The FBI is investigating an unnamed NBA referee in a point-shaving scandal that could rock the NBA.
One of the names I heard as being the ref in question is the controversial Joey crawfors, who most recently was suspended after kicking Tim Duncan out of a game last season.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/bask...e.ap/index.html
Full Version: Was the Fix In?
As a sports official myself, George, if this is true I am really saddened. We are entrusted at any level of sports with being absolutely and unequivocally honest, impartial, fair, and unbiased. This would shatter this notion completely. Then again, is it to be expected of the NBA?
BTW, here's a similar article.
BTW, here's a similar article.
ESPN.com is citing multiple sources who claim the ref in question is 13 year veteran Tim Donaghy.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2943095
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2943095
So it's apparently not Joey Crawford (I'm kinda glad, actually, with his father passing away recently) but still someone local -- according to the profile Donaghy went to Cardinal O'Hara high school in nearby Springfield, Pa. and is one of four NBA refs to attend O'Hara.
I wouldn't have expected it to be Crawford. He's a hothead, to be sure, but I never bought the allegations of bias by him.
This is truly a PR nightmare for the NBA. I still think that 99.9% of the conspiracy theories that people just can't resist heaping on the NBA are total and unadulterated bunk. Even here -- bad as this is -- the allegations I've read all deal with point spreads, not game outcomes. If all Donaghy was doing was manipulating point spreads, that would have had no effect on any results whatsoever. Don't get me wrong, I think that, if true, this is still terrible.
This is truly a PR nightmare for the NBA. I still think that 99.9% of the conspiracy theories that people just can't resist heaping on the NBA are total and unadulterated bunk. Even here -- bad as this is -- the allegations I've read all deal with point spreads, not game outcomes. If all Donaghy was doing was manipulating point spreads, that would have had no effect on any results whatsoever. Don't get me wrong, I think that, if true, this is still terrible.
According to callers on a local sportstalk station the reason why this story has gotten so little publicity compared to say the NFL news, is because the NBA is irrelevant. Basically people were saying if this was an NFL official the uproar would have been much worse. Anyone agree? 
No. Not by a long shot.
I think if this is as far as it goes with just one ref, it won't have the same repurcussions as if it were one NFL ref or one MLB umpire. Football and baseball are much more a part of the fabric of American culture. There is probably more money wagered on one weekend of NFL games than an entire NBA season.
If you read between the lines, the FBI clearly expects Donaghy to name other NBA referees, coaches, players, that were involved. Of course, he could be trying to save his own hide, but I for one wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that there are more crooked refs in the league. The officiating has been lousy the past few years, so something is clearly not right....
Deleted cuz of similar article already posted by Crew Chief. My bad!
Here's an interesting article from ESPN - gambling expert speaks This "expert" says that no way would the mob be paying a ref to tamper with who wins or loses, because it's too risky. But the point spread is easy to manipulate.
Here, since no one in Vegas or the NBA (and I would have expected Vegas to be more on top of this than the NBA) knew what was going on, you've got to conclude it was pretty subtle. And if it was just the point spread, then as a fan I have a hard time getting real exercised about it. As I've said before, it's still a terrible thing, but if it didn't affect any outcomes then it doesn't affect how I watch games. Now, if it turns out that the conspiracy theorists are right, and that it was actually dozens of crooked refs and not just Donaghy, then I reserve the right to revise my opinion!
Here, since no one in Vegas or the NBA (and I would have expected Vegas to be more on top of this than the NBA) knew what was going on, you've got to conclude it was pretty subtle. And if it was just the point spread, then as a fan I have a hard time getting real exercised about it. As I've said before, it's still a terrible thing, but if it didn't affect any outcomes then it doesn't affect how I watch games. Now, if it turns out that the conspiracy theorists are right, and that it was actually dozens of crooked refs and not just Donaghy, then I reserve the right to revise my opinion!
Well yes if it was just the point spread then it isn't quite as egregious. But how many of those games had spreads of anywhere from Pick 'Em to 5 points or so? If a ref is trying to ensure the underdog beats the spread it's pretty easy to see how an outcome of a game could easily be altered.
From the Phila. Daily News -- this is one of the games that Donaghy worked:
QUOTE
On Jan. 15, the Sixers were originally favored over visiting Toronto by one point. Heavy betting on the Raptors eventually made Toronto a one-point favorite, and the Raptors won, 104-86.
