Bookie claims former Bears execs involved with sports betting

Tuesday, July 25, 2000 | 1:50 a.m.

Joel Glickman also told the Chicago Sun-Times that Ken Valdiserri, the team's former marketing executive, and Bryan Harlan, the former public relations director, used bogus names to place bets for four or five years.

The NFL bars betting on its games by players and team employees and prohibits them from associating with gamblers or gambling activities in a manner tending to bring discredit to the league. Greg Aiello, an NFL spokesman, said the situation remains a security issue for the league. He said the accusations involve former employees and don't affect players or coaches.

Bears officials have said the organization maintains a zero tolerance policy regarding sports gambling. Bears spokesman Scott Hagel on Tuesday refused to comment on the accusations against Valdiserri and Harlan.

Valdiserri, who left the team in April and is now the general manager of Chicago's new XFL franchise, was subpoenaed two years ago in a federal gambling probe but was not required to testify before a grand jury.

Valdiserri has said he was not involved with any sports betting. He could not be reached for comment Tuesday; no home telephone listing could be found under his name and a message left with the XFL was not immediately returned Tuesday.

Valdiserri has said he was subpoenaed because phone numbers assigned to him by the team turned up in Glickman's records. He said somebody borrowing his phones must have made the calls. He said he routinely lent out those phones.

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Harlan, who resigned two weeks ago, admitted violating league policy on gambling. The Sun-Times said he was the subject of a federal investigation after his phone number was found in a bookmaker's telephone records.

Harlan has declined to speak publicly since his resignation. He did not return a message seeking comment left on his home phone Tuesday.

Glickman, who was sent to federal prison for two years in 1976 for bookmaking, said none of his Bears customers revealed any inside information. He also said no players or coaches placed bets with him.