Fixed: How Goodfellas Bought Boston College Basketball [Hardcover]

David Porter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 25, 2000

Using extensive background research as well as interviews with the principal characters, Fixed provides the first in-depth reconstruction of the point-shaving scandal involving the 1978-1979 Boston College basketball team, from the genesis of the plot in the summer of 1978, to the uncovering of the scheme during an unrelated investigation in 1980, to the trial that captivated the sports world in the fall of 1981. It is a multi-layered story of greed and betrayal combining sports, gambling, and the Mafia.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Big-time mobsters, All-American athletes and high-powered lawyers are but a few of the intriguing characters who appear in Porter's well-researched, action-packed account of the 1978-1979 Boston College point-shaving scandal. Porter, a veteran sportswriter and columnist, traces the scandal from its creation in the summer of 1978 through the trials of the players and mobsters in 1981; particularly fascinating is his exploration of how the scam affected the players mentally and the relationship between them and the gangsters. His journalistic style is detailed but never slow, fair to all sides but not soft. He admits when his information is unclear, but still manages to present a coherent examination of the events. Porter also expertly portrays his primary characters, who include Jim Sweeny, an Academic All-American and a Naismith award winner who is described by the gangsters as "the perfect front," and ex-mobster-turned-star government witness Henry Hill, the man who wrote Wiseguy, the book that the movie Goodfellas was based on. Porter devotes the first part of the book to the planning and execution of the scheme to shave points; there he recounts the history of Boston College basketball and the program's situation at the time of the scandal. He then examines the '78-'79 season game by game, showing how the sinister plan unfolded. The second part of the book, which relates the details of the investigation and the trials of the case in 1981, is even more absorbing than the first. (Mar.)Forecast: College basketball fans and readers of crime books--especially those involving the underworld--will revel in the mix of exciting drama and exacting detail, and will be drawn to the provocative cover, reminiscent of the jackets on Mario Puzo's books.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

No longer just a competition between rival schools, university athletics has become a multibillion-dollar business where the love of the game often pales in comparison to the lure of big money. In this well-researched book, Porter, a sports journalist (Sporting News, Soccer America, and Hockey News) in Philadelphia and New York for 14 years, offers a disturbing glimpse of a gambling scandal that involved the Mafia and the 1978-79 Boston College basketball team. The author used numerous interviews to document the chain of events, from the initial investigation of three players implicated in shaving points to fix at least 12 games to the ultimate conviction of five people. This compelling story features a glossary of legal terms. For regional collections. (Index not seen.) Larry R. Little, Penticton P.L., BC
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (February 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878331921
• ISBN-13: 978-0878331925
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,977,661 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Almost true, August 18, 2001

By 

James E Thorsen (Cumberland, RI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fixed: How Goodfellas Bought Boston College Basketball (Hardcover)

I was disappointed with this book, as while it seemed to be well-researched, it is impossible to capture the spirit of the time or the personalities so many years later. It also happens that my interest in the book relates to personal knowledge of several of the atheletes involved. I think that the author was not fair to Ernie Cobb or several of the other players, but he was overly sympathetic to Jim Sweeney. I believed then, as I do now, that it really was Sweeney's show. Nevertheless, the players and their motivations get a lot of play in the book, but you can never really know what happened as you cannot see into the human heart, especially 20 years later. I believe that the real point to be made is that under the wrong circumstances, anyone can be had and the resulting tragedy can have lifelong consequences. The book does capture this important aspect of the whole case which makes it worth the read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly enjoyable read., February 19, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Fixed: How Goodfellas Bought Boston College Basketball (Hardcover)

Without buttressing its merit with Mafia hype or superfluous detail, Fixed seamlessly weaves together the distressing tales of a real-life cast of characters guided by greed. Porter obviously researched his subject thoroughly, and his unbiased presentation of facts and ability to anticipate and clarify potential questions and inconsistencies compelled this reader to eagerly turn the pages without questioning the credibility of this remarkably captivating account. I highly recommend it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book! Highly recommended., November 18, 2005

By 

Sally Cooney (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fixed: How Goodfellas Bought Boston College Basketball (Paperback)

A little gambling on college sports is basically harmless, right? This book will change your mind. I'm sure none of the players in Porter's book feel "unharmed" by the fallout of Boston College's point shaving scandal. Young careers, reputations, and lives were ruined, and that is tragic. There's great tension from the beginning, even if you know the historical outcome of the games and trials. Plus, if you enjoyed Goodfellas, you'll love meeting Henry Hill again, even if he's not the glamorized Ray Liotta version!