Donaghy refereed in 11 games after Jan. 1 this year in which the consensus Las Vegas line moved two points or more, according to a Las Vegas company whose owner has been contacted by people involved with the invesigation. The team on which bettors wagered heavily enough to move the line that far won seven of those 11 games.
Donaghy refereed in 11 games after Jan. 1 this year in which the consensus Las Vegas line moved two points or more, according to a Las Vegas company whose owner has been contacted by people involved with the invesigation. The team on which bettors wagered heavily enough to move the line that far won seven of those 11 games.
Is it that uncommon for a point spread to swing 2 points in an NBA game? Sounds like 104-86 was more of blowout do to bad play by the Sixers then one or two fixed calls that might allow for a couple of points.
I'm assuming (though it isn't quite clear as written) that the point spread swing happened the same day as the game, which I would think is extremely unusual.
QUOTE(phillyrunner @ Jul 23 2007, 05:56 PM) 
Is it that uncommon for a point spread to swing 2 points in an NBA game? Sounds like 104-86 was more of blowout do to bad play by the Sixers then one or two fixed calls that might allow for a couple of points.
I agree. The account of that game that I read cited it as suggesting there was NO point shaving going on -- it was a blowout.
There are also a lot of suggestions that it was really the over/under (total points scored by both teams) that the ref was manipulating. That's easy to do simply by calling lots of fouls. Doesn't necessarily favor one team or the other, just lets both score lots of points.
And......no matter how the game is rigged or bet, the outcome is still sometimes decided on the court. Sometimes, a team that traditionally hasn't played well against an opponent, does....for one night only. A streaky player sometimes finds his stroke and shoots lights out; can't miss; is in the zone. This can upset the apple cart and take the game completely out of the hands of a crooked ref like Donaghy, because it makes it hard for him to manipuate the point spread and/or control a simple over/under. You'd have to be crazy to bet a game with streaky shooters like Michael Redd, Mike Bibby, and Ben Gordon. One night those guys can hit you for 40 pts; the next they can't hit the broad side of a barn. A crooked ref can control only so much; I don't care how many foul shots he creates,...or doesn't..as the case may be..
As for Donaghy, Golden State Warrior fans learned today that Donaghy handed them a game against the Bulls last year:
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives...e_versus_bulls/
With 23 seconds remaining and the Bulls milking to clock for a game winning shot, Warriors center, Biedrins, drifted into the lane and stayed there for about 7 seconds. Normally, refs whistle a three second call in this situation, but not Donaghy. After about 7 seconmds in the lane, Donaghy actually goes up to Biedrins, taps in on the shoulder, and nudges him out of the lane. The point spread was 1.5 pts; they won by 2 pts. Donaghy did his thing. How many other games did he silence his whistle to effect the point spread?
You guys just wait. This thing will grow to include others. Why else would Donaghy hire the premiere "whistle blower" attorney to defend him? Donaghy knows stuff and is cooperating with FBI investigators. We will soon know who the crooks are.
As for Donaghy, Golden State Warrior fans learned today that Donaghy handed them a game against the Bulls last year:
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives...e_versus_bulls/
With 23 seconds remaining and the Bulls milking to clock for a game winning shot, Warriors center, Biedrins, drifted into the lane and stayed there for about 7 seconds. Normally, refs whistle a three second call in this situation, but not Donaghy. After about 7 seconmds in the lane, Donaghy actually goes up to Biedrins, taps in on the shoulder, and nudges him out of the lane. The point spread was 1.5 pts; they won by 2 pts. Donaghy did his thing. How many other games did he silence his whistle to effect the point spread?
You guys just wait. This thing will grow to include others. Why else would Donaghy hire the premiere "whistle blower" attorney to defend him? Donaghy knows stuff and is cooperating with FBI investigators. We will soon know who the crooks are.
Well, Stern says it's just Donaghy. It would be an unaccountable PR blunder to insist on that and then have to dance out a few days later and say... uh, OK, it's just two, etc. Of course, Stern may not know the full extent of what the FBI is looking at.
Why people think that it is a small matter of "just the point spread" confuses me. How can an official not control the outcome when he is manipulating the point spread?
Do the points he prevented from occuring, or caused to occur that otherwise would not have occured without his/her manipulation, get tabulated in the final scores?
Are you assuming that the manipulating referee only manipulated the point spread in games that were already out of reach, at least in his/her estimation?
