Jimmy Maldonado
Like oil and water, gambling and bowling just don’t mix.
A federal grand jury has started an investigation into the rumors of possible pin-shaving by a key member of the San Diego State bowling team.
At the center of these rumors is the Aztecs’ top bowler, Jim Maldonado, the Tiger Woods of bowling.
Maldonado and his 278 scoring average have led SDSU to an impressive 12-1 record this season, with the only loss coming two weeks ago against top-ranked Bowling Green University (14-0).
Aztecs head coach Mike Emerick is outraged at the allegations.
“It’s all lies,” Emerick said. “Anybody who knows Jimmy knows he would never do anything like this. The kid has a good head on his shoulders.”
The rumors started after a win against Ball State on March 26. With the match already decided, Maldonado was the only bowler left to bowl. Needing only one more strike in the 10th frame for a perfect score of 300, he rolled a gutter ball. SDSU won by 10 pins. The spread was 11.
“I don’t know what happened,” Maldonado said after the match. “I haven’t bowled a 300 in a while, so I guess I was sort of nervous.”
Maldonado was spotted later that night with Mathew Angelo in a San Diego nightclub. Angelo is a big-time gambler known to have links to organized crime.
Maldonado admits he was out with Angelo, but he denies the allegations.
“Whomever I hang out with away from the bowling alley is nobody’s business,” he said.
Maldonado’s teammates are beginning to question his attitude toward the team.
“If he wanted to, he could have turned pro after last year,” teammate Chris Carlock said. “I think he regrets staying for his junior season. Nobody on the team is really close with Jimmy. He pretty much keeps to himself.
“I did find it odd that he came to practice with a brand-new pair of brown and red bowling shoes with gold shoelace tips after the match with Ball State.”
Maldonado claims his sister bought him the shoes as a gift and that the gold shoelace tips were given to him by his father.
“I don’t understand why everybody is making a big deal about this,” Maldonado said. “I throw one gutter ball and suddenly the press is all over my back. If I knew it was going to be like this at SDSU, I would have joined the PBA (Professional Bowlers Association) after last year.”
Deputy City Attorney Jimmy Fraser has acknowledged that an investigation is taking place into the alleged pin-shaving incident.
“We’re at the beginning stages of the investigation at this point,” Fraser said. “Right now we’re trying to get all the facts straight and find out what really did and didn’t happen.”
Similar rumors of point-shaving have surfaced in the Fresno State men’s basketball team. Two FSU players are under federal investigation for possibly taking part in keeping scores within the spread.
Emerick feels that the allegations will put a blemish on the success the Aztecs have enjoyed so far this season.
“We’ve always run a clean program here at SDSU,” Emerick said. “I’ve looked at the tapes from the Ball State match, and all I see is a kid trying to bowl a perfect 300. He was just nervous, plain and simple.”
“This is ridiculous,” Maldonado said. “Does Barry Bonds have to answer the same questions if he strikes out to lose a game? We won the match. I guess when you get to be as good a bowler as I am, everybody expects you to be able to bowl a strike at any time.”
