Now that various sources, including The New York Times, has insisted only one referee is under federal investigation, the biggest question as to how much the NBA will suffer at the hands of this story is this: Just how many games did Tim Donaghy 'fix'?Reports say the investigation is focused on the past two seasons. The New York Post's law enforcement source put the number at 'double digits.' This morning's Times says its 10-15 games, all since December 2006.
But in today's Post, Murray Weiss (who initially broke the story) reveals a problematic rumor:
Donaghy, 40, was a troubled gambler who placed high-stakes bets on just about anything he could - including his own rounds of golf - before the Philadelphia-based wiseguy wannabe learned the ref bet on games that he worked, sources said.If true, this means Donaghy bet on games he officiated before the mob got involved. It's not clear when this low-level mobster got Donaghy by the onions, but it'd seem to be within the past two seasons. Could Donaghy have been shaving points before that?
If so, an already disastrous revelation becomes worse for the league. Donaghy apparently got caught because he got mixed up with the mob. If he was tampering before, on his own... how sure can we be other referees haven't or won't get away with the same?
Previously on FanHouse:
The Tim Donaghy scandal
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-21-2007 @ 2:34PM
Jon said...
Due process just like Vick so we will see..but the NBA has a huge problem..Cause it validates the thoughts of a lot of people
Reply
7-21-2007 @ 3:08PM
frank s said...
Pat Riley must be full of court rage- I would be
Reply
7-21-2007 @ 4:25PM
svplanb4 said...
RASHEED WALLACE JUSTIFIED? THAT IS WORSE THAN A REF FIXING GAMES............
Reply
7-21-2007 @ 9:00PM
Jklicious99 said...
All the refs in the NBA will have to be heavily scruntinized now because of Donaghy's actions. The NBA gets another black eye in the process. David Stern better do something and quick because I think the NBA has been losing fans in droves for the past few seasons and now this happens. I'm a huge NBA fan, but my confidence in the organization is starting to shake.
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7-22-2007 @ 9:03AM
andy said...
I have the solution to the problem the nba will face. Do not announce who the refs will be prior to the game. Have an extra ref at the game, and one of the refs sits- the refs dont even know until game time who will ref. Sub in the extra ref during the game. If the gangsters and bookies dont know beforehand if their boy is going to be involved in the game, they can't set their lines and put in their action based on the fix; while it will be expensive to implement, the nba has no choice but to do something to save their credibility.
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7-23-2007 @ 11:18PM
G said...
Did the Spur REALLY win or was it fixed?
Reply