Alvin "Fats" Roth (November 2, 1929 – June 19, 2003) was an American professional basketball player known for his playing days at the City College of New York (CCNY) between 1949–50 and 1950–51. Roth was a contributing member of the only basketball team in NCAA history to win both the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and NCAA Tournament in the same season.[1] Roth was one of four sophomore starters on the CCNY squad that defeated Bradley in both championship games.[2][3]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 2, 1929 |
| Died | June 19, 2003(2003-06-19) (aged 73) Rockland, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Erasmus (Brooklyn, New York) |
| College | CCNY (1949–1951) |
| NBA draft | 1951 / Undrafted |
| Position | Guard |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Roth was 6'4", weighed 210 pounds and played guard.[1] He grew up in Brooklyn, New York and attended Erasmus Hall High School, where as a senior in 1947–48 he led them to a PSAL championship.[1][3] Due to his poor academic grades, Roth was ineligible to attend CCNY his freshman year;[3] one year later Roth was admitted to the school as a sophomore.[3] It was this season that CCNY won both national basketball championships (the NIT was actually considered the premier national championship at the time). One year later, news broke about a point-shaving scandal that was sweeping east coast universities, and at its heart was CCNY's squad led by Nat Holman.[1][3] Roth was one of the players arrested in the scandal.[1] In July 1952, a judge suspended his sentence after Roth volunteered to join the United States Army as a private in the following month.[4]
Roth's admission into CCNY despite his poor grades was a result of transcript altering by Holman.[3] Nationally, all of the players who were convicted of participating in the scandal were banned from ever playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1]
Due to his ban, Roth played for a time in the Eastern League, although it is unknown which team he played for.[1]
After his playing days, Roth went back to CCNY to earn his business degree, then moved to the suburbs of New York City to sell insurance.[1] He died June 19, 2003 in Rockford, New York.[5]
CCNY Beavers men's basketball 1949–50 NCAA champions | |
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