Degenerate Gambler Art Schlichter takes the Cure

Arthur Ernest Schlichter (born April 25, 1960, in Washington Court House, Ohio) is a former college and professional American football quarterback, perhaps known more for his compulsive gambling and the legal problems that arose from it. His surname is pronounced "SHLEE-ster".
Contents[hide]
1 Early life
2 Pro career
3 Extent of addiction
4 References
5 External links
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[edit] Early life
A native of Bloomingburg, Ohio, Schlichter was a star player at Miami Trace High School. It was there that his gambling habit began with a visit to Scioto Downs, a horse racing track near the Columbus campus of Ohio State University. It remained his favorite track over the years.[1]
Schlichter was a four-year starter at Ohio State. He was the last starting quarterback for legendary Buckeyes coach Woody Hayes, and threw the interception that lost the game and led to Woody Hayes' infamous punch of Clemson linebacker Charlie Bauman in the 1978 Gator Bowl ended his coaching career. Schlichter finished in the top 10 of Heisman Trophy balloting during his last three years--4th in his sophomore year, 6th in his junior year and 5th in his senior year. He nearly led the Buckeyes to the national championship in 1979, and left the school as its career leader in total offense.
Even then, however, he was frequently spotted at Scioto Downs with a big-time Ohio gambler. Although the Columbus and OSU police departments got suspicious, the athletic department felt it didn't have enough solid evidence to go to the NCAA about the matter.[2]
[edit] Pro career
Schlichter was picked fourth in the 1982 NFL Draft (in the same class that included Jim McMahon of Brigham Young University and Marcus Allen of the University of Southern California) by the Baltimore Colts (who moved to Indianapolis two years later). Expected to be the starter, he lost the job to Mike Pagel, but was expected to be the Colts' quarterback of the future.
His gambling continued unabated; he blew his entire signing bonus by midseason.[3] He also bet on NFL games (though never on Colts games) and charted scores from out-of-town games on which he'd bet when he should have been charting plays.[3] His gambling spiraled out of control during the 1982 NFL strike, when he lost $20,000 on a college football game.[4] By the end of the strike, he had at least $700,000 in gambling debts.[5]
In the winter of 1982 and the spring of 1983, Schlichter lost $389,000 betting on basketball games, and his bookies threatened to expose him if he didn't pay up (the NFL forbids its players from engaging in any kind of gambling activity, legal or otherwise). Schlichter went to the FBI, and his testimony helped get the bookies arrested on federal charges.[6] He also sought the help of the NFL because he feared the bookies would force him to throw games in return for not telling the Colts about his activities.[4] The league suspended him indefinitely. Schlichter was the first NFL player to be suspended for gambling since Alex Karras and Paul Hornung were suspended in 1963 for betting on NFL games.[7]
He was reinstated for the 1984 season, but later admitted that he'd gambled during his suspension (though not on football). He was released five games into the 1985 season in part because the Colts heard he was gambling again.[4] He never played another meaningful down. He signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills in the spring of 1986. However, he appeared in only one preseason game, and was cut after Jim Kelly signed what was then the largest contract for an NFL quarterback.
In January 1987, Schlichter was arrested in New York City for his involvement in a multimillion-dollar sports betting operation.[8] He pleaded guilty to illegal gambling in April, and Commissioner Pete Rozelle refused to permit him to sign with another team. He made another bid for reinstatement in 1988, but was turned down. That same year, he filed for bankruptcy to shield himself from creditors.[3]
In parts of three seasons, Schlichter played only 13 games, primarily in backup or "mop-up" roles. He threw 202 passes and completed 91 of them. He amassed a quarterback rating of only 42.6, and is considered one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history.
Schlichter briefly signed a contract with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League, but was released midway through the season.
He played for the Arena Football League for the Detroit Drive in 1990 and 1991, leading them to a third consecutive league title in 1990 as the league's MVP. He signed with the Cincinnati Rockers in 1992, but was arrested that July for passing a bad check. He admitted suffering a relapse, but the Rockers were willing to stand by him. They worked out a deal with Schlichter in which they put most of his paycheck into an account to pay his gambling debts, except for $300 which they gave to his wife, Mitzi.[9] However, he announced he wouldn't return to the team in 1993, intending instead to focus on curing his gambling addiction.
He hosted a radio sports talk show in Cincinnati during the early 1990s, and appeared on The Phil Donahue Show, talking about his addiction.
[edit] Extent of addiction
Over the years, Schlichter has, by his own count, committed over 20 felonies. [1] He gambled away much of his NFL, AFL and radio salaries. Whenever he ran low on money to support his gambling, he stole and conned it from friends and strangers, and frequently passed bad checks. In a 2007 interview for ESPN's Outside the Lines, he estimated that he'd stolen $1.5 million over the years, if not more.
The habit eventually cost him his marriage; his wife left him in 1994 after FBI agents raided their home in Las Vegas in search of money he'd stolen. According to her, Schlichter gambled it away.
Between 1995 and 2006, he served the equivalent of 10 years in 44 various prisons and jails across the Midwest. His various legal problems, including fraud cases and forgery, among others, were often well-publicized. For example, he was so consumed by his habit that he had his public defender smuggle a cell phone into prison so he could place bets.
He later said that he hit rock bottom in 2004, after he was caught gambling in prison. He was placed in solitary confinement for four months. [2]
He was most recently released from prison on June 16, 2006. [3] He is currently residing with his mother in Washington Court House, Ohio. By one estimate, he owes half a million dollars in restitution.
Schlichter has founded a non-profit organization, Gambling Prevention Awareness, to educate others about the perils of compulsive gambling, including college and NFL players. He told ESPN that he started gambling because the pressure of being Ohio State's starting quarterback was too much on him, and he wanted to be just a regular guy. However, at least one of Schlichter's prosecutors felt that his foundation is just another way for him to obtain money to fuel his addiction. Gambling Prevention Awareness [4] is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization with an independent board of directors. Art Schlichter has no access to the contributions made to this organization.
In late 2009, Schlichter and his mother appeared in TV ads opposing an Ohio casino statewide ballot issue.

