Is Convicted NBA Referee Telling the Truth?
Tim Donaghy is not a good guy. Let's make that clear. He compromised the integrity of the NBA by using his on-court authority to manipulate the outcomes of games. He willingly assisted organized crime figures to reap hefty profits gambling on NBA games.
He has pleaded guilty to charges and faces 33 months in federal prison. This is well-known as his latest swipe at the league asserting that some playoff games in 2002 and 2005 were rigged in order to stretch the series to seven games.
We know the league loves seven-game series and the massive revenues attached to them.
To me, this does not sound as far-fetched as the NBA has admitted. Of course, David Stern and NBA attorneys are going to vehemently deny anything that Donaghy says from here on in because how can you believe a 'convicted felon'?
I remember when the Donaghy scandal broke. I remember David Stern's face during his press conference. He was scared to death. The league that he had rescued by solidifying markets and augmenting franchises was facing its toughest test yet.
The jig was up. The league was about to be exposed for their hegemonic initiatives to favor the home teams in games.
Stern took over the NBA in 1984. The league was in dire straits. The game had gotten stale, and many franchises were teetering on brink of financial disaster.
Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were in the throes of their renewed Celtics-Lakers rivalry, which along with the arrival of Michael Jordan would become the centerpiece of Stern's PR campaign to expand the league.
But those three players were not enough to generate genuine and continuing interest in the far outposts of the league. They needed a hook to put asses in the seats on the nights superstars weren't in town. There had to be a way to level the playing field.
Can you guess what they came up with?
That's when I stopped watching the NBA in earnest.
To this day, I can only watch half-heartedly. I have a 165 IQ. There is no way home teams should win at the rate they do in the NBA. Every court is made of wood. Every court is 94 feet long and 50 feet wide.
All the baskets are 10 feet high and the lines and the rest of the apparatus are uniform league-wide. Most of the arenas in the NBA are new buildings, and I'll bet half of you won't know where you are once you get inside, that's how similar they've become.
So taking that out of the equation, I am left with only a few reasons why home teams have dominated play. This season, the home teams won at a clip of nearly 70 percent (705-491), which considering the 'level' playing conditions in inexplicable.
I say the officials may have had something to do with the tempos of those games. The rate of victory for home teams probably would be higher, but the bad teams probably couldn't hit the shots.
So Tim Donaghy is now a pariah, and in our society, pariahs and condemned men are not to be believed. That is too bad because throughout history, gallows confessions have been proved to be strikingly true.
Why do you think the throngs would gather around the gallows for an execution? Sure they wanted to see the blood and the gore.
But they also wanted to hear the truth.
43 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Greg Adams about 1 year ago
Great article. Donaghy is a cheater and a crook; that said, some of the greatest rats in our nation's legal system were guys on the inside.
Donaghy's testimony begs the question: what is David Stern?
Though I've not been a fan of Congress' recent meddling into the nation's professional leagues (steroids, Clemens, SpyGate), this I would fully support. With gambling comes organized crime. It's like 1919 all over again.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
The NBA is a joke to anyone who remembers what a real basketball game should look like
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Greg Adams about 1 year ago
I couldn't agree more. But there's so much money wrapped up in the games that these types of allegations can't be brushed away lightly. Great article.
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Dan Boone about 1 year ago
This guy is an obnoxious sleaze...then again so is Henry Hill who fixed Boston College games and told the truth under oath in order to ease his sentence. So rogue refs fixing the game for profit isn't that stunning...or singing rats telling truthful tales.
The Pro Hoop players make so much money its hard to reach them unless they extort them through pictures of the player doing something with a person or animal, doing illegal drugs, or if they have some sort of run away gambling or drug problems.
The College Hoop Players are much easier to get as they seldom have pro careers and are dream of big dollars. If the Vegas Sports books catch the betting action on odd games going one way and tip the Feds. They have a stake in perceived integrity. Their profits depend on it...
This scandal is potentially much worse because it hits at the very integrity of the league. The league office ordered the fix in for the oldest of reasons. Greed. More TV revenue. More ticket sales. Greed is good.
It puts the NBA in Pro Wrasslings league...David Stern looks like just another lying lawyer or slick promoter scrambling to save his golden eggs and guard his fellow rats. Which is, I guess, basically what he is...
That Steeler Seahawk Super Bowl seemed severely slanted towards Pitt the other year I wondered if the league office offered that up as a gift to the old guard Rooneys...and to spite Paul Allen who seldom attends any league events or sits on committees....
