Ex-NBA Ref: Officials Threw Playoff Game

Corrupt Former Referee Claims NBA Encouraged Officials To Call Bogus Fouls In 2002 Series

(AP)  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.

Speaking before the start of the NBA finals Game 3 featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, NBA commissioner David Stern called the allegations baseless.

"All I can say is that he's looking for anything that will somehow shorten the sentence, and it's not going to happen," Stern said.

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. The 41-year-old Donaghy 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."

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.

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.

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

"He's a singing, cooperating witness who is trying to get as light a sentence as he can," Stern said. "He turned on basically all of his colleagues in an attempt to demonstrate that he is not the only one who engaged in criminal activity. The U.S. attorney's office, the FBI, have fully investigated it, and Mr. Donaghy is the only one who is guilty of a crime. And he will be sentenced for that crime regardless of the desperate attempts to implicate as many people as he can."

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 the referees purposely ignored personal fouls and called "made-up fouls on Team 5 in order to give additional free throw opportunities for Team 6."

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

Only the Los Angeles Lakers-Sacramento Kings series went to seven games during the 2002 playoffs. And the Lakers went on to win the championship.

At the time, consumer advocate Ralph Nader and the League of Fans, a sports industry watchdog group, sent a letter to Stern complaining about the officiating in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals.

The Lakers, who beat Sacramento 106-102 in that game in Los Angeles, shot 27 free throws in the final quarter and scored 16 of their last 18 points at the line.

The letter also alleged manipulation during a 2005 playoff series.

"Team 3 lost the first two games in the series and Team 3's owner complained to NBA officials," the letter said. "Team 3's owner alleged that referees were letting a Team 4 player get away with illegal screens. NBA Executive Y told Referee Supervisor Z that the referees for that game were to enforce the screening rules strictly against that Team 4 player. ... The referees followed the league's instructions and Team 3 came back from behind to win the series. The NBA benefited from this because it prolonged the series, resulting in more tickets sold and more televised games."

In that same series, the letter says "Team 3" lost the first two games of the series and that team owner complained to NBA officials. The letter also alleges that the opposing team's coach later was fined $100,000 after revealing an NBA official informed him of the behind-the-scenes instructions.

That would correspond with the 2005 first-round playoff series between the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks, in which Mark Cuban complained to officials and Jeff Van Gundy was fined.

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.

"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, who pleaded guilty last year to charges he conspired to engage in wire fraud and transmitted betting information through interstate commerce, has said he made NBA bets for four years, even wagering on games he worked. He also admitted recommending bets to high-stakes gamblers and collecting $5,000 if his picks hit.

[brianbwb-2009]

If anyone believes that sports activities that generate the kind of money that the NBA does, is a serious sucker.

Boxing, Baseball, tennis, footbal, international football (soccer), you name it, when the money is big, the fix is on.

[georgew1956]

bob knight and iu had a excellant record and look what mile brand done to that school the same here stern is the miles brand of nba.

[accfan4eva]

Seriously, are people naive enough to think that this does not happen?? Pro sports are all about the dollar figure... bottom line is, they are all out to make the money to pay these inflated salaries that the players make.

As for winning the playoffs... the athletes don''t care as long as their paycheck is delivered. Politics are alive and well in professional sports also... the rich continue to "get richer"... as our "working class" struggles to pay $4+ for gas. They need all 7 games to milk the public and networks of every dollar... to pay these guy''s multi-million dollar contracts.

Yeah, so this ref is singing like a canary... you KNOW anyone would do the same. I think it is great that he exposed that these games are not much different than the "reality shows" on tv... anything for money and ratings people.

[dobbershome]

$$$=corruption

[piercetheval]

I bought two tickets and sat right behind the Kings bench for first of those playoff games in 2002 in Sacramento. It was obvious from te get-go that "THEY" were not going to let the Kings win. It was so infuriating I haven''t watched an NBA game since, in fact I lost all interest in the game, professional or amateur

[gopsoccermom]

I dont see why this is a problem. They made more money. Isnt that what this is all about?

[jn122736]

Stern said:
The U.S. attorney''s office, the FBI, have fully investigated it.

