14:50 — heelsno1I hope that the game tonight is as much of a sleeper for the Tar Heels and their fans as your articles have become.
Give back your "per diem" Carlton
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 17:21 — captchuck18THE Raleigh N&O sends you to Detroit to cover the final four and this is what you come up with? To even mention a point shaving scandal in the 50's to an individual of age going to a legal casino and betting a few $$$ ON CRAPS, OR BLACKJACK OR ANYTHING ELSE for that matter puts you in the same "hippocrits are us" class as the NCAA. You seriously should consider returning your per diem to the N&O, since you've probably been shoving "3 squares a day" into your face off of the free buffetts at those same casinos!!!!! Your column is a pathetic reach at best and is apples to pineapples!
What was the bad decision TY made??
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 17:04 — peppers49He is of age to gamble legally...he didnt gamble on sports..END Of STORY!!!
Just go fade and go away
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 15:36 — golferguyI think it is time for Tudor to be silent and just go away. This non issue was just to get the Carolina haters fired up.
Tudor thinks craps is a gateway drug to point-shaving
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 12:54 — lovechapelhillFirst, let me say that this moralizing about doing something that is legal is typical of journalists who say one thing and do the other. Second, I don't see the connection between playing craps in a casino and point-shaving. It is sort of like saying Lawson should not drink beer because a few people who drink beer also end up smoking crack. Tudor apparenlty thinks that craps is some sort of gateway gamling drug.
For the record...
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 10:39 — Personatech...there was no DWI. Lawson's blood alcohol was .02 - well below the threshold for DWI. He was guilty, however, of underage drinking. 20 years ago he wouldn't even have been guilty of that...
Light Blue Colored Glasses
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 09:57 — XEUIts not surprising that all the Carolina fans see nothing wrong with Ty Lawson visiting the craps table before the Final Four. They have shown time and time again that they will overlook any act of poor judgement on the part of Ty (underage drinking, driving with a suspended license) or any other Tarheel as long as they perform on the court. It is also not surprising that Roy Williams would condone such actions and set a team curfew of 1:30 am. How else would he get "these fine young men" to come to Carolina?
I wonder what Dean Smith thinks of all this. I wonder what Tarheel reactions would have been if it had been a Duke player instead of Ty who had been hitting the tables.
no care at all
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 18:25 — gvillegatrwouldnt have cared what player it was. I love to gamble myself. I try to keep hypocricy to a minimum!
That's right....we UNC fans
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 10:25 — pammy1That's right....we UNC fans have just "overlooked" any and everything that our players have done wrong......(like there've been so MANY of them) no, I very much found fault with the DWI as I'm sure the rest of our fans did......but you're comparing the two??? Playing craps is not ILLEGAL and it is the media that has turned it into a distraction not the act itself. The reputation of UNC is a stellar one for a reason......I'm sure that the "goody two shoes" Dookies have NEVER done anything wrong.....better tell Henderson to stay away from his best friend Ellington.....bad influence...hmm..sounds like a Dook fan with a bad case of sour grapes perhaps.....
Hey Pammy, overlook this.....
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 13:29 — Dukie4Life"we UNC fans have just "overlooked" any and everything that our players have done wrong......(like there've been so MANY of them)"
Do your homework TARHOLE, I'll save you the trouble, I know you CRAPOLINA fans aren't too smart so in regards to your moronic statement I've included some of the 'many' bad influences:
Name
Carolina
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 22:33 — bstone55Dude......you need to get a life! Who keeps up with all that unless it has taken over you reason for living.
If DUKE had ever had a
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 17:16 — captchuck18If DUKE had ever had a football player on its campus in the 1st place they may have a list too.......DUKE LACROSSE...alcohol abuse and escorts forever!!!!
Touche'
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 19:53 — pammy1Good one, Chuck!!
you're still pathetic....
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 15:24 — pammy1Oh.....and I won't take the time (that you obviously did haha) to research your information (I've got at least one more game to watch; when does Duke play this wknd?haha) but I DO know that Jameson Curry was NEVER a student at UNC.....why? because Roy Williams dismissed him from the team immediately because of the charges against him........ probably alot of the other charges were invalidated or the player was dismissed too but like the other guy said.... whatever "floats your boat" sport.......
You're really pathetic.....really!!
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 15:18 — pammy1Oh, this is a real hoot!! That's what I said.......that Henderson should stay away from Ellington.......not the other way around.....of course I was being sarcastic but not only do you apparently not understand sarcasm, you also have a serious problem......if you are so OBSESSED with your hatred (and jealousy) of UNC that you would compile this long laundry list then you need some help and a life!! But I think the fact that you did this is hilarious! hahahahaha GO HEELS!!!!!
