Thompson Drops Gaming Bid

Georgetown Coach John Thompson, whose proposed involvement in a company that operates slot machines in Las Vegas concerned school and NCAA officials, said Wednesday in Atlanta that he won’t pursue the business venture.

Thompson had applied for a state gaming license to become a partner in the company that operates slot machines at Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport. He said he changed his mind after speaking with Georgetown’s president, the Rev. Leo J. O’Donovan, Wednesday morning.

“I decided to drop it totally because [O’Donovan] asked me to do it,” Thompson said. “He is a person who has been extremely supportive of me and a person I love very dearly because he’s permitted me to be me.”

Thompson, whose team plays Texas Tech today in an East Regional semifinal at the Georgia Dome, said he applied nine months ago for the license.

Cedric Dempsey, the NCAA executive director, joined O’Donovan in publicly opposing Thompson’s bid.

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Texas Tech is playing its “no respect” theme to the hilt.

“We didn’t get a lot of media exposure [this season] like some of the other teams that are here,” senior forward/center Darvin Ham said. “We don’t get a lot respect, and a lot of people didn’t think we’d be here. We’re just a bunch of guys having fun.”