Mr. Donaghy is the only one who is guilty of a crime.

"He turned on basically all of his colleagues
.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The U.S. Attorney%u2019s office?

Would that be one of the U.S. attorneys picked/appointed by the, corrupt, Bush administration(Gonzales)?

The FBI; would that be the FBI that have been so completely controlled/manipulated by this same administration?

Is he guilty because he confessed/admitted to it, or was he convicted by a jury after they had been presented with all the evidence (including the reviewing of games alleged to have been manipulated).

Were %u201C%u201DALL of his colleagues%u201D%u201D judged innocent simply because they did not confess or are they simply being (rightly) assumed innocent?
~~~~~~~

My point is neither about Mr. Donaghy, other game officials, nor the basketball profession itself.

It is, rather, an effort to illustrate the mounting distrust we, the people, have in our existing government and law-enforcement officials%u2019.

In today%u2019s world anything big money groups do is protected from scrutiny/punishment, while the little guy, whistle-blower, et al. is ridiculed/demonized/punished.

It is true that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, but neither is possible without the acquiescence/complacency of the people.

[beehive21-2009]

As Guido says,Never bet on a game ,son, unless you know who fixed it.Any game man is involved in ,is fixed ?

[mrright5]

Will Vegas be giving refunds?

NBA Encouraged Officials To Call Bogus Fouls In 2002 Series


JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW MONEY CORRUPTS.

[mrright5]

BTW, Watch the NBA manipulate this story and send its talking heads out to quell the real story and at the same time hope more people watch the NBA finals.

[mrright5]

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 the referees purposely ignored personal fouls and called "made-up fouls on Team 5 in order to give additional free throw opportunities for Team 6."

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

The evidence is in the video tapes and stats.

The Lakers, who beat Sacramento 106-102 in that game in Los Angeles,

shot 27 free throws in the final quarter

and scored 16 of their last 18 points at the line.

[jpritch19]

''02 Lakers/Kings - I remember watching this series and saying back then that it was rigged. It was painfully obvious the Lake-Show were being handed this series at the line. I didn''t know they went to the line 27 times in the 4th quarter, and scored their final 16 of 18 at the line. I think half the refs in the NBA look shady, and its clear they let their emotions dictate calls at times. No sport is so influenced by its referees than basketball. Fouls are so subjective, and never called consistently. I hope the Lakers are stripped of their title.

[farmerbb]

My high school Latin teacher said, decades ago, he thought pro basketball was fixed. He said "Divide the NBA scores by 10, to get a comparison to hockey, baseball games etc. Scores are always 10-9, 9-8, very close. You almost NEVER see a blowout, like 10-5 (100-50). A score like that in hockey or baseball is common. The only way this could be is if they are fixed." I have not seen anything to make me think he was wrong.

[stn_sage]

I believe Donaghy is telling the truth! I''ve seen many NBA games where a foul was called but no foul or worse yet, a player was creamed but no foul or it was called on the guy that was creamed!

Michael Jordan use to get a dozen fouls a game! The officials didn''t dare call all his fouls on him or he would have been out before half-time! And, they didn''t want the fans to leave early.

Don''t get me wrong, Jordan was one of the NBA''s greatest players, but like most great players he got favorable treatment from the referees---in my opinion.

I''m glad Donaghy has exposed the NBA for what it is---PHONEY!

[vancouverboo]

moneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoney$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[sistatee-2009]

The NBA and professional wrestling; no difference.

[tejasdemo]

Check out the series with Dallas and Miami where the Dwayne Wade was basically given foul shots whenever anybody breathed on him.

Is the league rigged ? *** right it is !

[meikyo-2009]

I remember that Lakers-Kings came, and how one sided the officiating was. I''m not really shocked by this accusation at all.

[rushlimpdrug]

Basketball has suked for a very looooong
time.

Of course Stern will say it is still
the greatest sport on earth.

He and the rest have basketball fever,
the kind that makes the palms itch
and the only cure is more money.

Fix the game Stern.

Also, thanks Gonzo and
the FBI.

[dmorg4c]

