3 Testify That Williams Shaved Points at Tulane

Former Tulane basketball star John (Hot Rod) Williams was an essential part of a point-shaving scheme last year and was amused by his part in fixing a game, witnesses said Wednesday.

The witnesses were three fraternity brothers testifying in a plea bargain in Williams’ trial on sports-bribery charges--Gary Kranz of New Rochelle, N.Y.; Mark Olensky of Fair Lawn, N.J., and David Rothenberg of Wilton, Conn.

They testified that Kranz made the initial contact with the team by supplying forwards Clyde Eads and Jon Johnson with cocaine.

Kranz said it was Rothenberg who first suggested that they might stage a betting coup by getting the players to shave points.

Later, after point guard Bobby Thompson was brought into the plot, the players agreed it could be done, if Williams--”the big man”--would go along.

On Feb. 2, Tulane, favored by 10 points, played Southern Mississippi and won, 64-63.

After the game, the players and the three fraternity brothers attended a party at Kranz’s apartment, where the hosts passed around cocaine and beer.

“The atmosphere was very joyous--festive,” Olensky said.

He was asked if he could remember Williams saying anything about the rigged game.

“Not verbatim,” he said. “It’s been a long time. I remember him saying we won the ballgame, and we’re still getting paid--something to that effect.”

Rothenberg said Williams was happy, “particularly about a pass he threw quite a bit out of bounds, but nobody would suspect him because he was an NBA prospect.”