Monday, July 23, 2007

Blowing Whistle on Crooked Players and Refs?

An NBA referee suspected of betting on and possibly fixing games he officiated may name others involved in the scheme, The New York Daily News reported.

Citing law enforcement officials, the Daily News said Sunday officials think Tim Donaghy will cooperate with investigators, and may name other officials or players involved in the scandal.

The NBA confirmed Friday it is cooperating with the FBI in an investigation into whether Donaghy, a 13-year veteran NBA referee, bet on games he officiated. Donaghy, 40, has reportedly resigned from the NBA.

Donaghy allegedly used bookies with connections to organized crime to place thousands of dollars in bets on games over the past two seasons, sources told the News.

The New York Times reported Friday the investigation is focused on whether Donaghy affected the point spread in 10 or 15 of the 60 games he worked dating back to December 2006.

Two bookies are expected to be arrested after Donaghy surrenders to authorities in New York -- possibly as early as Tuesday, sources told the News.
Donaghy may get quite talkative, and name more than just bookies. It is quite possible he might name other referees and players, which could make an already bad situation for the NBA even worse.

NBA Commissioner David Stern is in a real bind here. These reports undermine the credibility and authenticity of his product - legitimate outcomes from basketball games.

They have to take aggressive action to reassure sponsors who are the lifeblood of the lucrative deals that power much of the sport's income streams that this is an extremely isolated and limited crisis, but that strategy could backfire if Donaghy reveals that other referees and/or players are involved.

Therefore, Stern and the NBA will have to wait and see what the FBI and law enforcement have to say about what Donaghy has to say. It's not a good position for the NBA to be in - reacting to a developing crisis instead of being able to get ahead of it.

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