So if you bet money on:

Sports

Horses

Roulette

Craps

Slots

Lottery/Scratchers

Bingo/Keno

When you can barely afford:

Rent/Mortgage

Gas

Groceries

Utilities

Car

Insurance

Clothing...

then you might have a problem.

Finances:
You have taken the most important first step by coming in to talk about the financial problems in your family caused by gambling. Participating in recovery at ABC Wellness Centre will be an integral step in gaining some control over a very difficult situation. While you are in emotional pain over the gambler’s behavior and the chaos caused by the disease, it is natural to want to retaliate, to run away or to seek relief in an equally counterproductive way. There will be ample time for you to process and mourn your loss through your own recovery.While you may have many unanswered questions about the disease and its impact on the family system, it is important that you temporarily put aside these concerns and begin by focusing on the financial picture and how it impacts you. Now is the time for you to take action. This may mean that you will have to take steps begin doing unfamiliar tasks such as taking over bill paying or closing bank accounts, and considering actions such as returning to work or even taking legal action. You may be uncomfortable with some of the suggestions you are about to read, but damage control should be immediate and thorough. Your own history with financial matters and your attitudes and beliefs about money may be the source of this “discomfort.” Repairing the family’s finances will not likely be a quick fix.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COMMUNITY PROPERTY

It is important to understand that Arizona is a community property state, which means that you are entitled to half the assets acquired during the marriage. On the other hand, this also means you are responsible for half of the debts. A prenuptial agreement may free a spouse from responsibility for certain debts. If there was a prenuptial agreement in place, you may be free from responsibility for certain debts, but you need to consult an attorney. In addition to understanding the concept of community property, it is also important to know that Arizona recognizes the rights of each spouse to “sole and separate property.” Sole and separate property is not part of the community and is not subject to division. Sole and separate property can be defined in three ways: as a gift or gifts to one spouse only, an inheritance left to one spouse only, or a bequest through a will to one spouse only. Property owned by a spouse before marriage is also considered to be “sole and separate.” Also, it is important to understand that Arizona is a “quasi community property state.” In a “quasi community property” jurisdiction, assets acquired by a couple or an individual before the couple became residents of that state are now categorized as “community.” Therefore, assets a couple brings to Arizona from a common law (equitable distribution) state or the District of Columbia becomes community property and are subject to the fifty-fifty split.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