How do we know that?
Either way this stinks to high heaven. Edit to add: And I am not just criticizing basketball. If they can pay off the holy grail of referees how many others in the sports industry, who are in a position to directly influence the course of a competition, are vulnerable to "point shaving"? Greed is very powerful.
Do the points he prevented from occuring, or caused to occur that otherwise would not have occured without his/her manipulation, get tabulated in the final scores?
Are you assuming that the manipulating referee only manipulated the point spread in games that were already out of reach, at least in his/her estimation?
How do we know that?
Either way this stinks to high heaven. Edit to add: And I am not just criticizing basketball. If they can pay off the holy grail of referees how many others in the sports industry, who are in a position to directly influence the course of a competition, are vulnerable to "point shaving"? Greed is very powerful.
Here an excerpt from espn.com about Donaghy and how he fixed the outcome of 10 straight games:
"At the start of the 2007 calendar year, Bell said, there were 10 straight games in which Donaghy was part of the officiating crew and the point spread moved a point and a half or more before tip-off, indicating big money had been wagered on the game. In those 10 contests, according to Bell, the big money won all 10 times."
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives...affected_games/
I agree with Joe and Larry. Point spread don't move 2 pts within hours of tip off without big money coming in. Mob Bosses knew games officiated by Donaghy were fixed. That's why they bet big at the last minute. That's why the point spread widened. They knew the fix was in.
Larry, the article you posted appears to written by a guy who believes in idealistic "goodness" of all mankind; that we are all basically good. When will people learn that some people are basically bad and permanently scarred?
AS for Stern's press conference and his "isolated incidence" assertions. I don't believe that at all, but lets say he's right. Could it be that Donaghy will name NBA "players" who bet on games? That has a much higher probability of happening. I can see several players doing this; maybe just for fun. Because Donaghy has mob connections and inside information, I'll bet he knows the identity of those players and is prepared to throw them under the bus to avoid jail time.
"At the start of the 2007 calendar year, Bell said, there were 10 straight games in which Donaghy was part of the officiating crew and the point spread moved a point and a half or more before tip-off, indicating big money had been wagered on the game. In those 10 contests, according to Bell, the big money won all 10 times."
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives...affected_games/
I agree with Joe and Larry. Point spread don't move 2 pts within hours of tip off without big money coming in. Mob Bosses knew games officiated by Donaghy were fixed. That's why they bet big at the last minute. That's why the point spread widened. They knew the fix was in.
Larry, the article you posted appears to written by a guy who believes in idealistic "goodness" of all mankind; that we are all basically good. When will people learn that some people are basically bad and permanently scarred?
AS for Stern's press conference and his "isolated incidence" assertions. I don't believe that at all, but lets say he's right. Could it be that Donaghy will name NBA "players" who bet on games? That has a much higher probability of happening. I can see several players doing this; maybe just for fun. Because Donaghy has mob connections and inside information, I'll bet he knows the identity of those players and is prepared to throw them under the bus to avoid jail time.
QUOTE(Thomas @ Jul 25 2007, 12:21 AM)
Larry, the article you posted appears to written by a guy who believes in idealistic "goodness" of all mankind; that we are all basically good.
Nope, Sam Smith is a hard-bitten, cynical realist. Just like me.
What surprises me about all this is not that the NBA didn't catch it, but that Vegas didn't. Those casino sharks are supposed to be on to every little suspicious iota, like point spreads shifting at the very last second.
QUOTE(LarryC @ Jul 25 2007, 04:26 PM)
Nope, Sam Smith is a hard-bitten, cynical realist. Just like me.
What surprises me about all this is not that the NBA didn't catch it, but that Vegas didn't. Those casino sharks are supposed to be on to every little suspicious iota, like point spreads shifting at the very last second.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that the Vegas Oddsmakers set point spreads in such a way they make money no matter which way the spead moves. Am I wrong about this? If I'm right, why would they care if the spread shifts?
Because the least sign of tampering would set off an atomic bomb for the gambling kahunas. That would be the death-knell for the industry!
According to a Zogby poll, a majority of NBA fans think Donaghy isn't the only corrupt ref in the NBA. 61% of those polled think there is more to this scandal.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketba...rust_sinks.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketba...rust_sinks.html
Donaghy pleads guitly to two felony charges today!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/bask...y.ap/index.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/bask...y.ap/index.html
This is disgusting, pathetic, and sad.
