Former CT-based sports agent John Lounsbury said that
over two years, he "lavished $40,000 worth of cash and
gifts" on former UMass and current Raptors F Marcus Camby,
according to Armstrong & Golden of the BOSTON GLOBE.
Lounsbury also said that he paid Camby's teammate Michael
Williams and former UConn and current Bucks G Ray Allen. He
is "expected to testify" for CT-based attorney Wesley
Spears, a "would-be-agent" who also paid Camby. Spears is
now accused of trying to blackmail Camby. Lounsbury, on
paying the players: "I was wrong, no question. But a lot of
other people who should be held accountable are now making
millions of dollars." Armstrong & Golden: "Lounsbury
detailed far more payments to Camby than [Camby] ... ever
admitted. Camby has only admitted taking $2,000 in cash
from Lounsbury in the summer of '95, after his sophomore
season. Armstrong & Golden, on Camby's relationship with
Lounsbury during his time at UMass: "Camby used Lounsbury
for a premature taste of the glittering lifestyle that
awaited him when he would turn pro" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/25).
MORE TROUBLES FOR UCONN? Armstrong & Golden write that
"according to sources, Lounsbury's payment and other alleged
gifts from agents to [Ray] Allen ... are now being
investigated" by UConn. Allen's manager, Mark Christie,
confirmed that attorney Rick Evrard was hired by UConn and
"is seeking to question Allen." Evrard handled the appeals
of UConn's Ricky Moore and Kirk King for accepting airline
tickets in '95 (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/25).
