Gaston Green Reportedly Will Get Subpoena in Probe of Sports Agent

A grand jury in Chicago investigating New York-based sports agent Norby Walters and an aide, Lloyd Bloom, on possible charges of extortion, racketeering, wire fraud and mail fraud reportedly will subpoena 60 athletes from 28 schools, including UCLA tailback Gaston Green, the Atlanta Constitution reported Wednesday.

Green said that he was taken by surprise when he was named as one of the athletes who will be subpoenaed.

Green said: “Reporters started calling me last night telling me that I was going to get a subpoena, but that’s all I know about it. I haven’t gotten a subpoena, or heard anything official. I guess they got my name because one of those guys called me. He asked me to meet with them and said they wanted to represent me, but I didn’t sign anything with them. I didn’t even agree to meet with them. I’ve never met them.”

Green said that when Bloom called, he referred him to his father as a matter of routine.

UCLA Athletic Director Pete Dalis and faculty representative Doug Hobbs talked with Green on Wednesday morning and concluded that Green has done nothing to jeopardize his athletic eligibility.

Walters has admitted signing college athletes to contracts and paying them before their eligibility ended, in violation of NCAA rules, and has filed at least six breach-of-contract suits against former clients. Any athlete who signs with an agent or accepts money before his eligibility expires can be declared ineligible by the NCAA.

Lou Brock Jr. of USC, who was drafted by the San Diego Chargers, was also named as an athlete to be subpoenaed. But because he dropped out of school soon after he played in his last game for the Trojans, no one at USC was able to question him about it.

Athletic Director Mike McGee said: “We are aware of the ongoing nation-wide investigation regarding the activities of some sports agents. Literally hundreds of players fall under the scope of that investigation. To our knowledge at this point, there is nothing of substance pertaining to any USC players.”