Professional athletes are often thought of as role models, even though many do not act as such. As a result, it is often believed, maybe even somewhat expected, that they will cheat, bend the rules to their advantage, or do other things to compromise the game to get ahead.
We as sports officials, however, are NEVER expected to be anything less than honest and absolutely unbiased and impartial, for into our hands the very integrity of the game we officiate is entrusted. When we who police the game and administer its rules become corrupt, the game itself becomes corrupt and its entire legitimacy is called into question. To intentionally damage this integrity, the punishment must be swift and severe, even more so than if a player was to do the same.
Shame on Mr. Donaghy!
Professional athletes are often thought of as role models, even though many do not act as such. As a result, it is often believed, maybe even somewhat expected, that they will cheat, bend the rules to their advantage, or do other things to compromise the game to get ahead.
We as sports officials, however, are NEVER expected to be anything less than honest and absolutely unbiased and impartial, for into our hands the very integrity of the game we officiate is entrusted. When we who police the game and administer its rules become corrupt, the game itself becomes corrupt and its entire legitimacy is called into question. To intentionally damage this integrity, the punishment must be swift and severe, even more so than if a player was to do the same.
Shame on Mr. Donaghy!
It's amusing to me that he provided info to his codefendants. If the teams he touted won, they paid him $2,000 (and later $5,000). If the teams he touted lost, he paid them...nothing. Imagine a form of gambling where if you lose your bet, you lose no money? Where can I sign up?
And unless he was providing a ton of info on a ton of games, he didn't really make a lot of money on this scheme, did he?
And unless he was providing a ton of info on a ton of games, he didn't really make a lot of money on this scheme, did he?
The lawyer for one of the co-conspirators: "This is far from over"
QUOTE
"The whole truth of this whole thing has not come out yet. Donaghy tried portraying himself as a gambling addict that needs medication. He's not a gambling addict. He was a greed addict."
-----
"I heard him testify about being a gambling addict, and oh, what a poor guy," McMahon said. "Donaghy's looking out for No. 1, and that's all he's doing. He's not what you would call a real stand-up guy. He sounded to me on Wednesday like he was trying to engender some sort of sympathy from the judge. He needs to be treated for his gambling addiction and anxiety pills. Poor Timmy Donaghy. Please.
"If he gets 25 years, I'll have a full head of hair by the end of the day. The two aren't likely to happen.
"I plan on defending James Battista vigorously . . . We're going to put Donaghy on the stand. That's where we are. That will be an interesting day. He threw Martino and Battista under the bus. He definitely took these two guys and said, 'To hell with them.' "
-----
"I heard him testify about being a gambling addict, and oh, what a poor guy," McMahon said. "Donaghy's looking out for No. 1, and that's all he's doing. He's not what you would call a real stand-up guy. He sounded to me on Wednesday like he was trying to engender some sort of sympathy from the judge. He needs to be treated for his gambling addiction and anxiety pills. Poor Timmy Donaghy. Please.
"If he gets 25 years, I'll have a full head of hair by the end of the day. The two aren't likely to happen.
"I plan on defending James Battista vigorously . . . We're going to put Donaghy on the stand. That's where we are. That will be an interesting day. He threw Martino and Battista under the bus. He definitely took these two guys and said, 'To hell with them.' "
So what is the difference between a "gambling" addict and a "greed" addict who gambles - either legally or morally?
I'm not sure redefining it makes it any better or worse.
Sport is really reaching a nadir in the major pros, in this country especially. We use to be the biggest promoters of fair play in the world. Or so I thought.
Baseball seems full of steroids from its biggest homerun hitter on down, gambling he won't get "caught" or at least not have to pay.
Football has a major figure gambling on dogfights.
And now basketball is striking at the heart of free competition with one referree (and possibly others) regularly participating in betting on the games they participate in.
Need I mention the hockey mess - involving a Flyer no less? It's all getting a bit depressing. Or maybe I'm just naive and folks have always known about or suspected thesed things and were willing to forgive the "boys" playing men's games. Maybe all of domestic sports should have to live by international standards.
I'm not sure redefining it makes it any better or worse.
Sport is really reaching a nadir in the major pros, in this country especially. We use to be the biggest promoters of fair play in the world. Or so I thought.
Baseball seems full of steroids from its biggest homerun hitter on down, gambling he won't get "caught" or at least not have to pay.
