NBA Ref Tim Donaghy Blackmailed by Fledgling Gangster

The New York Post reported Sunday that the NBA referee embroiled in a massive gambling scandal was forced into helping crooked gamblers by a fledgling gangster who threatened him.

Donaghy, 40, was a troubled gambler who placed high-stakes bets on just about anything he could - including his own rounds of golf - before the Philadelphia-based wiseguy wannabe learned the ref bet on games that he worked, sources said.

The thug's threats to expose Donaghy pressured the ref into feeding crooked gamblers privileged information that helped them win bets against the point spread - the margin of victory on which bettors wager - on NBA games, sources said.

The report goes on to suggest that Donaghy also made officiating calls during games that affected margins of victory.

The NBA said on Friday it is cooperating with an FBI investigation into whether Donaghy was betting on games he officiated.

Donaghy 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.

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.

Outraged fans already are suggesting they receive refunds as a report surfaced that the FBI is investigating allegations that a veteran NBA referee bet on basketball games over the past two seasons, including ones in which he officiated. Whether the allegations prove true or false, fans say this inevitably puts the heat on commissioner David Stern to prove his league isn't being fixed.

Some of the messages posted at ESPN.com:


This will lead to some of the most global changes ever in the NBA. The credibility of the officials was already shaky … probably at the top of the list for fans of problems with the NBA. To find out that even some of the conspiracy theories are correct the league will have to take some actions to ensure that none of them are true from now on. Some form of replay will have to be implemented. Some form of coach's challenge also. How they are going to do this without slowing the pace is beyond me. I think the solution is to let the players self-officiate just like in the gym and use officials only as timekeepers and line judges.
-- Hartshwk

and...

THIS IS HUGE! This is a gigantic slap in the face of David Stern. He needs to step down and apologize to all the fans. I stopped watching the NBA 5 years ago, mainly because I felt the refs were controlling the game too much. Regular-season games are basic scrimmages, and the playoffs are a boring marathon of overpaid puppets.
-- castaneda90210

During his career in the NBA, Donaghy officiated in 772 regular-season games and 20 playoff games, from 1994 to 2007 and resigned prior to reports of the current ongoing FBI investigation. 

Donaghy was best-known previously as one of three referees who worked the infamous Detroit Pistons - Indiana Pacers game at The Palace of Auburn Hills on November 19, 2004 that ended with Pacers players fighting with Pistons fans. This game was considered one of the darkest moments in NBA history.

Donaghy was also involved in another controversial incident in 2003 when he called a technical foul on Rasheed Wallace (left), then playing with the Portland Trail Blazers, for allegedly throwing a ball at another official during a game played at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon.

While Donaghy was leaving the arena, he was confronted by Wallace at the arena's loading dock in which Wallace screamed obscenities towards Donaghy. Donaghy claimed Wallace threatened him, and after an investigation by the NBA, the league suspended Wallace for seven games. This was the longest suspension issued by the league for an incident not involving violence or drugs.

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Tyrone Black, Sports911.com

Originally published July 22, 2007 5:49 am ET