Bookie Reportedly Got Tickets From Tark’s Agent

Fresno State basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian’s personal business agent turned some game tickets over to a suspected sports bookie, The Fresno Bee reported Thursday.

Athletic department records show that the bookie got at least 42 tickets and his brother eight from Jose Elgorriaga Jr. during the season. Tarkanian receives 90 tickets to each home game as part of his contract and said he gives Elgorriaga four to six tickets for each game.

Tarkanian, whose team finished 20-12 this season, said if some tickets were received by a sports gambler “I certainly don’t want my players associating with him.”

Tarkanian won the 1990 NCAA championship at UNLV. He resigned two years later when photos were published showing three former players in a hot tub with convicted sports fixer Richard Perry.

The Bee previously labeled the bookie who received Fresno State tickets a major local sports bettor and linked him to an investigation of possible point-shaving by Fresno State players.

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