Disgraced ex-ref Donaghy says NBA pressuring officials to side with Nets

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Former referee Tim Donaghy, who served 15 months in prison for fixing NBA games, says the NBA is pressuring officials to side with the Nets in their series against the Raptors.


"(The Raptors) are not only going against the Brooklyn Nets but going against the league office," Donaghy said in a radio interview in Canada. "They have a very talented team and have to be that much better than the Brooklyn Nets."


Why would the NBA want the Nets to advance? Donaghy says it's all about television ratings.


"In this situation, Brooklyn would be put at an advantage. A Brooklyn-Miami matchup (in Round 2) would bring great ratings and that's what this is all about for the NBA and the league offices -- bringing in as many dollars as they can. ... Some of the things that the league does and continues to do puts these teams at a disadvantage -- like the Toronto Raptors -- because moving forward they won't bring in the big dollars for the league. It's terrible for the fans (of) Toronto. They go and support that team but really they're going to have trouble moving on based on talent and what takes place on the floor when they're really going against the refs and the league, along with the Nets."


The league reacted to Donaghy's claims.


"Tim Donaghy is a convicted felon looking for any opportunity for people to listen to his baseless allegations," an NBA spokesman said in a statement. "For Mr. Donaghy to continually try to challenge his former colleagues'€™ ethics is distasteful and says more about his own integrity than it could ever say about our referees, who are the best and most scrutinized game officials in the world."
 

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The sad news is that he's probably right
 

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s to thabsolutely. Donahy is to the NBA what Canseco was to baseball's steroid use. everyone discredited him at the time but in the end he was proven correct.
 

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Good point. You're probably right.
 
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I agree with him 100%. They want to discredit him because they deep down know he is telling the truth.
 

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s to thabsolutely. Donahy is to the NBA what Canseco was to baseball's steroid use. everyone discredited him at the time but in the end he was proven correct.

Of course he is right... look at the smoke.. there is fire... can Seco was torched for YEARS!!!!! Also me I was torched for YEARS!!!!!!!! BY ASS HOLES ON THE BOARDS that denied MLB players and nfl players.wer using peds..

I got news for ya... same shit is happening in the nba too...
It's a heavy cross to carry.. One of truth versus a goliath called the nba/nfl/mlb
 

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Lol, he did not provide a single shred of evidence that the NBA ever told him or another referee to make a team win because of television ratings. He's a crook that dealt with low level gamblers that had nothing to do with the NBA. His evidence that the NBA is fixed was such horseshit. Basically he admits that refs have a bias. That's about it.
 

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If you look around the web, he has been widely discredited. He's been doing this for years, even sold a book out of it.

Wow a big market, veteran team with credentialed players is going to get the benefit of the whistle against a young smaller market team.

Thanks Tim, can't wait to make $ betting off that info. I bet the oddsmakers didn't even think of it....
 

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Lol, he did not provide a single shred of evidence that the NBA ever told him or another referee to make a team win because of television ratings. He's a crook that dealt with low level gamblers that had nothing to do with the NBA. His evidence that the NBA is fixed was such horseshit. Basically he admits that refs have a bias. That's about it.

he might not have evidence but the nba does appear shady as shit to the conspiracy theorists who believe in fixes.

-murph
 

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Of course he is right... look at the smoke.. there is fire... can Seco was torched for YEARS!!!!! Also me I was torched for YEARS!!!!!!!! BY ASS HOLES ON THE BOARDS that denied MLB players and nfl players.wer using peds..

I got news for ya... same shit is happening in the nba too...
It's a heavy cross to carry.. One of truth versus a goliath called the nba/nfl/mlb


Canseco, Donaghy and you.....nice list. Im sure you will all garner tremendous sympathy.....and let me thank you for letting all us know that mlb and nfl players use ped's......let me know when you crack the case of pro wrestlers and cyclists.
 

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he might not have evidence but the nba does appear shady as shit to the conspiracy theorists who believe in fixes.

-murph

Because it's the toughest sport in the world to ref. It's very easy for conspiracy theorists to make claims that the NBA is fixed. You can watch every single game and come up with some conspiracy afterward.
 

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Every conspiracy theory kinda starts the same way. You take some level of the truth, you blend it with your own interpretation and you get the conclusion you want.

Just because the Lakers get more calls than the Bucks doesn't mean its rigged.

It's 2014 people, these teams are worth more $ individually than your average midsized Wilshire 5000 business.
 
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Because it's the toughest sport in the world to ref. It's very easy for conspiracy theorists to make claims that the NBA is fixed. You can watch every single game and come up with some conspiracy afterward.

This is absolutely true. Combine that with 70+ year old guys like Dick Bavetta officiating the games and you're not going to get overwhelmingly positive results.
 

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Because it's the toughest sport in the world to ref. It's very easy for conspiracy theorists to make claims that the NBA is fixed. You can watch every single game and come up with some conspiracy afterward.