Football has a major figure gambling on dogfights.
And now basketball is striking at the heart of free competition with one referree (and possibly others) regularly participating in betting on the games they participate in.
Need I mention the hockey mess - involving a Flyer no less? It's all getting a bit depressing. Or maybe I'm just naive and folks have always known about or suspected thesed things and were willing to forgive the "boys" playing men's games. Maybe all of domestic sports should have to live by international standards.
QUOTE(sportinlife @ Aug 18 2007, 09:25 AM)
So what is the difference between a "gambling" addict and a "greed" addict who gambles - either legally or morally?
Need I mention the hockey mess
Wasn't much of a mess, and now it's over with. It turned out to be nothing that threatened the integrity of the sport.
The attorney's comment on "gambling" and "greed" addict may refer to the point that Donaghy apparently wasn't making bets through his co-defendants. He gave them info and when they won their bets they gave him money. If his info didn't lead them to winning wagers he didn't have to pay them anything, though. The attorney may not know about (or just isn't mentioning) Donaghy's gambling elsewhere.
QUOTE
Wasn't much of a mess, and now it's over with.
So does that mean hockey's cleaner or that they are just smarter about not getting caught?I don't buy the "cleaner" theory without more evidence. Considering the gratuitous violence in the game, gambling would be just one more form of macho expression.
No, I think we are dealing with a dark side of USA sports - and the exposed underbelly of our culture - that most of us don't want to admit is as pervasive as it is.
Athletes have become more entertainers than competitors. They still represent the moral fiber of the country whether we like it or not. It is just that most of us are not liking what we are seeing about ourselves right now.
Or at least I am not.
Does the NBA have a problem here?
Remember when the Phoenix Suns players were suspended during their playoff series with the San Antonio Spurs? David Stern said they had to be suspended because a rule's a rule and the rule says if you leave the bench during an altercation you're suspended. He said there was no room for interpretation.
Is David Stern now prepared to fire twenty referees -- one-third of the league's total -- if Tim Donaghy is telling the truth?
QUOTE
The relationship between Tim Donaghy and the other Philadelphia area referees was first strained long ago.
That the disgraced NBA referee reportedly will turn in as many as 20 of his former colleagues for taking part in gambling activities has ruptured the relationship beyond repair, sources said.
As part of his cooperation agreement with federal authorities, Donaghy will provide the names of officials who bet at golf courses, race tracks during the season and casinos, and are involved in football pools, the Daily News reported yesterday. Those activities would violate NBA restrictions.
That the disgraced NBA referee reportedly will turn in as many as 20 of his former colleagues for taking part in gambling activities has ruptured the relationship beyond repair, sources said.
As part of his cooperation agreement with federal authorities, Donaghy will provide the names of officials who bet at golf courses, race tracks during the season and casinos, and are involved in football pools, the Daily News reported yesterday. Those activities would violate NBA restrictions.
Remember when the Phoenix Suns players were suspended during their playoff series with the San Antonio Spurs? David Stern said they had to be suspended because a rule's a rule and the rule says if you leave the bench during an altercation you're suspended. He said there was no room for interpretation.
Is David Stern now prepared to fire twenty referees -- one-third of the league's total -- if Tim Donaghy is telling the truth?
Nice point. I hope the press picks up on Stern's hypocrisy when he doesn't fire any of them.
Saw an item in the paper today:
Presumably none of the other referees' gambling, if Dongahy's being truthful that other refs gambled, was illegal. It was against the NBA rules but didn't break any government laws. So why does he think he'd get a break in sentencing for this "cooperation"? The feds wouldn't be interested.
QUOTE
NBA comissioner David Stern is urging the league's referees not to worry about potential repercussions from gambling allegations made by disgraced referee Tim Donaghy.
"Why would we believe anything he says?" Stern told USA Today. "What we're going to do is give all 60 referees a chance to give us information about their activities, while legal, that violate our rules."
A spokesman for the referees union acknowledged there is "some gambling" but described it as "minimal to none."
"Why would we believe anything he says?" Stern told USA Today. "What we're going to do is give all 60 referees a chance to give us information about their activities, while legal, that violate our rules."
A spokesman for the referees union acknowledged there is "some gambling" but described it as "minimal to none."
Presumably none of the other referees' gambling, if Dongahy's being truthful that other refs gambled, was illegal. It was against the NBA rules but didn't break any government laws. So why does he think he'd get a break in sentencing for this "cooperation"? The feds wouldn't be interested.
