Everett Offers Aid to Titans’ Bowen

Ram quarterback Jim Everett has come to the aid of a Cal State Fullerton basketball player, but his generosity--if accepted--could jeopardize the eligibility of Titan forward Bruce Bowen.

Bowen, a 6-foot-5 sophomore from Fresno, will undergo surgery this morning to remove a small polyp in the back of his throat. The polyp, not considered life-threatening, was discovered about a month ago during a preseason physical examination given to all Fullerton basketball players.

When Everett read a newspaper story chronicling Bowen’s plight--Bowen’s family had no insurance to cover the operation and, because it was not considered a basketball-related injury, the school couldn’t help--the quarterback decided to step in.

Everett instructed Deborah DiCarlo, executive director of the nonprofit Jim Everett Charity Foundation, to donate the funds needed for the operation. Everett uses the foundation to respond spontaneously to various community needs.

However, in order to maintain its nonprofit status, DiCarlo said the foundation can only donate to other nonprofit organizations. So DiCarlo worked out a deal with Dr. Stanley Siegel, who will perform the surgery, Dr. Narendra Parson, the anesthesiologist, and Orange Surgical Services, which will provide the facility for the operation.

According to DiCarlo, the doctors agreed to donate their services as long as Everett’s foundation would donate their fees, which will amount to about $3,200, to the charities of the doctors’ choice.

“We’re taking care of Bruce,” said Joyce Dinkins, Siegel’s administrator.

Not so fast, says the NCAA.

When informed of the arrangement, Rick Evrard, director of legislative services for the NCAA, said it might be in violation of NCAA regulations.

“I wouldn’t offer this as an official NCAA opinion, but it seems the reason the foundation is interested is because they learned (Bowen) is an athlete from a school,” Evrard said.

“If an organization reads about a student-athlete who needs help at home and wants to provide assistance, that would not be permitted because it would be a benefit received based on the student’s athletic involvement.”

Said DiCarlo: “To be honest with you, I don’t why the NCAA should be a concern. Jim helps a lot of different people.”

Fullerton Associate Athletic Director Leanne Grotke said she tried to contact the NCAA and a Big West Conference representative for a clarification Wednesday but was unsuccessful. Grotke said Bowen’s grandmother, who raised money through her church, will pay for the operation.

“We’re not going to accept (the Everett foundation’s offer) until we verify that it’s permissible to do that by the NCAA,” Grotke said. “We’ll clarify that when we can.”

Evrard said that as long as the school made an effort to answer the question and that billing for the services hasn’t occurred, there is no NCAA violation, despite the fact that Bowen will have had the surgery before the payment issue is resolved.

“In the meantime, as we pursue the correct answer, I don’t think there’s any problem,” Evrard said.

Bowen played in 18 games last season, averaging 1.7 points and 1.0 rebounds a game.