Boeheim: Accuser a liar "trying to get money"

Topics: Basketball

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim, left, closes his eyes during a game in Syracuse, N.Y., March. 14, 2007. Seated next to Boeheim is assistant head coach Bernie Fine.

(Credit: AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli)

(CBS/AP) Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim says a former ball boy who claims that longtime assistant coach Bernie Fine sexually abused him is lying and that the accusations are motivated by money.

Bobby Davis, now 39, told ESPN that Fine molested him beginning in 1984 and that the sexual contact continued for more than a decade. A ball boy for six years, Davis said the alleged abuse occurred at Fine's home, at Syracuse basketball facilities and on team road trips, adding that Boeheim knew he was sleeping in Fine's room.

"Boeheim saw me with Bernie all the time in the hotel rooms, on road trips," Davis said. "He'd come in, and see me laying in the bed, kind of glance at me like, `What are you doing here?' But he wouldn't say that. He'd just scowl. And I would look at him like, I'd be nervous. I felt embarrassed 'cause I felt stupid that I'm there. I'm not supposed to be here. I know it, and Boeheim's not stupid."

Boeheim bristled at Davis' hotel room claims while speaking to the Post-Standard Thursday night.

"This is alleged to have occurred ... what? Twenty years ago? Am I in the right neighborhood? It might be 26 years ago? So, we are supposed to what? Stop the presses 26 years later? For a false allegation? For what I absolutely believe is a false allegation? I know he's lying about me seeing him in his hotel room. That's a lie," Boeheim told the newspaper. "If he's going to tell one lie, I'm sure there's a few more of them."

Fine was placed on paid administrative leave Thursday while police investigate the sex abuse claims by Davis and another former ball boy.

Syracuse's Fine on leave amid police inquiry

Boeheim told the Post-Standard that Davis occasionally traveled with the team but said he only did so to babysit Fine's children.

"The kid only traveled, to my knowledge, if he was babysitting Bernie's kids," Boeheim said. "This is when he was 18 years old. He was helping to babysit the kids. That's the only time I know about, from talking with Bernie."

Boeheim said he believes Davis is exploiting the attention surrounding the scandal at Penn State in the hopes of making money.

"The Penn State thing came out and the kid behind this is trying to get money. He's tried before. And now he's trying again," Boeheim told the Post-Standard. "If he gets this, he's going to sue the university and Bernie. What do you think is going to happen at Penn State? You know how much money is going to be involved in civil suits? I'd say about $50 million. That's what this is about. Money."

Stephen Smith
Stephen Smith is a senior editor for CBSNews.com

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by patrick_omalley_cbsnews November 27, 2011 11:43 PM EST: Imagine if you are one of Bernie Fine's victims, and you read about Boeheim saying this.

You know Boeheim is one of the most popular, powerful people within 25 miles of Syracuse. Boeheim blatantly calls this kid a liar who is just looking for money. Other victims will be less likely to come forward, and Boeheim knows that. Fire Boeheim today.

He probably learned this from the Catholic church, who has been using the same techniques for decades.; Reply to this comment