Donaghy to share info about other refs with feds ESPN.com news services Updated: August 17, 2007, 7:02 PM ET Comment Email Print Former NBA official Tim Donaghy will reportedly give federal prosecutors information that will implicate other referees in some forms of gambling activity as part of his cooperation with government officials. The offenses might not include any criminal activity, but could draw the ire of NBA commissioner David Stern, who has insisted the Donaghy situation was that of a "rogue, isolated criminal." A report on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York said Donaghy will give prosecutors as many as 20 names of other NBA officials and will detail their involvement in some form of gambling activity. The specifics of the gambling allegations are reportedly believed to include betting in casinos. "As far as we know, the misconduct was isolated to one individual, and we'll stand by that until proven otherwise," National basketball Referees Association director Lamell McMorris told ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan. "We'll review whatever information Tim Donaghy alleges, but as far as we're concerned, the only person whose conduct has been proven wrong is Tim Donaghy. We're dealing with truth, not hearsay, and the truth is that the only person who has pleaded guilty to any kind of wrongdoing is Tim Donaghy." NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre said the league had received no information regarding the possibility of other officials being investigated. The NBA's collective bargaining agreement with the officials bans gambling by referees, although there is one exception -- officials are allowed to go to the racetrack and bet on horses during the offseason. Donaghy, who pleaded guilty on Thursday and was released on $250,000 bond, faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced Nov. 9 for conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate commerce. He also must pay a $500,000 fine and at least $30,000 in restitution to the government. the nba is doomed
Lets wait to see what happens. Right now it just says "other gambling activities". If they "gambled in casinos" on other things not basketball related then its OK. It hasnt specified yet.
So the feds are going to cut him a deal based on him leaking information about others refs gambling in casinos? Thats not even illegal!!! Yes its against NBA rules, but its not against the law. It doesn't effect the NBA fans.
I predicted this when the news first broke. Where there's smoke there's fire. Stern will have to resign before all this is done.
No one else would have prevented this from the commissioners chair. No one. You have people in the MLB hiring coaches without knowing of previous DUI convictions, you have people in the NHL hiring illiterate GMs. Those things are preventable. But this? No way...
It's not ok though, it says that referees ARE NOT allowed to gamble in casinos and can only make bets at a race track on horses.
Normally you would be right, but Stern made himself a target by publicly chastising, fining and even threatening to ban people who even suggested that there could be something shady about officials.
Am I the only one getting just a little satisfaction out of all this because it will expose Stern for power drunk, arrogant a$$ that he is? The JVG vs. Stern fiasco during the 05 Dallas series really made me want to see Stern fail. I wish JVG would come out and speak on this but I'm sure he'll just keep laughing on the inside.
hah..I am getting great entertainment value out of the whole thing. When this is said and done, then JVG will come out and say, "see I told ya so". LOL
Tim Donaghy is not getting a deal for leaking info on some refs betting in casinos. The FBI is not going to care about that at all. He is getting a deal because he has information to get the "mobster" in trouble. They are as guilty as he is so the FBI has a reason to allow Donaghy to help himself out by being a rat against the other guys he dealt with, not for the ref thing. The NBA would be interested in the refs betting because it is against the rules. That being said they cant charge them with criminal conduct so the situation is not the same. I guarantee you that 20 refs were not doing what Donaghy was doing. I doubt even a second ref will be found to be doing what Donghy was doing. Players are not supposed to gamble at all either. Yet everyone has heard of high stakes poker games and golf matches. Even the Gilbert Arenas vs. Deshawn Stevenson shooting contest last year probably violated rules. This new info that 20 refs may have gambled is not a big deal unless more game fixing is found. As for everyone thinking this will derail Stern, that is nonesense. Like it was mentioned no one can safeguard the NBA 100% if there is a ref that wants to do this. Yes he may get caught, but it isnt going to be right away. Hell, it took the FBI forever to catch Hanson and they are the FBI.
Exactly. I agree with you about Stern, really, what can you do to prevent this other then the programs that leagues put their employees through? But, like you said, Stern has run the NBA as of late with a dictator ship mentality. When he went on Letterman after the NBA strike and bragged about getting his type of deal I lost all respect for him. Not only was it a lack of professionalism, but it showed me he was all about himself and his ego.
If 20 refs are found to have gambled, even in casinos, that is a big deal because it would show that Stern had no control over his league and that gambling and anything else is possible. It's similar to the NCAA hitting a university with the tag of "lack of institutional control". If it is proven that there are so many people consistently breaking the league's rules when gambling allegations are hanging in the air that is a problem. This may not derail Stern completely, but it will severely damage his credibility. All the bravado and grandstanding that Stern has done will not be accepted anymore, which you know has got to be a shot to his ego. Whether or not the NBA could have be safeguarded is a moot point now. If everything that is rumored comes out then the NBA has a problem of a referee gambling and fixing games, an employee connected to the mob, and tons of other people breaking league rules and gambling all while the FBI is looming around. And this isn't the first time gambling stories and allegations have popped up around the league. Someone mentioned the Gilbert Arenas story. Remember the Laettner/Stackhouse card playing story. What about the Oakley/Tyrone Hill dice game story where Oakley physically threatened Hill if he didn't pay him. Rodman and his casino gambling stories, especially during the Finals. Barkley and his gambling escapades. And, of course, the Michael Jordan golf gambling stories with criminal connections. All under Stern's watch. This hurts Stern's credibility like you wouldn't believe. And the fact that Stern has gone from an arrogant meglomaniac to clearly shaken, nearly crying little boy tells the story in a nutshell.
How long before somebody murders Donaghy? They better have this guy under top-notch protection and security, if they already don't.
Some of you hens should calm down. This is reportedly other activities and there is nothing to suggest (and I believe, Donaghy admitted) as part of his plea deal that his own thing was him acting alone. If a bunch of referees have an NCAA tournament pool or are having a poker game I don't really care that much.
