Top Brooklyn HS coach in Gambino online bet probe
One of Brooklyn's most successful high-school baseball coaches is under investigation by the District Attorney's Office for his alleged involvement in a multimillion-dollar, mob-linked online sports-gambling operation, sources told The Post.
Dennis Canale, 67, a retired NYPD cop who has coached the Xaverian HS varsity team for 10 years, abruptly retired from his coaching duties and took a medical leave from his job as the school's building manager in late December.
His departure came shortly after prosecutors filed papers naming a former Xaverian freshman coach, Gerard Bruzzese, as a ringleader of the betting Web site.
Sources told The Post that Xaverian officials are also looking into allegations that students placed bets with Canale and Bruzzese.
But Robert Alesi, president of the Bay Ridge school, balked at the idea of students betting.
"We have no inform ation on that at all," Alesi said. "And certainly, if we had, we would be concerned. I can tell you that there has been no information brought to my attention, or anything like that. We are a Catholic school and we pride ourselves on our Catholic tradition."
He confirmed that Canale asked to retire as coach of the baseball team "due to personal medical reasons," and was granted a leave of absence for the same reasons.
On portions of Brooklyn DA wiretaps, a bettor identified only as "Dennis" is heard asking Bruzzese for the address of the Web site, "Just to be able to look at the lines without having to call you and run down."
Bruzzese, a Canale hire, left Xaverian after the 2008-2009 school year.
"He vehemently is denying the charges," said Bruzzese's lawyer, Arthur Aidala. "He is confident when the DA's Office finishes their investigation, they will come to the same conclusion he has, which is he is not involved in any way with a big gambling ring."
Canale's lawyer declined to comment directly on the betting.
"Dennis Canale is an extraordinary man and baseball coach," said the lawyer, Alan Abramson. "He has helped countless kids realize their dreams of playing baseball in college as well as the major leagues. I hope the public will keep an open mind."
Under Canale, the team won four city championships and major league teams drafted eight Xaverian players.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/mob_tie_to_sports_site_J7KOXnGAo3JUd8vXTOfRBK#ixzz0eTl8EP2X
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