Perry Link Denied by Tarkanian

Basketball Coach Jerry Tarkanian of Nevada Las Vegas denied Tuesday that he had signed ticket request forms for convicted sports fixer Richard Perry.

A Las Vegas television station reported Monday night that an investigation by the Nevada attorney general’s office will reveal a new link between the Rebel program and Perry.

Photos have been published showing three former Rebel players in a hot tub with Perry.

Tarkanian said the ticket issue came up two weeks ago when it was learned that tickets were left for Perry four times in 1986 and 1987.

“Only one time was my signature (on the ticket request form), and it was forged,” Tarkanian said. “It was not my signature.”

The attorney general’s investigation, which began last October, reportedly targeted forged names on ticket request forms.

Tarkanian said tickets for Perry, other than the one time when his name was forged, were requested by other personnel in the basketball office.

He added that the requests were legitimate because Perry was then known as Sam Perry, a New York City basketball coach.

Tarkanian has announced that he will retire from UNLV after next season.