UNLV Denies Report It Acted Improperly

Nevada Las Vegas officials said Thursday that they found no evidence that UNLV personnel acted improperly in certifying the eligibility of basketball star J.R. Rider.

The officials reacted to a story in the Las Vegas Review-Journal Thursday that quoted Vicki Bertolino, who graded a correspondence course in English that Rider took last year through the Community College of Southern Nevada’s Nellis Air Force Base branch.

Bertolino told the newspaper she was pressed by two UNLV officials to give Rider a grade in the course, which Rider needed to pass to retain his eligibility. She said she gave Rider a C- in the course, but should have given him an F.

The passing grade in the three-unit class reportedly put Rider above the 24-unit annual minimum required under NCAA rules for him to be eligible during the 1992-93 season.

In a prepared statement, UNLV Athletic Director Jim Weaver said the university has notified the NCAA of the issues raised by Bertolino.

However, Weaver said, UNLV’s own investigation, initiated Tuesday after the Review-Journal brought the matter to the school’s attention, has determined that Rider was properly certified as eligible to play this season.

Bertolino told the Review-Journal she felt pressured by repeated phone calls dealing with Rider’s progress from Tom Pecora, administrative assistant to UNLV Coach Rollie Massimino, and Jaina Preston, a UNLV compliance officer.

Bertolino said the two athletic officials called her repeatedly at home, left messages on her pager and even contacted her in the hospital room of her husband, who had suffered a heart attack.

Pecora said Bertolino “was never pressured into anything.”

Preston said she simply asked the instructor if a grade for Rider could be issued. According to Preston, Bertolino indicated that she had all of Rider’s work, but had not had a chance to finish grading it.

David Chambers, director of UNLV’s compliance office, said: “Our people say they did not pressure her, and we stand behind our people.”