You may not be told the full extent of the debt created by the gambler’s addiction. Our own experience with gamblers has shown that there is a strong tendency among gamblers to under-report or minimize the amount and frequency of their activity as well as financial information. Under-reporting may be the result of the gambler’s feelings of guilt and shame. However, some gamblers may be genuinely unaware of the extent of the debt. The most important thing to do at first is to make a realistic assessment of the amount of debt.

INITIAL DAMAGE CONTROL: WHAT YOU CAN DO

Set an emergency budget to deal with family needs. List all sources of income and all known debts. If the debt is more than projected income, you may have to make hard decisions about which debts are priority. This temporary budget does not include payday loans, bookies, and gambling debts to individuals or organizations. The family finances have already been compromised. It is crucial that the immediate needs of the family unit are addressed. As part of the program requirement here at ABC Wellness Centre, you will have the opportunity to participate in an ABC Wellness Centre financial group to develop a more comprehensive plan. Please sign up for your class in the front office. Gamblers are also encouraged to participate in a GA pressure relief group. A pressure relief group is available to members who have ninety days of abstinence and have attended GA regularly. The spouse or significant other is strongly encouraged to participate in this process. Old habits are hard to break, so it is important that you be open to every opportunity to reinforce newly acquired financial information, knowledge, and behaviors.

WORKING TOGETHER It is critical that the gambler have no access to money. This is important for several reasons. Money has become a drug for the gambler. Money “buys the mood” the gambler is seeking. When a gambler is in possession of money, rational thinking is nonexistent, and the gambler is cunning in his/her pursuit of funds to get into “action.” The amount of money needed to get into action varies with each gambler. An honest discussion must take place to determine the gambler’s threshold (minimum amount he/she must have to gamble). If the gambler is willing to work with you, his/her access to money should be limited to a small allowance. The gambler should agree to a set amount for gas and lunches. Past discretionary funds available to the gambler should be channeled toward reducing the community debt. Many gamblers may be resistant because they may feel that they are losing control and being treated as a child. Some males report feeling emasculated. Having limited access to money may be especially difficult for the gambler who is the sole wage earner. The gambler may have a sense of entitlement to his/her money. These issues are important to discuss with your therapist or with each other.

BAILOUT IMPLICATIONS A common dilemma may be whether the family should tap into a 401(k), stocks or mutual funds to clear some of the debt. This brings up the issue of bailout. A bailout is an action or behavior that prevents a gambler from facing the consequences of his/her behavior. In essence, a bailout desensitizes the gambler to the impact of the behavior. A history of bailouts often reveals continuation of the behavior that has caused so much pain. Gamblers who have accessed a 401(k) or mutual funds often face a problem of a different kind later on when they have to pay IRS penalties for the early withdrawal. While it is tempting to utilize these funds, it is ultimately an impediment to the recovery process. . Deciding whether to withdraw a 401(k), mutual funds or stocks is an important decision that must be discussed with the gambler, family member, and therapist to minimize further negative consequences. If there are no other options available to the family, having the gambler agree to a repayment plan that will replace funds from the bailout source promotes accountability. Specific consequences for the gambler should be included for non-compliance.

CREDIT SCORES AND ENABLING Spouses often indicate a concern about their own credit and become panicked about having their credit score reduced. This concern makes it easier for a spouse to agree to covering the gambler’s debt. The spouse’s enabling of the gambler removes him/her from the reality of the situation, and there is no impetus for the gambler to change. Covering the debt also feeds the spouse’s codependent need to protect the gambler from his/her actions. The spouse who covers the debt for the gambler is just as much in denial as the gambler. Fixing the credit score may be a temporary solution for the spouse, but the implications of ignoring or covering the gambler’s problem will be long lasting without an intervention. It is important that the spouse learn to set appropriate boundaries that will enhance recovery and not deter it.

