Lendle

How to Rig the NCAA Basketball Championship for Fun and Profit is a humorous, poignant and alarming novel about a guy who plans to rig the biggest college game of them all for revenge and a whole lot of money.Over the many years Stanley Osborn reffed, college basketball had grown into a huge business, enriching universities, coaches, equipment and apparel manufactures, donors and the NCAA at the expense of the players. The brutal treatment of refs by rabid fans and overpaid coaches increased along with the game's popularity. The difficulty coping with the scrutiny of the media and the many conference and NCAA officials exploded. Even convincing his wife and daughter that his avocation was worth his time away from home was harder each season. But most troubling was reconciling the sleazier aspects of big-time college sports with its purpose of providing fair, equitable and sportsmanlike competition as part of the higher educational experience of the student-athlete. Finally, after being suspended for tossing perhaps the best coach in the sport out of a key game, Stan had had enough. He developed a plan to get even with all who have questioned his officiating talent and honesty and to focus much needed attention on the exploitation by and corruption of the sport he once loved. Stan made the life-altering decision to apply his officiating skills to influence the outcome of games without attracting attention. A close, yet bogus charging call here, an uncalled traveling call there might affect the point spread enough for him to win some bets. The successful execution of the plan would make him rich. And hopefully promote some much needed reform of college athletics.There are more twists and turns, fakes and fast breaks than in the Final Four. Mr. Wolfe presents a no-holds barred examination of the good, bad and ugly about college basketball. Frankly, it’s downright scary. Initial reviewers agree it’s an engrossing, worthwhile read addressing a topic that needs a thorough examination. If you love college sports, especially basketball, and if you love a lightning fast, cliffhanging story, How to Rig the NCAA Basketball Championship for Fun and Profit is for you.