Fixed probably isnt the right word.....i do think officials are like the ncaa tourn committee....they say they don't match up teams for ratings reasons.....but the coincendence is hard to ignore. The nba and their officials prefer certain matchups and they try to make it happen if possible

I will try to connect the dots like russ. This is all Alinsky's doing
 

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If you think NBA officials do a good job you dont know basketball. On Sunday I watched LeBron commit one offensive foul after another and end up having the opponent get called for the foul. Years of watching the NBA has proven that the NBA offices have a say in who wins series.
 

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This is absolutely true. Combine that with 70+ year old guys like Dick Bavetta officiating the games and you're not going to get overwhelmingly positive results.

Anyone who has been to a game and sat close to the court would realize officiating bball is hell. I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about the sport and my head would be spinning in circles about what to call and what not to call after 3 mins.

That being said, of course superstars and signature teams get calls. In NFL/NBA and even something like MLB with the strike zone. I mean the strike zone seems like the easiest thing to figure out, we could make a robot to do it. Yet it changes every single game, lol.
 
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Every conspiracy theory kinda starts the same way. You take some level of the truth, you blend it with your own interpretation and you get the conclusion you want.

Just because the Lakers get more calls than the Bucks doesn't mean its rigged.

It's 2014 people, these teams are worth more $ individually than your average midsized Wilshire 5000 business.

I used to agree with this, until I watched the 2002 Lakers/Kings game 6.
 
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[h=1]2002 Lakers-Kings Game 6 at heart of Donaghy allegations[/h]
Updated: June 11, 2008, 3:04 PM ET
<cite class="source"> By Chris Sheridan | ESPN.com</cite>



LOS ANGELES -- Was Game 3 of the 2008 NBA Finals held at the scene of a crime?
Disgraced ex-referee Tim Donaghy alleged as much Tuesday in a filing made by his attorney in U.S. District Court in New York, saying the highly controversial Game 6 of the Lakers-Kings playoff series in 2002 was impacted by the actions of two of the three referees who worked the game.
NBA commissioner David Stern vehemently denied the allegations, saying they are the desperate act of a convicted felon. He also disclosed that the league has already briefed members of the U.S. Congress on certain facets of the Donaghy investigation.
"We welcome scrutiny here. This is something that should be scrutinized," said Stern, who called Donaghy a "singing, cooperating witness" and repeatedly referred to the former referee as a felon as he spoke with reporters for more than eight minutes near the loading dock of the Staples Center as he arrived for Game 3 of the Finals.
The allegations are some of the strongest ever made against the NBA, coming at a time when the officiating of this year's Finals between the Celtics and Lakers has come under heavy scrutiny.
In the letter submitted by Donaghy's attorney, the following "manipulation" is alleged:
[h=4]What They're Saying[/h]
munson_lester_m.jpg
• Disgraced former NBA ref Tim Donaghy made explosive charges against the league in response to a demand from the NBA that he pay $1 million in restitution. What does it all mean? ESPN.com's Lester Munson explains. Q&A

smith_stephen_m.jpg
• Tim Donaghy's allegations of improprieties by officials have besmirched what had been a perfect season in the NBA, writes Stephen A. Smith. Story


"Referees A, F and G were officiating a playoff series between Teams 5 and 6 in May of 2002. It was the sixth game of a seven-game series, and a Team 5 victory that night would have ended the series. However, Tim learned from Referee A that Referees A and F wanted to extend the series to seven games. Tim knew referees A and F to be 'company men,' always acting in the interest of the NBA, and that night, it was in the NBA's interest to add another game to the series. Referees A and F heavily favored Team 6. Personal fouls [resulting in obviously injured players] were ignored even when they occurred in full view of the referees. Conversely, the referees called made-up fouls on Team 5 in order to give additional free throw opportunities for Team 6. Their foul-calling also led to the ejection of two Team 5 players. The referees' favoring of Team 6 led to that team's victory that night, and Team 6 came back from behind to win that series."
Although no teams are specifically named, it is not hard to deduce the game in question. The Lakers-Kings series was the only one that postseason that went seven games, and the officiating in Game 6 was so questionable that consumer advocate and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader called for a formal investigation.
The Lakers attempted 40 free throws to the Kings' 25 in that game, and Los Angeles made 21 of 27 from the line while Sacramento converted 7 of 9 in the fourth quarter alone.
In addition, a foul was called against Mike Bibby of the Kings after he was shoved and elbowed by Kobe Bryant, denying the Kings an opportunity to try for a tying basket. Also in that game, Kings centers Vlade Divac and Scot Pollard fouled out, and Kings coach Rick Adelman was highly critical of the officiating afterward.
"My first thought [upon hearing Donaghy's allegation] was: I knew it," Pollard said Tuesday night. "I'm not going to say there was a conspiracy. I just think something wasn't right. It was unfair. We didn't have a chance to win that game."
The Lakers went on to win the 2002 NBA championship.
The letter apparently comes in response to the NBA's claim that Donaghy pay $1 million in restitution to cover the cost of the league's private investigation. Donaghy's legal team is trying to demonstrate his cooperation with a federal government investigation before he is sentenced on July 14 on felony charges of taking cash payoffs from gamblers and betting on games himself.
[h=4]The Game In Question[/h]
nba.gif
Shaquille O'Neal scored 41 points and pulled down 17 rebounds as the Lakers forced a Game 7 in the 2002 Western Conference finals. Recap