Not to mention some of the calls in College Football key conference games when a BCS or bowl bid is on the line and the refs after all work for the league....the Big East Refs to help West Virginny stay undefeated and beat Pitt last year was blatant as I've ever seen....as was some of the SEC and Big Ten games.
Not to mention boxing...
I don't like the NBA and this further reduces their legitimacy in the eyes of the fans...
Everything seems fixed these days. The fix seems in. Its sad that they can't leave us the illusion that our spectacles are at least square. The Romans at least left bread, circuses, and gladiators galore...
How much money does a Professional Sports League need anyway?
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Stew Winkel about 1 year ago
it is aways difficult to know what to believe in these situations - donaghy is trying to save himself so he has a motive to lie/exaggerate. at the same time, the quickest way to get a judge to sentence you harshly is to get caught lying. good points about home court advantage - the question is though is it just poor officiating (are officials that weak that they are influenced by the crowd) or are there whispers in the ears of certain officials to call games one way or the other.
there is a part of me that actually hopes something is going on with the officials - if there isn't, then these nba officials are really just terrible at their job and those who run the league are completely negligent because they just don't seem to care that the officials stink.
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Daniel Muth about 1 year ago
John,
You make a great point about home-court advantage in the NBA. A 70% winning percentage is absolutely incredible (and by this I mean "not credible"). It is far and away greater than that of any other professional league. All you have to do is watch the finals and see the refs controlling the games. If you can only be "aggressive" at home (the en vogue excuse for why home teams get calls) then you have no business being in the finals. As for myself, I'm done watching these finals. It's become absolutely unbearable. David Stern has these guys on puppet strings. I would be absolutely in no way surprised if Donaghy's allegations are correct, but that doesn't make him righteous, only duplicitous.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
Thx Daniel,,,,you're right....there's no way to make Donaghy righteous
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Jimbo about 1 year ago
I believe the perception of the NBA as a non-credible league can be seen in the plummeting television ratings for both the regular season and the Finals.
Great article. I'm just sorry it's so true.
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dave golde about 1 year ago
he is probably telling the truth. the nba is fixed.
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Jeff Little about 1 year ago
Good Article. Donaghy is cheater and a crook. It is difficult to know what to believe in these situations. Donaghy is going to the hole and trying to throw things against the wall before his sent to the hole. Your take on the amount the home team has won can't be argued. The perception that the league isn't credible has increased and as stated by another commentor can be seen in the plummeting television ratings. I think there is some truth to what he is saying but I'm no longer listening to this well paid crook on his way to hole for 33 months.
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Jeff Little about 1 year ago
Oh I almost forget, Desperate Man.
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Michael Inglis about 1 year ago
First off, it is hard for anyone to know whether to believe Donaghy or not. He has yet to be sentenced and has a family to think about. All he is doing is spilling his guts to help reduce his jail sentence. Now, i don't anyone would disagree with that. My biggest problem with Donaghy's allegations is that he makes all these claims about other refs fixing games and the league reps telling them to fix a playoff series but he hasn't named any names. Its easy to say "well, other refs were fixing games too," but until i hear him say another refs name he has no credibility. He's got nothing to loose anyways and it would only help validate his claims. So why no names yet???
You guys are saying the league is fixed so the fans can get the matchup they wanted and boost ratings. But there has been just as many times that the NBA finals didn't get a good. For instance, nobody wanted to see the Cavs and Spurs last year, a few years early nobody wanted to see Spurs and Pistons.
I like how Dan said College Football is just a bad. "the Big East Refs to help West Virginny stay undefeated and beat Pitt last year was blatant as I've ever seen"
Well Dan, WVU lost that game so the refs weren't as blatant as you might think and just a side note, WVU wasn't undefeated coming into that game. They lost to USF earlier in the season.
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Michael Inglis about 1 year ago
Just to make it clear, I don't know whether Donaghy is telling the truth or not. But its hard to believe him when he doens't name names.
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Daniel Muth about 1 year ago
Michael,
My take on the names issue is that he's shopping this story to cut a deal. He wants to generate the Congressional/prosecutorial interest that might reduce or eliminate his sentence. If he came out blabbing everything he knew, then he would have less leverage to cut said deal. Does this diminish his credibility? Absolutely, he's got good reason to lie. Obviously, any claims he made would have to be substantiated in some measure.
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Jimbo about 1 year ago
The case reminds me (if only peripherally) of when Jose Canseco came out with his allegations about the rampant steroid use in the MLB. People were skeptical at first, mostly because Canseco is not a trustworthy type of guy, but the facts show that even an untrustworthy guy can sometimes be telling the truth...
