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Sports InsiderNBA Referee Under FBI Investigation for Alleged Match Fixing.
July 21st 2007 14:01
It has been an emotionally draining night in the realm of sports. First, Australia goes down on penalties after playing so valiantly with one man down. Secondly, the NBA is perhaps facing its darkest hour with allegations that a top level referee is currently under FBI investigation for betting on games and colluding with the mafia to shave points.
The FBI investigation has the potential to rock the game to its core because the very integrity of the league is at stake here.
Tim Donaghy, the official in question, has reportedly accrued a huge gambling debt and some mobsters allegedly have come into contact with him to fix games. Apparently there have been thousands of dollars at stake in the games that Donaghy controlled.
Perhaps the worst aspect in this potentially sordid tale is that these illegal activities could have been perpetrated right under the noses of the powerbrokers in the NBA.
Referees are graded every game on their performance and have to justify each call, and non-call made. It just reinforces the reality that even with due diligence, NBA games can still be susceptible to rogue referees.
NBA games are already under immense control by those wielding the whistles and the league has had to battle a myriad of conspiracy theories, and perception that superstars, along with
glamour teams get the calls.
It didn’t help the image of the league when a study conducted and released earlier this year, found that white referees tended to favour white players, while their black counterparts made more calls that were biased towards African-American players.
Officials from the league are now going through hours of game tape which Tim Donaghy officiated because it is believed more than a dozen games could have been fixed by the referee and his mob contacts.
Donaghy has since resigned from his position, while being reportedly one of the less popular officials amongst players and fellow whistleblowers. Ironically, Donaghy was also officiating the game between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers in 2004 that gave the NBA a big black eye when it descended into that infamous brawl. Tim and his crew were also criticised for their handling of the game.
If the allegations prove to be founded, Donaghy’s behaviour could eclipse any previous misdeed in NBA history.
Commissioner David Stern faces his toughest test ever since taking over the NBA, overseeing a period of unprecedented growth and expansion of professional basketball both domestically and internationally. Undoubtedly this has to be Stern’s biggest nightmare coming into fruition with the boss releasing the following statement: “We would like to assure our fans that no amount of effort, time or personnel is being spared to assist in this investigation, to bring to justice an individual who has betrayed the most sacred trust in professional sports, and to take the necessary steps to protect against this ever happening again.” (Mahoney, AP, 2007)
So far the investigations are just focused on Tim Donaghy, but an FBI official has hinted more individuals could be implicated.
One thing is for certain – the very reputation of the NBA is at stake and things could get much worse before it gets better.
Here at NBALOUD we’re saddened at this news.
The FBI investigation has the potential to rock the game to its core because the very integrity of the league is at stake here.
Tim Donaghy, the official in question, has reportedly accrued a huge gambling debt and some mobsters allegedly have come into contact with him to fix games. Apparently there have been thousands of dollars at stake in the games that Donaghy controlled.
Perhaps the worst aspect in this potentially sordid tale is that these illegal activities could have been perpetrated right under the noses of the powerbrokers in the NBA.
Referees are graded every game on their performance and have to justify each call, and non-call made. It just reinforces the reality that even with due diligence, NBA games can still be susceptible to rogue referees.
NBA games are already under immense control by those wielding the whistles and the league has had to battle a myriad of conspiracy theories, and perception that superstars, along with
Tim Donaghy, pictured with Tracy McGrady, is in deep doo-doo. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
It didn’t help the image of the league when a study conducted and released earlier this year, found that white referees tended to favour white players, while their black counterparts made more calls that were biased towards African-American players.
Officials from the league are now going through hours of game tape which Tim Donaghy officiated because it is believed more than a dozen games could have been fixed by the referee and his mob contacts.
Donaghy has since resigned from his position, while being reportedly one of the less popular officials amongst players and fellow whistleblowers. Ironically, Donaghy was also officiating the game between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers in 2004 that gave the NBA a big black eye when it descended into that infamous brawl. Tim and his crew were also criticised for their handling of the game.
If the allegations prove to be founded, Donaghy’s behaviour could eclipse any previous misdeed in NBA history.
Commissioner David Stern faces his toughest test ever since taking over the NBA, overseeing a period of unprecedented growth and expansion of professional basketball both domestically and internationally. Undoubtedly this has to be Stern’s biggest nightmare coming into fruition with the boss releasing the following statement: “We would like to assure our fans that no amount of effort, time or personnel is being spared to assist in this investigation, to bring to justice an individual who has betrayed the most sacred trust in professional sports, and to take the necessary steps to protect against this ever happening again.” (Mahoney, AP, 2007)
So far the investigations are just focused on Tim Donaghy, but an FBI official has hinted more individuals could be implicated.
One thing is for certain – the very reputation of the NBA is at stake and things could get much worse before it gets better.
Here at NBALOUD we’re saddened at this news.
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