BANKING CONCERNS It is important that all banking be closely monitored. Close joint bank accounts. Get a new account for yourself only. Keep track of your debit card if you have one and change the pin number frequently. Make sure all banking materials are kept in a safe place. Limit the amount of money that can be withdrawn from an ATM in a 24-hour period. Review monthly bank/credit union statements carefully and call immediately when there are concerns. Savings accounts are also vulnerable. Regularly check savings account balances including those accounts set up for minor children. If you conduct online banking, change access codes and passwords frequently. Monitoring accounts online can be helpful as a time saver. Equity lines of credit are a convenient source of money for the gambler. Make arrangements with the lending agency to require both signatures for any withdrawal from the line of credit. Require both parties to sign in person to minimize the possibility of forgery and further misappropriation of funds.

OTHER SOURCES OF POTENTIAL CASH FOR GAMBLING Gamblers sometimes turn to payday loans as a last resort. These are unsecured personal loans with interest rates ranging from 200 to 400 percent. The state of Arizona allows for one payday loan for the consumer. However, gamblers will perjure themselves because there is no way to track the number of loans an individual might have. Another source of potential gambling revenue is the auto title loan. Collateral for the auto title loan is the vehicle itself, and the loan company holds the vehicle’s title.Repayment of these loans isn’t easy. Repayment of a payday loan is expected after two weeks. To repay a payday loan, the gambler is required to make full payment or allowed to renew the loan at a substantial interest increase. However, with an auto title loan the consumer is permitted to repay the loan in installments. The first question to ask is whether or not there are active payday loans or auto title loans. Then it is important to see the loan paperwork so that you are aware of the loan’s terms. Check contents of safety deposit boxes. Remove the spouse’s access to the safety deposit box. Choose a trustworthy alternative relative or friend to be allowed access to the box in case something happens to you. Items such as jewelry are often pawned. Household items such as electronics, collectibles, or cameras may also be a source of quick cash. If you suspect something is missing, you may want to inventory your home. Check for pawn tickets or ask your gambler. Check the status of insurance policies. It is possible to borrow against some policies. Call insurance companies to find a way to protect your policies from your gambler.MONITORINGAfter the initial crisis has been addressed, it is important to remain vigilant, even when the gambler appears to be doing “better.” Obtain a copy of your credit report and monitor your credit status every three months. There are companies that offer monitoring services for a reasonable fee. Each of the main credit reporting companies—Equifax, Experian and TransUnion— allows consumers to order a free report every twelve months. You can complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA. 30348-5281. The form can be located at ftc.gov/credit, run by the Federal Trade Commission, or at annualcreditreport.com. You will have to supply some sensitive information, such as your Social Security number, to receive free credit reports. Be aware that a gambler may have had certain bills sent to a post office box or to the workplace. Those venues should be closed. Have the gambler redirect all bills and correspondence to the home address.If gambling has been done in cyberspace, there is software that blocks online access to gambling sites. Gamblock (www.gamblock.com) is well established as the leading software in this area. Another service that blocks gambling sites is GamStop, available free at wwww.GamStop.org. Gam Stop is part of an excellent service offered by GamAid, the online problem gambling advisory service www.GamAid.com. If the gambler isn’t willing to take this action, then self-banning is another option to curtail the behavior. Following through with self-banning in cyberspace may be an issue for the gambler. Unfortunately, the ban on many these sites is limited to seven days only. This means that the gambler is regularly exposed to the source of his/her addiction when the ban has to be renewed. A family member may have to assume responsibility of this online task. However, this does not equate to enabling! Why not? If your gambler is unwilling to self-ban or have the block installed, be prepared to monitor computer use daily. Many of these actions may seem extreme. You may have doubts about taking these measures, but be assured your actions are supportive of the recovery process for you, your family, and the gambler. Patience, perseverance, honesty and open communication are essential for repairing the family finances.

