The Cat's Outta The Bag...!

[CecilBrown]

NBA Referee Under Investigation by FBI for Betting
The NBA said on Friday it is cooperating with an FBI investigation into whether an NBA referee was betting on games he officiated. One reporter for the Associated Press deemed this situation 'a potential nightmare.'

The New York Post, citing sources close to the FBI investigation, first reported in Friday's editions that the FBI uncovered the connection between the unnamed referee and organized crime figures during a separate mob investigation.

"We have been asked by the FBI, with whom we are working closely, not to comment on this matter at this time," the NBA said in a statement.

The referee allegedly wagered on games during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 NBA seasons, according to the newspaper.

The FBI organized-crime squad in New York was handling the case, the newspaper said.

Federal Bureau of Investigation spokesmen in New York were not immediately available for comment.

AP's Pat Milton adds another wrinkle: the allegedly crooked ref is aware the FBI is breathing down his neck and will surrender to authorities next week. Milton's anonymous law enforcement source also says the ref had a pre-existing gambling problem and got involved in the criminal syndicate through an acquaintance. Reports indicate the probe is focused on the past two seasons.

The Akron Beacon-Journal's Brian Windhorst (who's filling in for Henry Abbott at True Hoop) weighs in, calling the story 'a potential nightmare.'

With so many fouls and so many free throws in NBA games, it could so easily be done without notice. An official can call a handcheck foul or a loose ball foul virtually on every possession if he wanted to. Especially if it is a game that is largely decided -- say, a six-point game with 12 seconds to go. This situation happens almost every night in the NBA.

Windhorst is spot on with regards to how this could slip under the league's radar, so I think we should withhold the pitchforks aimed at David Stern until we know more. But forget 'potential nightmares' -- this thing is already full-blown disaster. It won't kill the league (let us pray), but it will cause serious serious serious damage.


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Originally published July 20, 2007 12:13 pm ET

[CecilBrown]

QUOTE>"A high-profile case of wrongdoing, especially on a profession whose ethics are supposed to be unimpeachable, has the effect of casting a jaundiced eye on everyone in that profession. Ask a Catholic priest."<UNQUOTE

[CecilBrown]

July 22, 2007 --
NY POST

NBA referee Tim Donaghy worked 140 games in the last two seasons as part of a three-person crew. The Post examined box scores and play-by-play transcripts for all 140 games - and found games where controversial calls factored into the outcome or the betting spread.

- March 6, 2006

Utah 90, Orlando 85

Utah favored by 6 points

Fouls: Orlando 31, Utah 26 (League average is 44 total)

With 9.5 seconds left in the game, Utah's Andrei Kirilenko blocked a Jameer Nelson floater and a DeShawn Stevenson three-pointer, sealing the victory for the Jazz, and getting both Nelson and Stevenson technical fouls for arguing with Donaghy and his crew. Orlando coach Brian Hill said, "I was disappointed that the game wasn't decided by the players, that it was decided by the officials."

- March 27, 2006

Miami 96, Indiana 91

Miami favored by 8½

Fouls: Indiana 23, Miami 19

With 5:25 left in the first half, Miami's Udonis Haslem gets called for an offensive foul against Jermaine O'Neal, resulting in a pushing match and both players receiving technical fouls. Haslem then argued, got his second technical and was ejected.

- Nov. 24, 2006

Atlanta 97, Toronto 93

Atlanta favored by 3

Fouls: Atlanta 25, Toronto 22

With Atlanta up by three and 17 seconds left to play, a foul is called on Toronto's T.J. Ford, sending an Atlanta player to the line. He makes a free throw and solidifies the 3-point cover.

Earlier in the game, Toronto's head coach Sam Mitchell gets a technical foul after clashing with officials and Donaghy slaps Toronto guard Darrick Martin with a technical in the third period for talking from the bench.

- Dec. 1, 2006

Orlando 91, Portland 89

Orlando favored by 4

Fouls: Portland 21, Orlando 20

Orlando forward Grant Hill makes a game-winning layup with just 0.3 seconds left after officials put an extra 1.2 seconds on the clock following a missed Portland shot.

- Dec. 11, 2006

Phoenix 103, Orlando 89

Orlando favored by 1 point

Fouls: Orlando 23, Phoenix 18

Orlando coach Brian Hill storms the floor after his dominating big man, Dwight Howard, fouls out after 19 minutes of play. Amare Stoudemire leads Phoenix with 30 points, shooting 12 of 14 from the free throw line. Howard did not attempt one free throw.

- Jan. 24, 2007

Philadelphia 118, Cleveland 115 (2 OT)

Cleveland favored by 11

Fouls: Philadelphia 26, Cleveland 24

Game turns after Cleveland center Zydrunas Ilgauskas fouls out on a questionable call after appearing to block a shot with 2:24 left. The Cavaliers, leading by three entering the fourth quarter, were called for 12 of 24 team fouls in the fourth quarter and overtimes.

- April 10, 2007

Nets 96, Washington 92

Even spread

Fouls: Nets 28, Washington 26

The Associated Press reports that Washington players felt they were treated unfairly and writes, "The game was full of head-scratching calls." In a game where fouls were being called on the slightest tap, the Wizards' DeShawn Stevenson did not draw a foul on two drives in the final minute.
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