This is a good lesson
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 13:43 — rtarnowskiSee the pathetic depths fans must reach to when their once dominant program can't win more than 2 games in the NCAA tournament anymore? "Duke basketball might be fading into mediocrity, but look at all the arrests your football and basketball teams have had over the past 40 years!" Whatever helps you sleep at night, sport.
Pre-flight
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 09:33 — roiTy's just getting ready for his NBA career, that's all.
I never thought I would miss the articles on "the toe"
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 09:05 — JPDOhioAt least that had something to do with the game. This topic isn't worthy of one article, let alone 3 or 4.
Now, if Ty got jumped by Charles Barkley because he beat Sir Charles to the last spot at the table, THAT would be news!
please....
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 08:44 — peabodyI'm tired of hearing these moralistic diatribes from sports reporters. You're a sports reporter Caulton... not my mother and father. How about breaking down the game instead of the players. Good grief.
Labor cuts
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 08:10 — Worz4UNCN&O, you can easily cut your labor force by one, Toots. This neanderthal has outlived his value-add.
No Problem
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 06:36 — bstone55We live in a state that you can play the lottery. I hope for Mr. Tudor's sake that Ty hasn't purchased a lottery ticket. How bad would that look if he won gambling on a lottery ticket? I seriously doubt Ty was thinking about the failure of the Dixie Classic Tournament in the 1950's when he was shooting craps. Who would? I don't believe there is much of a story here other than Mr. Tudor needing one for the N&O.
Good for Ty
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 05:55 — jimmy3It's been a long time since I was in school, but I bet (oops, sorry Caulton) that $250 is still a lot of money to most college kids these days. Hope he has fun with it.
What are business/finance students taught in school?
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 02:24 — jaylrAre they taught how to make money? Do they learn how to trade futures/options contracts?
Please Mr. Tudor, do tell us what is the difference between playing the stock market and playing for earnings at a casino.
Stupid Column
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 23:56 — jj62_99Mr. Tudor must be a Duke fan. I guess he's never filled out an NCAA Tournament bracket and put $30 in the office pool. I assume he's never known he was right and bet a friend $5 knowing he would win. To be so self-righteous is really sickening. These are kids. They're not mature like Mr. Tudor. I wondering what you were doing when you were 21 sir and if you really want us to know?
How dumb you Tarholes really are
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 13:24 — Dukie4Life"Mr.Tudor must be a Duke fan"
LMAO, you're pathetic. Because he tells the truth he must be a Duke fan?
You idiotic tarholes are all the same, all mouth and no brains.
Dumb
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 23:33 — JohnAThis article is stupid, plain and simple.
"Ultimately, however, that point-shaving scandal almost collapsed college basketball. It's a history lesson worth being taught to each generation of players."
You're talking about the NCAA, an organization that chooses massive domes for final fours so they can sell more tickets. An organization that spent HUNDREDS of thousands of dollars installing their own floors at regional sites when it simply wasn't needed. I feel dumber for reading these articles.
Ancient history
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 22:56 — GGillenSorry, have to disagree with Caulton on this one. Do you really think a present-day college player is going to think, "Well, I really wanted to go gambling today but that point-shaving scandal 50 years ago made me change my mind"?
Ty did nothing wrong, it may
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 22:36 — psh0117Ty did nothing wrong, it may look bad and sketchy to others, but Roy did it, and didn’t have a problem with his players doing it. He is 21 so he’s old enough, and they had a chaperone in the casino. I’m sure you have a problem if he went to bar and a drink too. Let the boy have some fun and get over it.
I'd have to agree with Roy
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 22:25 — mayberry_lady1If you don't want players gambling, then don't have the tournament in a city dotted with casinos. NCAA went after the almighty dollar..........I see no problem with Lawson going after $250. Someone should ask the NCAA why they didn't think the casinos were a bad thing when they chose Detroit. Let's hear their answer. Media is pumping this up way too much. Let NCAA grumble to themselves while they get the benefits of their choice in using Detroit.
whatever
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 22:08 — gvillegatrany legal adult can do what he wants to. It does not look bad to anyone unless Ty was acting the fool while at the casino. no story saying he acted unruly so therefore what is wrong??? nothing.
Disagree entirely
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 21:04 — billayWhen the Tar Heels have gone to Alaska, they've gone dogsledding. When they go to Hawaii, they go windsurfing. When they went to Detroit, they hit the tables. Big Deal. Coach Williams himself has talked about trying to "enjoy the journey" this year, and I'm sure that is a life lesson he has imparted on his players. Lawson is an adult. Gambling is legal in Detroit. This is a non-story.
I can see Mr. Tudor's points...
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 20:49 — UNC1998But Lawson is an adult. He's just blowing off steam. Think of Eugene Robinson to consider the alternatives. haha.