beast of the east
Active member
Some of you may know this story, but as the Briscoe decision winds down, it's worth repeating. I heard it from a very credible source, actually one of the parties to the story.
As the Walter Berry sweepstakes were in the final days, there were a few schools still in the hunt, notably, St. John's and Villanova.
Berry was at a tournament where all the finalists recruiting him were attending. He was alone in his hotel room, and heard a knock on the door. When he opened the door, no one was there, but there was a brown paper bag on the floor outside his room. Walter took the bag, closed the door, and in the confines of his room, opened the bag.
Inside the bag was stuffed with cash, LOTS of it. More money than Berry had ever seen in his life. He almost fainted. He laid on his bed and threw it in the air, and the bills covered his body, the bed, and the floor. He started yelling, "I'm rich, I'm rich!", ecstatic over his new found wealth.
He laid there in his delirium, and in a few moments, the phone in his room rang. "I'm calling from the NCAA, and I saw what was left at your door. If you want to play a minute of basketball ever again in the United States, you will return that money immediately, or you will be suspended and ruled ineligible."
In a panic, Berry scooped up the cash, making sure not to miss a single bill. He stuffed it into the bag, and put the bag outside the door. A few minutes later the generous "donor" called and identified what school the money came from. In a panic, Berry told him he wasn't interested, and to take the money back immediately.
Shortly after, Berry declared his intention to attend St. John's. Years later, he found out that the NCAA official who called him was actually SJU assistant Ron Rutledge, Today the two are the closest of friends, and Rutledge will tell you that Walter was his favorite all-time SJU player. No wonder.
As the Walter Berry sweepstakes were in the final days, there were a few schools still in the hunt, notably, St. John's and Villanova.
Berry was at a tournament where all the finalists recruiting him were attending. He was alone in his hotel room, and heard a knock on the door. When he opened the door, no one was there, but there was a brown paper bag on the floor outside his room. Walter took the bag, closed the door, and in the confines of his room, opened the bag.
Inside the bag was stuffed with cash, LOTS of it. More money than Berry had ever seen in his life. He almost fainted. He laid on his bed and threw it in the air, and the bills covered his body, the bed, and the floor. He started yelling, "I'm rich, I'm rich!", ecstatic over his new found wealth.
He laid there in his delirium, and in a few moments, the phone in his room rang. "I'm calling from the NCAA, and I saw what was left at your door. If you want to play a minute of basketball ever again in the United States, you will return that money immediately, or you will be suspended and ruled ineligible."
In a panic, Berry scooped up the cash, making sure not to miss a single bill. He stuffed it into the bag, and put the bag outside the door. A few minutes later the generous "donor" called and identified what school the money came from. In a panic, Berry told him he wasn't interested, and to take the money back immediately.
Shortly after, Berry declared his intention to attend St. John's. Years later, he found out that the NCAA official who called him was actually SJU assistant Ron Rutledge, Today the two are the closest of friends, and Rutledge will tell you that Walter was his favorite all-time SJU player. No wonder.
