Former Referee Says NBA Fixed Playoff Series and Other Games

AnthemZ · 06-11-2008, 10:05 AM

Former Referee Says NBA Fixed Playoff Series and Other Games

Tuesday , June 10, 2008

NEW YORK — NBA referees, influenced by cozy relationships with league officials, rigged a 2002 playoff series to force it to a revenue-boosting seven games, a former referee at the center of a gambling scandal alleged Tuesday.

Without identifying anyone or naming teams, Tim Donaghy also claimed the NBA routinely encouraged refs to ring up bogus fouls to manipulate results but discouraged them from calling technical fouls on star players to keep them in games and protect ticket sales and television ratings.

The allegations were contained in a letter filed by a lawyer for Donaghy, who pleaded guilty last year to felony charges alleging he took cash payoffs from gamblers and bet on games himself. Donaghy, 41, faces up to 33 months in prison at sentencing on July 14.

"If the NBA wanted a team to succeed, league officials would inform referees that opposing players were getting away with violations," the letter said. "Referees then would call fouls on certain players, frequently resulting in victory for the opposing team."

Donaghy's lawyer has sought to convince a federal judge in Brooklyn that Donaghy, of Bradenton, Fla., deserves more credit for coming forward before he was charged to disclose behind-the-scenes misconduct within the NBA. The letter, filed Monday, suggests prosecutors have hurt Donaghy's chances for a lesser prison term by downplaying the extent of his cooperation.

Both Donaghy's attorney, John Lauro, and prosecutors declined comment.

The league called Donaghy's allegations false and self-serving, saying the scandal was limited to him and two co-defendants, both former high school classmates who also pleaded guilty to gambling charges.

"The NBA remains vigilant in protecting the integrity of our game and has fully cooperated with the government at every stage of its investigation," Richard Buchanan, NBA executive vice president and general counsel, said in a statement. "The only criminal activity uncovered is Mr. Donaghy's."

Donaghy's letter said that in the first of several meetings with prosecutors and the FBI in New York in 2007, he named names while describing "various examples of improper interactions and relationships between referees and other league employees, such as players, coaches and management." For example, it said, referees broke NBA rules by hitting up players for autographs, socializing with coaches and accepting meals and merchandise from teams.

In one of several allegations of corrupt refereeing, Donaghy said he learned in May 2002 that two referees known as "company men" were working a best-of-seven series in which "Team 5" was leading 3-2. In the sixth game, he alleged they purposely ignored fouls made by opponent "Team 6" and made phantom calls putting its players at the free-throw line.

"Team 6" won the game and came back to win the series, the letter said.

___________________________________

I totally believe this! When the Bulls and M. Jordan started their run when they met the Lakers in the finals, those game were handed to the Bulls. The fouls that were called on the Lakers, even the commentators were asking "Where's the Foul???" Then the assaults by the Bulls that were ignored!

ptownstompin · 06-11-2008, 10:10 AM

i just think its hilarious because ive been hearing Lakers fans saying "See! the first two games against the Celtics this year have been fixed too!". even though if this is true, the Lakers 2002 title might as well have an * next to it

AnthemZ · 06-11-2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptownstompin

i just think its hilarious because ive been hearing Lakers fans saying "See! the first two games against the Celtics this year have been fixed too!". even though if this is true, the Lakers 2002 title might as well have an * next to it

Are you talking about the Sacramento game? If so, they can't cry, they should have sank the free throws! And those pussies shouldn't have resorted to the Hack-a-shack!

Manatee · 06-11-2008, 12:40 PM

Don't let LanZ see this...

ptownstompin · 06-11-2008, 07:42 PM

too late, i showed it to him in his thread yesterday

ptownstompin · 06-11-2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnthemZ

Are you talking about the Sacramento game? If so, they can't cry, they should have sank the free throws! And those pussies shouldn't have resorted to the Hack-a-shack!

man ive always hated the Hack a Shaq, but thats a different discussion

it'll be interesting to see where this goes to say the least. if they can discredit Donaghy then nothing will happen, but if they dont the entire league could get rocked by this

AnthemZ · 06-11-2008, 08:24 PM

No one will care!

Look at the way everyone laughs off the steroid scandal in baseball! And the betting scandal, and in the 80's the cocaine scandal! Too much money to be made and lost, so they will just say he's trying to lie his way out and toss him aside! Look how they treated the spying scandal in the N.F.L.!!

I still laugh at how M. Jordan "Retired" when it was found he was a gambling junkie!!

**PorkChopSandwiches** · 06-11-2008, 08:55 PM

No surprise here, it seems it would be too easy to do this kind of thing.

