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by Digger

I've previously chronicled sordid details involving former NBA referee Tim Donaghy's involvement with gambling and potential point shaving or game altering officiating.

Now, new shocking Donaghy allegations have taken on an entirely new direction with deeper severity involving executives of the NBA. David Stern, in typical David Stern fashion, quickly disavowed Donaghy's statements as nothing more than "a desperate attempt to ease his sentence" (Donaghy, yet to be sentenced, faces up to 33 months in prison). From the beginning of Donaghy's shocking allegations and subsequent arrest, Stern has vehemently denied all facets of this case strictly on the basis of involving only one former NBA ref.

Specifically, Donaghy alleges through court documents filed by his lawyer: "...inner-workings" of a plot in which top league executives used referees to manipulate the games. Donaghy claims two referees were "company men" whose job was to extend a playoff series in 2002 to a seventh game." Furthermore... "Personal fouls (resulting in obviously injured players) were ignored even when they occurred in full view of the referees," the document says of the unnamed series. "Conversely, the referees called made-up fouls on Team 5 in order to give additional free throw opportunities to Team 6."

What I'd like to see happen at this juncture is another ref lend credibility to these type of shenanigan's which occured in our not too distant past. Better yet, how about a league executive stand up and come clean. These stories may seem wild on the surface... and guess what, they do add up. There are many such circumstances in recent times which lend credibility to these type of allegations.

It boggles the mind of conventional wisdom to suspect only one referee had the power to alter games. Just has Donaghy has previously tried to state, there were many characters in this charade. Stern's initial adamament and super quick denial was the first trigger of something seriously wrong. Why would the NBA Commissioner seemingly cut off any possibility others were involved before a complete investigation could be concluded? One word answer: "conspiracy"

One would think a league Commissioner enough power as to order a full scale internal investigation while cooperating completely with FBI and Justice Dept investigators to snag any and all individuals involved/associated with any wrong doing. When league executives conspire with referee's to determine verdicts of games before they're played is utterly disgusting. And for what? Better television ratings? Perhaps an extra game or two brings in more revenues? What about American families....? The father who worked hard, scrapped together a few hundred dollars so he could treat his kids to a professional basketball playoff game only to later find out the game was rigged?

Should anyone be surprised if this scandal reaches deeper than accusations? ABSOLUTELY NOT. The series in question at the moment was the 2002 LA Lakers/Sacramento Kings Playoff game. Coaches Phil Jackson (LA) and Rick Adelman (Sac) were both irate at officating inaccuracies and still remember the series vividly. Many players and coaches complained about specific games and playoff series. Mark Cuban was one of the more flamboyant team owners (Dallas Mavericks) who had no problem being outspoken in his dissatisfaction with officiated games. Perhaps he'll file for refunds after getting levied heavily for his not so quiet critiques. Now it seems his concerns were justified.

Former Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy was supposedly informed by a ref not working the playoffs, there was a plan in place to predetermine series lengths and fouls. "I didn't think that really worked in the NBA, but in this case it has," Van Gundy told reporters after the fourth game of the series, according to USA Today. He was later fined $100,000, a record sum for a coach.

The FoxSports.com article detailed: "The document also described other alleged infractions, including league officials telling referees that they should withhold calling technical fouls on certain star players because doing so hurt ticket sales and television ratings."

Now, I'm wondering... exactly how deep does this conspiracy run? Have gamblers infiltrated Official NBA Offices and Executives? Do odds makers, casino's etc dictate to the NBA? Another systematic failure in professional sports created by GREED. Baseball, Football, Hockey and now Basketball.

There have been many questionable series often interfered by one sided officiating. New York Knicks vs Detroit Pistons. Knicks vs Chicago Bulls. San Antonio vs anyone. Houston vs Knicks. Lakers vs Kings. Knicks vs Miami Heat. 2005 Mavericks/Rockets series which Van Gundy received his record fine.

When star players are kept on the bench due to foul trouble... or being given leeway to run up big games... something stinks. Hey, most players often protest calls and non-calls... this is part of competitive sports. However, every basketball fan must have seen at least one instance of extremely poor and lobsided officiating. Perhaps, Donaghy is only the tip of an iceberg? There must be more than one set of circumstances and the NBA knows it full well which explains their lack of action by way of cooperation with investigators or conducting their own.

What needs to happen in this specific Donaghy case is for another referee or league exec to stand up and face the music. Certainly, one can be afforded immunity for such damning testimony. Exactly how deep this list runs is anyones guess... however, Stern circled the wagons too quickly which usually means something is awry and I would not be surprised whatsoever if he had full knowledge of wrong doing.

I'm hoping the FBI has a bombshell of a case yet to be revealed which names names and brings down all those involved no matter where it leads. This has been a story often ignored based on various events of the day taking center stage. This can no longer be swept under the rug and should be dealt with swiftly and harshly.

(view FoxSports.com 06/10/08 article in its' entirety)