UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday. April 23. 1996
3B
Sad legacy for 'The Greek'
Former CBS announcer remembered most for his controversial comments
The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder took the numbers everyone whispered about and made football betting something to talk about in his weekly appearances on national television. Then he strayed into areas far from the playing field and his celebrity status plummeted as quickly as it was made.
Snyder, who died Sunday at the age of 76, lived most of his later years in obscurity after ill-advised remarks about black athletes in 1988 cost him both his job with CBS and the national platform he so coveted.
He died of heart failure after a long illness. He had been in and out of hospitals for several months.
He was credited with turning oddsmaking into mainstream entertainment as a commentator on CBS "NFL Today" pregame show, where he spent 12 years giving out both the odds and his opinion on different games.
But comments he made to a television station about black athletes created an uproar that led to his firing and an effective end to a life-long gambling career.
"He really just went downhill after that," said longtime Las Vegas gambler Lem Banker. "It was a shame. He was real bitter. He got a bum deal from them."
In an interview with WRC-TV in Washington, Snyder said a black athlete was better than a white one because "he's been bred to be that way because of his high size and big size."
During the Civil War, "the slave owner would breed his big black with his big woman so that he would have a big black kid," Snyder said during the interview. "That's where it all started."
Snyder also said that if blacks "take over coaching jobs like everybody wants them to, there's not to be anything left for the white people."
CBS Sports fired Snyder the next day and he issued an apology saying, "I am truly sorry for my remarks, and once again I offer my heartfelt apology to all I may have offended."
"CBS Evening News" anchor Dan Rather also read an apology on the air the night after Snyder's remarks were made public. Snyder later sued the network, claiming CBS used the remarks as an excuse to fire him because of his age.
"He took the firing personally," said his brother, John Synodinos. "He felt he was falsely accused. He was praising the blacks actually. It bothered him that they thought ill of him."
Despite the nature of their parting, CBS had kind words for Snyder.
"Jimmy the Greek was a good friend to CBS for many years," said network spokeswoman LeslieAnne Wade. "He was an original who helped make the 'NFL Today' the premier pregame show of its time. He'll be missed."
Snyder, born Demetrious Georgios Synodinos in Steubenville, Ohio, regularly talked about upcoming games and made predictions on the "NFL Today." His biggest claim to fame was picking the winner in 18 of 21 Super Bowls.
His reputed oddsmaking skills earned Snyder a reputation beyond the sports arena. When he wrote a newspaper column syndicated to 240 papers across the country, he often forecast presidential and other political races.
"His objective was to get national recognition, and he did," Las Vegas oddsmaker Jack Franzi said. "Jimmy knew how to market himself. He absolutely became the most noted and famous oddsmaker in the country."
He made headlines eight years before his dismissal by CBS when he and former "NFL Today" host Brent Musburger got into a brief fistfight at a midtown New York City bar. They reportedly argued over the amount of air time Snyder was getting from Musburger, who also was the show's managing editor.
Snyder was a 10th-grade dropout who grew up dealing craps in Steubenville. He moved to Las Vegas in the 1950s, where he was an oddsmaker and gambler before starting his own betting parlor in the downtown area.
In 1962, Attorney General Robert Kennedy shut down his Vegas Turf and Sportsroom and fined him $50,000 after he was caught giving odds to a friend on the phone. President Ford later pardoned him for gambling violations.
Not knowing what else to do, he started an odds column for a Las Vegas newspaper that propelled him to national attention.
ENTRY DEADLINE:
Wednesday, April 24th
5:00pm 208 Robinson
ENTRY FEE:
$10.00 per team
PLAY DATES:
April 26-28
Sponsored by
KU Recreation Services
rus Robinson 864-3546
1-800-COLLECT
Amensals Inexpensive way To Call Someone Collect."
'96 Grads
Official Graduation Regalia a service of KU Concessions for the Kansas and Burge Unions
- all prices include tax
- individually sized caps & XL and tall sizes
- '96 signet school tassels &
crimson & blue souvenir tassels
- Experienced staff that can answer all of your commencement questions!
April 15-26
10am-3pm
Gates
22&23
North end of
Memorial Stadium
We Buy, Sell, Trade & Consign 841-PLAY
USED & New Sports Equipment 1029 Massachusetts
PAID INTERNSHIPS
Arthur Anderson
Black & Veach
Butter Manufacturing
Mercantile Bank
Hoechst Marion Rousse
Peat Warwick
Price Waterhouse
Sprint
Infirmix
Western Resources,
Topeka, Kansas
CURRENTLY RECRUITING
CURRENTLY RECRUIT
Accounting
Engineering
Computer Science
INROADS
INROADS provides a 4-5 year internship, iob readiness, maintenance, training, and career counseling.
If you meet these requirements apply:
if you meet these requirements apply:
  African American, Hispanic, and/or Native American student
- African American, Hispanic, and/or Native American student
* Intend to major in business, engineering, computer science, or art
- Involved in community activities
- 2.8 cumulative grade point average or better
Applicants meeting the requirements should fax transcripts and resumes to:
Pam Cobbins, Manager, INROADS/Kansas City, Inc.
Fax #816-514-1411
Phone# 816-514-1283 or 1-800-788-0234
MAXIMIZE YOUR INCOME
Earn money to buy your dreams. Career opportunity with one of country's fastest growing telecommunications co. No degree required, only motivations. Full or part time.
(1) 800) 699-3931 ex. 0610
(2) 800) 679-2254 ex. 0610
EXCEL
When: April 23,1996 @7 p.m.
UJA Casino Night...
Cost: A mere $7 for UJA*
Where: The Burge Union
What: A fun filled night of gambling with UJA, blackjack craps , horse racing, & lots of prizes...
*United Jewish Appeal campaign is a vital supporter of the Kansas Hillel, the center for Jewish life at KU; and UJA funds also go to humanitarian programs around the world.
Any Monday buy any pizza & get the second one of equal value FREE! From Your Friends at Pyramid Pizza Fast & Friendly Delivery (limited area)
842-3232