Scandal Remembered

Williamsport (AP) - Culminating an intensive two-day undercover investigation, Henderson NCAA Tournament officials announced there is “credible and reliable information” to look further into allegations of improprieties arising from the Upper Fairfield Regional Administration office headed by Mr. Sim Basta.

“It calls the whole process into question,” Tournament President Matt Henderson said. “The integrity of our tournament is at stake. This will not stand,” he said. “I have asked Regional Administrator Pat Henderson to lead this investigation from his Harrisburg office. Regional Administrator Henderson will report directly to me,” he said.

“I cannot comment – get that camera out of my face,” an obviously agitated Regional Administrator Pat Henderson said after emerging from several hours of intense negotiations with the district attorney’s office. Mr. Basta, seen above in photos just released from the Oswego County, NY District Attorney’s office, declined comment through his attorney. Basta is the brother-in-law of Tournament President Matt Henderson, and also has ties to Regional Administrator Pat Henderson.

The discrepancies were first identified after a routine background check of Mr. Basta, as well as an annual audit conducted by the Arthur Andersen Consulting Group. Arthur Andersen is the official auditor of the 2003 Henderson NCAA Tournament. Henderson Tournament officials routinely require background checks of senior executives, but this is the first time background checks were required of regional office administrators.

Although no one is quite sure what the improprieties involve, tournament officials indicated their investigation should be complete “before the end of the summer”. Mr. Sim Basta has continued to maintain his innocence, claiming he will be vindicated.