I can gamble at casinos. I can abuse my children. I can sexual harass people and I can file for bankruptcy and STILL referee the Big Ten games. What? Maybe I can change the outcome of a game. Call me the Pete Rose of football!

The Big Ten said Wednesday it will immediately adopt annual background checks on all football and men’s and women’s basketball officials as a result “of the new information” in the investigation of conference official Stephen Pamon a day earlier.

Big Ten official since 1988, had a history of bankruptcy, casino gambling, child abuse and allegations of sexual harassment.

The Big Ten did not specify what the new information was and will have no further comment, according to the release.

The Big Ten said it conducted a background check of Pamon in 2005 and was satisfied that criminal and financial matters that came to its attention during the process had been resolved.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany declined to comment.

The Big Ten statement Wednesday, in part read, “Some of this latest information was available in public records while other details were based on anonymous sources and hearsay statements. The conference office intends to follow-up on the veracity and accuracy of the new information and will also provide an opportunity for Pamon to respond as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.”

Previously, the Big Ten conducted background checks on all new officials for football and men’s and women’s basketball, but only periodic checks on officials who already had gone through the screening process, according to the release.

The Big Ten’s code of conduct for officials does not prohibit casino gambling. But the conference will “begin a review of the permissibility of other forms of legalized gambling,” according to the release.

The Big Ten dropped the ball (pun intended) on this matter. This is an embarrassment for the league.

Maybe now somebody will start checking your kids bus driver!