Law enforcement officials are investigating allegations that the veteran N.B.A. referee Tim Donaghy influenced the outcome of professional basketball games on which he or associates of his had wagered, several people familiar with the inquiry said yesterday.
According to a person with direct knowledge of the matter, federal officials are investigating whether Donaghy bet on N.B.A. games during the past two seasons, and whether since December 2006 he made calls that affected any game’s margin of victory while being coerced by members of organized crime.
A federal grand jury in Brooklyn is reviewing the case, which has been going on for several months and is expected to be concluded within a few weeks.
Donaghy, 40, who completed his 13th season in the N.B.A., could not be reached for comment. People involved with the situation said he was aware of the investigation, had resigned from his N.B.A. position about 10 days ago, and would surrender to law enforcement officials if charges were brought against him.
Even a casual NBA watcher can see it’s not a level court. The 2006 championship and the 2007 Spurs-Suns series (The referee in question reffed the latter.) were travesties. And the negligence of Commissioner David Stern is a big reason why. He richly deserves the storm now descending upon him.
I swore off the NBA as fixed sport in 2006. Frankly, I hope it becomes more and more discredited.
Newbie: Good points.
Note, moreover, that the NBA could help deter betting-related irregularities even when no irregularities had come to light. It could insist that referees, in their employment contract, agree to file financial-disclosure reports with the NBA and agree to disclose their bank accounts and other financial records.