This is something i suspected in baseball but now i see it happens here in basket ball also here is the formula for it
"C=M+P" Coruption= equals Money Plus People everytime.

[floydzeppl]

Big Surprise. Corruption has been legitimized. America lives by it as its new motto. Especially since January 2001.

[drputt45]

Well Commish, it appears the world does not agree with you. We think pro basketball is corrupt, but then most pro sports has some corruption, too much money to make not to have corruption.

It is just entertainment, it is not true competition. We have to have the biggy stars to sell tickets at those prices, so ***, drugs and rock ''n roll are all there for the stars.

[floydzeppl]

Well Commish, it appears the world does not agree with you. We think pro basketball is corrupt, but then most pro sports has some corruption, too much money to make not to have corruption.

It is just entertainment, it is not true competition. We have to have the biggy stars to sell tickets at those prices, so ***, drugs and rock ''''n roll are all there for the stars.

Posted by drputt45 at 12:45 PM : Jun 11, 2008
-----------

Yeah, its just pro-wrestling with people who''s only talent is that they''re freakishly tall.

[carpriddler]

Stern%u2019s response is suspicious. Ten to one there are league officials, more refs, and players throwing games.

[cbk16]

Was last nights Laker Boston game decided in advance? Is the NBA just another WWF? Can we have a basket ball league that is not decided in advance where we know who the true champian is?

[honestabe8]

cornbiker: which games do "real men" watch? it strikes me that basketball and football are over overhyped to the point of making wrasslin'' look modest. and they are all boring. i would rather play sports than watch them. that being said, i liked the stanley cup finals.

[gl84685]

Tim is just letting everyone know that the NBA has enough dirt for everyone to share in. Why should he be singled out? The NBA learned their lessons well from the WWF on how to make money; and Thouroughbred Racing did last Sat. too. I wonder how many millions of dollars of bettors money was kept by the tracks and bookies on that one race alone?

[acolton1]

Wow tell me something that the NBA has done that will Shock ME ! This story is so OLD NEWS.

I am more interested in Paris Hilton then this story.

[sociald63]

who cares - i''d rather see more news & photos on NBA cheerleaders

[abigail70]

Posted by dmw1167

I viewed all of the comments to see if anyone was blaming Bush and sure enough you two idiots did.

Bush has to be an amazing man to do all of the things he is blamed for. He must move at the speed light to accomplish this, how can you dislike a man with these talents.

========================================

This had me laughing out loud. I couldn''t have said it better, myself. If it rains, it''s the GWB''s fault, right?

[ender18-2009]

The NBA is a joke, it is just barely a step above professional wrestling. The referees are always conveniently inconsistent and make terrible foul calls at crucial times. It is no coincidence that Boston and LA made it to the finals. You can bet Stern and other NBA executives told the refs that we better not get a boring Detroit - San Antonio finals. I almost guarantee that LA will win because as everyone knows that the Lakers top 5 players are Kobe Bryant, Gasol and the 3 refs.

[ender18-2009]

The NBA is a joke, it is just barely a step above professional wrestling. The referees are always conveniently inconsistent and make terrible foul calls at crucial times. It is no coincidence that Boston and LA made it to the finals. You can bet Stern and other NBA executives told the refs that we better not get a boring Detroit - San Antonio finals. I almost guarantee that LA will win because as everyone knows that the Lakers top 5 players are Kobe Bryant, Gasol and the 3 refs.

[mrright5]

Posted by dmw1167

I viewed all of the comments to see if anyone was blaming Bush and sure enough you two idiots did.

Bush has to be an amazing man to do all of the things he is blamed for. He must move at the speed light to accomplish this, how can you dislike a man with these talents.

============================
============

This had me laughing out loud. I couldn''''t have said it better, myself. If it rains, it''''s the GWB''''s fault, right?


Posted by Abigail70 at 05:04 PM : Jun 11, 2008

Many Republicans still blame Clinton for America%u2019s ills its circular logic in this country.

[my2centss]

Professional sports are fixed? No way. I am shocked.

[farmerbb]

Time to consider which pro sport uses the most fossil fuel. You might think auto racing. Wrong. Pro basketball, flying players and other team hangers-on around the continent, what, 80 times a year ? THAT is what needs attention.