AP material is copyright 2007 Associated Press.

As often happens at the casino, these two strangers crossed paths, shared polite salutations and casual conversation, and were eventually buying one another drinks. Manni, who is at the heart of the alleged point-shaving conspiracy said by the FBI to have begun in the fall of 2003, said he met many UT football and basketball players at Detroit casinos, a party he threw for a UT athlete near campus, or through other UT athletes. As the alcohol flowed and the stakes grew, two things became...