The document references other alleged improprieties that Donaghy disclosed to federal law enforcement officials. Among them:
• "Tim gave information on how top executives of the NBA sought to manipulate games using referees to boost ticket sales and television ratings," the letter reads. "He also described how nepotism played a far greater role than qualifications in a number of referee hirings."
• "Tim explained the league officials would tell referees that they should withhold calling technical fouls on certain star players because doing so would hurt ticket sales and television ratings," the letter adds. "As an example, Tim explained how there were times when a referee supervisor would tell referees that NBA Executive X did not want them to call technical fouls on star players or remove them from the game. In January 2000, Referee D went against these instructions and elected a star player in the first quarter of the game. Referee D later was privately reprimanded by the league for that ejection."
• In addition to game-altering allegations, Donaghy's letter claims that many officials carry on "relationships" with team executives, coaches and players that violate their NBA contracts. For example, it said, referees broke NBA rules by hitting up players for autographs, socializing with coaches, and accepting meals and merchandise from teams.
"Tim described one referee's use of a team's practice facility to exercise and another's frequent tennis matches with a team's coach," the letter says.
• The letter also alleges that during a 2005 playoff series, "Team 3 lost the first two games in the series and Team 3's Owner complained to NBA officials. 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. Referee Supervisor Z informed the referees about his instructions. As an alternate referee for that game, Tim also received these instructions."
During the 2005 postseason, Mavs owner Mark Cuban did in fact complain after his team lost to the Houston Rockets in the first two games of their series, and Dallas went on to beat Houston in seven games. Jeff Van Gundy, then the coach of the Rockets, said that an NBA official had told him about the league's plan to closely monitor moving screens by Yao Ming, and Van Gundy was ultimately fined $100,000 for his comments regarding the situation. Van Gundy later backed off his comments.
[h=4]Documents[/h]
nba_ap_donaghy_65.jpg
• Tim Donaghy, right, claims that other referees were involved in altering NBA games. Read PDF
• The Donaghy legal team addresses the NBA's claim that he must pay $1 million restitution. Read PDF

During halftime of the Lakers-Celtics game on Tuesday, Van Gundy, a commentator for the game, said that while he still thinks Yao was unfairly targeted, he does not lend any credibility to what Donaghy has to say.
Stern said he had not yet read the letter filed on Donaghy's behalf, but that portions of it had been read to him.
"My reaction to Donaghy's lawyer are that clearly as the date of sentencing gets closer, and the things that he's thrown against the wall haven't stuck, he's rehashing a variety of things that have been given to the U.S. Attorney and the FBI, fully investigated, and are baseless," Stern said. "We have been asked to cooperate for the last year by providing people and answering questions, and we've done that. And our understanding is that the investigation is just about wrapped up waiting for the sentencing of Mr. Donaghy, and as he continues desperately to somehow get out of the fact that he is subject to a longer sentence possibly than his co-conspirators, there are this continuing flow of allegations from, don't forget, an admitted felon. So they're baseless."
Also Tuesday, Lakers coach Phil Jackson was asked about the allegations regarding Game 6 of the 2002 series against Sacramento.
"Was that after the fifth game, after we had the game stolen away from us after a bad call out of bounds and gave the ball back to Sacramento and they made a 3-point shot?" he said. "There's a lot of things going on in these games and they're suspicious, but I don't want to throw it back to there."
Jackson also was asked if he agreed with the notion that there were officials that were "NBA company men" who were doing this for the sake of ratings.
"Only us basketball coaches think that," Jackson said. "Nobody else can go to that extreme. They referee what they see in front of them. You know, a lot of things have happened in the course of the Tim Donaghy disposition. I think we have to weigh it as it comes out, and we all think that probably referees should be under a separate entity than the NBA entirely. I mean, that's what we'd like to see probably in the NBA. It would just be separate and apart from it. But I don't think that's going to happen."
Lamell McMorris, head of the NBA referees union, also issued a statement:
"Tim Donaghy has had honesty and credibility issues from the get-go," the statement reads. "He is a convicted felon who has not yet been sentenced for the criminal conduct he has already admitted to. He may be willing to say anything to help his cause and he may believe these most recent allegations will help his agenda. I'm not aware of any improper conduct by any current NBA referee in the playoffs six years ago or any conspiracy by the NBA to affect the outcome of any game then or now. Frankly we're tired of Tim Donaghy's cat and mouse games."
Donaghy's letter said that in the first of several meetings with prosecutors and the FBI in New York in 2007, he named names. He faces up to 33 months in prison.
Donaghy's attorney and federal prosecutors declined to comment to The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Chris Sheridan covers the NBA for ESPN Insider. To e-mail Chris, click here. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
 

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