The downward spiral continues for Donaghy as his wife files for a restraining order against him.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3303209
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3303209
Investigators revealed yesterday that Donaghy did indeed bet on games he officiated-over 100 of them!
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/05/16..._he_worked.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/05/16..._he_worked.html
Donaghy now alleging that other refs were involved in 'manipulating' games, perhaps at the bequest of the NBA which wanted certain series to last longer or certain teams to win.
QUOTE
"Referees A, F and G were officiating a playoff series between Teams 5 and 6 in May of 2002. It was the sixth game of a seven-game series, and a Team 5 victory that night would have ended the series. However, Tim learned from Referee A that Referees A and F wanted to extend the series to seven games. Tim knew referees A and F to be "company men," always acting in the interest of the NBA, and that night, it was in the NBA's interest to add another game to the series. Referees A and F heavily favored Team 6. Personal fouls [resulting in obviously injured players] were ignored even when they occurred in full view of the referees. Conversely, the referees called made-up fouls on Team 5 in order to give additional free throw opportunities for Team 6. Their foul-calling also led to the ejection of two Team 5 players. The referees' favoring of Team 6 led to that team's victory that night, and Team 6 came back from behind to win that series."
On another forum, most people seem convinced that the NBA rigs playoff games. If that's true, why would they let the boring, small-market Spurs win four of the last nine championships?
Golfer, I agree completely. For reasons I've never understood, Americans are obsessed with conspiracy theories. Everything is rigged -- the NBA draft is rigged (which is why small markets Portland and Seattle got the top 2 picks last year, and which is why LeBron James ended up in "boring" Cleveland), the games are rigged (which is why Stern basically gave the Suns/Spurs series to "boring" San Antonio last year, by benching Stoudamire and Diaw), on and on. They probably think Lee Harvey Oswald took the famous "0.4" shot against the Spurs instead of Derek Fisher.
As for Donaghy's latest allegations: the guy is a cornered rat, what do you expect? And if he's going to fabricate crap to make himself look less culpable, of course he's going to make up very specific information about actual teams and games. What I don't understand is why the NBA provoked him by asking for $1m in restitution. They should have let sleeping mongrels lie (as in sleep, rather than prevaricate).
As for Donaghy's latest allegations: the guy is a cornered rat, what do you expect? And if he's going to fabricate crap to make himself look less culpable, of course he's going to make up very specific information about actual teams and games. What I don't understand is why the NBA provoked him by asking for $1m in restitution. They should have let sleeping mongrels lie (as in sleep, rather than prevaricate).
Well, if Donaghy's full of it then so be it.
But if he's telling the truth, he could become the NBA's version of Jose Canseco. Look out then.
I agree about the 1 million$. David Stern could pay that out of his wallet himself and everything goes away.
But if he's telling the truth, he could become the NBA's version of Jose Canseco. Look out then.
I agree about the 1 million$. David Stern could pay that out of his wallet himself and everything goes away.
QUOTE
"Referees A, F and G were officiating a playoff series between Teams 5 and 6 in May of 2002. It was the sixth game of a seven-game series, and a Team 5 victory that night would have ended the series.
I read in the paper that the only series fitting this description was Lakers vs. Kings:
QUOTE
Los Angeles won, 106-102, shooting 40 free throws to the Kings' 25. The refs called 31 fouls against Sacramento - Scot Pollard and Vlade Divac fouled out - and 24 against the Lakers, who went on to win the series.
So it ought to be easy for the officials' names to be found in the records. Will any of them comment? Assuming the league allows them to comment individually...
The free throws in game 2 of this year's finals were 38-10 for Boston. Was the fix in for that game also?
If someone was going to pick a game to support a fabricated claim of ref-fixing, that Lakers/Kings series would be the automatic one anyone would latch on to. The officiating was truly bad -- which I admit even though it went in my team's favor -- but that just means it was a badly officiated game. It's not the first and it won't be the last.
Donaghy gets 15 months.
I'm sure the NBA wants us to believe this is the end of the story but I can't help but think there is a whole lot more.
I'm sure the NBA wants us to believe this is the end of the story but I can't help but think there is a whole lot more.
There was a report that he made many, many phone calls to another referee during the period in question, and the calls were both just before and after games. The feds apparently decided there was no activity they could prosecute related to those calls, but it's all very suspicious.
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