source:http://www.abcwellnesscentre.org/articleAssets.php

Column: Art Schlichter Tries to Rebuild
By TIM DAHLBERGThe Associated PressFriday, February 2, 2007; 7:41 PM
MIAMI -- Art Schlichter's career stats are memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Ten years behind bars. Twenty some convictions. Forty-four different prisons.
One life wasted.
"I served my time," Schlichter said. "I got an enormous amount of time for what I did."
He was once the quarterback of the future for the Indianapolis Colts, the Peyton Manning of his time. He was always the ultimate con man, a smooth talker who could separate people from their money faster than he could zip a football downfield.
Gambling was his addiction. Greed proved to be his downfall.
There was always one more score to make, one last bet to win back. He stole from friends and family alike, and there wasn't a credit card he didn't try to lift.
Twice he even conned his lawyer into smuggling a phone into prison so he could place bets from his cell.
His wife left with their two young daughters, but the urge to gamble was stronger than the urge to be a husband and father. He had issues with his father, but was in prison when he committed suicide.
"I don't know how to tell you how much pain we've had," his mother said a few years ago.
He's a free man now, living with his mother in Indiana and reporting to his probation officer on a regular basis.
He wants you to believe he has changed. Five months of therapy have helped, and he says he understands now the roots of the demons that drove him to swindle loved ones and strangers with an equal lack of remorse.
The Super Bowl is Sunday and he doesn't have a bet down. Not only that, he's organized a group to help compulsive gamblers like himself.
You want to believe him, but then you wonder. Is it all another act?
This is a guy, after all, who was once sent back to prison for betting on the Super Bowl and going to the racetrack at the same time he was getting treatment at the Compulsive Gambling Center in Baltimore.
"I'm not a bad guy," Schlichter insisted on the phone the other day. "I just made some bad decisions."
You want to believe he's a changed man. But try telling that to the Indiana man living on military disability who lost $2,700 to Schlichter in a scam involving phony Final Four tickets.
Try telling that to the former doctor who was conned out of $145,000 after meeting Schlichter in a program for people with addictive behavior. She thought she was going to get paid back, but the checks Schlichter gave her had been stolen from his father.
Try telling that to hundreds of others who fell victim to the handsome, personable former quarterback and his bagful of scams.
There are so many marks, so many stories, that even Schlichter is weary of talking about them.
"Just look up the old stuff," he said. "It's all there."
It wasn't supposed to be like this. Schlichter was a star at Ohio State, a dashing quarterback who finished fifth in the Heisman voting his senior year before being selected by the then-Baltimore Colts with the fourth pick of the 1982 draft.
He got a $350,000 signing bonus, but the racetrack beckoned and there were games to bet. He made the mistake of chasing bad bets with good money, and soon was so deep in debt with Baltimore bookies that he was forced to confess to the NFL to avoid getting hurt.
His bookie would later testify that Schlichter bet on almost every NFL team but his own. The only reason he didn't, the bookie said, was that the Colts were a lousy team at the time.
He had played in only 13 games by the time the NFL banned him for good in 1987. That same year he lost $20,000 the week after the players went on strike and was $800,000 in debt by the time the strike ended.
"Gambling was like a high to me, just like drugs or alcohol are to others," Schlichter said. "The rush of winning is part of it, but it's also a distraction from pain or problems you're having in your life."
Schlichter is 46 now. Had his life gone another way, he might be at the Super Bowl schmoozing with old friends and being wined and dined as an honored member of the Colts family.
Instead, he's just getting used to the idea of not living behind bars after spending 10 of the last 12 years in various prisons. He swears he finally gets it this time, and that he wants nothing more out of life now than to help others who have the same addiction.
"There comes a point you either want to live or die and I wanted to live," Schlichter said. "For me, one thing I couldn't do was gamble. I had to learn to live with that idea in my head."
Schlichter was saying all this the other day as he was driving to Indianapolis to watch his daughters play basketball. He seemed earnest.
He knows he wasted his talent, understands he nearly wasted his life.
"I'd be lying if I said I never thought about what might have been," he said.
You want to believe him, want him to make something of the rest of his life.
But then you remember that he's conned people before.
____
Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg@ap.org

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