By Mark Lelinwalla and Michael O'Keeffe
New York Daily News
February 24, 2010
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/high_school/2010/02/24/2010-02-24_oliva_case_sees_exyank_testify.html
NEW YORK/BOSTON -- Several former associates of Bob Oliva, including a former major league pitcher who played for the Mets and Yankees, appeared Tuesday before the Boston grand jury reviewing evidence that the retired Christ the King boys basketball coach allegedly sexually abused a player during a trip to Massachusetts more than 30 years ago.
Jimmy Carlino, the former Queens resident who told the Daily News that Oliva molested him for several years during the 1970s, is scheduled to appear before the grand jury Wednesday. Carlino's attorney, Mitchell Garabedian, acknowledged that his client would testify Wednesday but declined further comment.
 |
| Former associates of Bob Oliva's appears before the Boston grand jury and reviews evidence that the Christ the King coach allegedly sexually abused a player more than 30 years ago |
Michael Doolin, Oliva's lawyer, said he was aware of the grand jury proceedings and said the coach would prevail if an indictment is handed down.
"I expect Bob Oliva will be found not guilty of any charges," Doolin said. "He didn't do what has been alleged."
The witnesses who appeared before the grand jury Tuesday included ex-CK baseball coach Allen Watson, a former pitcher with the Mets and Yankees, and Sam Albano, a sports television producer and a one-time Oliva friend.
 |
| Former New York Yankee pitcher Allen Watson works with Bob Oliva at one point when he coaches the Christ the King baseball team. |
A man who has said he was abused by Oliva also testified before the grand jury, sources close to the case said.
Meanwhile, officials at the Middle Village high school told the Daily News that they have no plans to remove Oliva from Christ the King's Hall of Fame. Oliva, who led the perennial city basketball power for 27 years and won five city championships, was inducted in 1999.
"He is a retired coach of many years and he was voted on the Hall of Fame by his peers. What action should we take?" asked Tom Ognibene, the former city councilman who serves on the school's board of trustees.
"We don't have Bill Clinton in the Hall of Fame," Ognibene added. "I wonder if they're going to take down his photo in the White House. I wonder if the PGA is going to take Tiger's PGA card. Eliot Spitzer, I see him on television a lot."
Doolin applauded Christ the King officials for not rushing to judgment.
"Mr. Oliva hasn't been charged in Massachusetts," Doolin said. "If he is charged, we'll go through the process. His name certainly belongs in the Christ the King Hall of Fame."
Christ the King officials say they have already provided Suffolk County (Mass.) prosecutors with employment records for Oliva and CK assistant basketball coach Nick Sanchez.
Jake Wark, a spokesman for the Suffolk County District Attorney's office, declined comment.
Carlino told the Daily News last year that Oliva, his coach at the St. Teresa of Avila youth basketball program in Queens, had molested him for several years during the 1970s, when Carlino was a teen.
Sources told The News that most of the alleged abuse took place in New York, but Carlino has said there was an incident in Boston when Carlino accompanied Oliva to a Yankees-Red Sox doubleheader at Fenway Park in 1976.
It would be difficult for authorities in New York to prosecute Oliva because of statute of limitation issues, but Massachusetts officials wouldn't face such hurdles if they found evidence that Oliva had abused Carlino: the statute of limitations there stops ticking when a suspect leaves the state.
In April of 2008, a law firm representing Carlino sent a letter to Oliva outlining the pain the coach had allegedly caused his former friend and asked for $750,000 and Oliva's resignation from Christ the King.
Oliva refused, and Christ the King called the letter a shakedown attempt. Oliva took a leave of absence from the Royals, citing heart problems caused by stress, and resigned in January of 2009.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.