06-11-2008, 10:05 AM	#1
AnthemZ Waiting For My Handout! Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,367 Thanks: 7 Thanked 34 Times in 20 Posts	Former Referee Says NBA Fixed Playoff Series and Other Games Former Referee Says NBA Fixed Playoff Series and Other Games Tuesday , June 10, 2008 NEW YORK — NBA referees, influenced by cozy relationships with league officials, rigged a 2002 playoff series to force it to a revenue-boosting seven games, a former referee at the center of a gambling scandal alleged Tuesday. Without identifying anyone or naming teams, Tim Donaghy also claimed the NBA routinely encouraged refs to ring up bogus fouls to manipulate results but discouraged them from calling technical fouls on star players to keep them in games and protect ticket sales and television ratings. The allegations were contained in a letter filed by a lawyer for Donaghy, who pleaded guilty last year to felony charges alleging he took cash payoffs from gamblers and bet on games himself. Donaghy, 41, faces up to 33 months in prison at sentencing on July 14. "If the NBA wanted a team to succeed, league officials would inform referees that opposing players were getting away with violations," the letter said. "Referees then would call fouls on certain players, frequently resulting in victory for the opposing team." Donaghy's lawyer has sought to convince a federal judge in Brooklyn that Donaghy, of Bradenton, Fla., deserves more credit for coming forward before he was charged to disclose behind-the-scenes misconduct within the NBA. The letter, filed Monday, suggests prosecutors have hurt Donaghy's chances for a lesser prison term by downplaying the extent of his cooperation. Both Donaghy's attorney, John Lauro, and prosecutors declined comment. The league called Donaghy's allegations false and self-serving, saying the scandal was limited to him and two co-defendants, both former high school classmates who also pleaded guilty to gambling charges. "The NBA remains vigilant in protecting the integrity of our game and has fully cooperated with the government at every stage of its investigation," Richard Buchanan, NBA executive vice president and general counsel, said in a statement. "The only criminal activity uncovered is Mr. Donaghy's." Donaghy's letter said that in the first of several meetings with prosecutors and the FBI in New York in 2007, he named names while describing "various examples of improper interactions and relationships between referees and other league employees, such as players, coaches and management." For example, it said, referees broke NBA rules by hitting up players for autographs, socializing with coaches and accepting meals and merchandise from teams. In one of several allegations of corrupt refereeing, Donaghy said he learned in May 2002 that two referees known as "company men" were working a best-of-seven series in which "Team 5" was leading 3-2. In the sixth game, he alleged they purposely ignored fouls made by opponent "Team 6" and made phantom calls putting its players at the free-throw line. "Team 6" won the game and came back to win the series, the letter said. ___________________________________ I totally believe this! When the Bulls and M. Jordan started their run when they met the Lakers in the finals, those game were handed to the Bulls. The fouls that were called on the Lakers, even the commentators were asking "Where's the Foul???" Then the assaults by the Bulls that were ignored! __________________ Sig by Teabelly!

06-11-2008, 10:10 AM	#2
ptownstompin And they love it Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Valley of the Sun Posts: 14,085 Thanks: 16 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	i just think its hilarious because ive been hearing Lakers fans saying "See! the first two games against the Celtics this year have been fixed too!". even though if this is true, the Lakers 2002 title might as well have an * next to it __________________

06-11-2008, 12:40 PM	#4
Manatee Post Whore Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: What?...Huh? Posts: 15,170 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Don't let LanZ see this... __________________ *"Stay gold Ponyboy!"* A Harp first edition...

06-11-2008, 07:42 PM	#5
ptownstompin And they love it Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Valley of the Sun Posts: 14,085 Thanks: 16 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	too late, i showed it to him in his thread yesterday __________________

06-11-2008, 08:24 PM	#7
AnthemZ Waiting For My Handout! Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,367 Thanks: 7 Thanked 34 Times in 20 Posts	No one will care! Look at the way everyone laughs off the steroid scandal in baseball! And the betting scandal, and in the 80's the cocaine scandal! Too much money to be made and lost, so they will just say he's trying to lie his way out and toss him aside! Look how they treated the spying scandal in the N.F.L.!! I still laugh at how M. Jordan "Retired" when it was found he was a gambling junkie!! __________________ Sig by Teabelly!

06-11-2008, 08:55 PM	#8
PorkChopSandwiches Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Online Posts: 52,109 Thanks: 6 Thanked 445 Times in 182 Posts	No surprise here, it seems it would be too easy to do this kind of thing. __________________ A Teabelly Original