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Spenser T. Harrison about 1 year ago
Ya I think most everyone believes the NBA is fishy at best. Not only is it the most officiated of any major sports, but its gotten out of hand since the 80's; it is way to subjective. Moreover the recent allegations by Donaghy as well as him being caught in the first place only cemented many theories that have long plagued the NBA. There are a few events just in recent years that just reek of fixing.
02' Lakers vs. Sacramento
05' Rockets vs. Dallas
06' Dallas vs. Houston
etc. etc.
How bout the fact that the Lakers got Pau Gasol for nothing? Did the NBA not have a hand in arguably the worst trade in decades; a trade that solidified the Lakers as the best in the West and left the Grizzlies with absolutely nothing to build on?
While the cheating scandal could be both larger or smaller than many people think I am certain of two things.
1. The NBA favors superstars and big attractions over the rest of the players more so than any other sport (they get away with everything, sent to the line at an inexcusable rate, and never called for traveling)
2. The NBA's clearly favors Big Market teams in their officiating and promotion.
I think this just solidifies the case for firing Stern; who has a litany of bad moves and misjudgments. Moreover the only reason Stern has been mildly sucessful and not canned yet is because he happened to come around just when Michael Jordan did; its almost impossible to screw up your sport with him.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
It does seem convenient that the Celtics and the Lakers are in the finals
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Spenser T. Harrison about 1 year ago
Without a doubt; it's what the NBA and fans wanted. However i truely believe they are the two best teams in the NBA right now yet at the same time if that wasn't the case I wouldn't doubt stern or someone would make it so
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Sean Crowe about 1 year ago
I'd like to believe that the real issue is piss-poor officiating. Not crooked officiating.
That said, I do believe they put bad officials on games when they want the home team to win. When Bill Simmons, who I think was the first person officially on record to write about this, can predict the game three officials a week before the game happens....it's either the NBA is EXTREMELY dumb, or Bill and the conspiracy theorists are correct.
I'm still leaning towards the NBA being dumb and the officials being terrible, but I wouldn't be surprised...which in and of itself is a bad thing for the NBA.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
Good points, Evan..
I have no idea what the NBA is up to. All I know is what I see on the highlights every morning.
Anyone my age that still watches pro basketball only does it because a) they can't reach the remote, or b) they are in a bar where they can't change the channel.
I think you missed my point. The way Stern saved the league was by strengthening it franchise by franchise. That was done by making the games exciting for the home fans. People will show up if they know their team has a chance to win. That's good business, that's what that is.
Do you think anyone under 40 realizes the product that they are watching is a result of this business model? No. That's why they don't know the difference.
I'm over 40 and remember what a real basketball game is supposed to look like.
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Andrew Schiff about 1 year ago
I can see that there was some crooked stuff going on, however this ref is just doing it too deflect his own wrongdoing.
With that said, I hope these accusations get David Stern into hot water, somehow. Though the NBA is a profit making entitity, he is a terrible commisioner. What happened last year in the playoffs with the Suns and Spurs was awful. Stern sides with the bullies.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
True, and in this case he is all about deny deny deny...he's not giving the accusations any credibility.
That leads me to believe that he is afraid to let this get fleshed out....afraid at what we might find
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
The NBA actually sent me those stats. I went on their website and got the accurate figures. The home team won 714 of 1230 games during the regular season. That's 58%.
That could kill this argument, but th percentages aren't really the point. The point is, the effort by the league is there. Winning and losing is not the issue, but making the game close is the issue.
The Knicks had no business winning or being in some of the games they played at MSG this year. But there there they were with a chance to win many times. It amazed me. Maybe they didn't win many games at home, but they played more competitively. How could that be? Have you seen the Knicks play?
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Joe Willett about 1 year ago
Jose Canseco is a messed up man, but he told the truth in the book. Donaghy has nothing to gain from this confession, but when a man has nothing left to lose, why not let it all hang out. I personally believe him, and although I didn't remember the game in question, after seeing all the coverage about the game recently, I see that it was in fact a horribly officiated game with the Lakers shooting 27 free throws in the 4th quarter, that's insane and I have to think that there was some sort of funny business.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
Like I said, desperate men most times tell the truth. Not the whole truth, mind you but some version of it.
For Stern to discount it so aggressively leads me to believe that Donaghy is hitting too close to home.
But my point is that the slanted officiating has become too deeply ingrained in the game for newcomers - the under 40 crowd - to realize its happening as part of an overall league agenda - not just in pockets.
You would think they would focus more on free-throw shooting, but free throws don't get you endorsements like dunks and 3-pointers do.
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Adam Huczel about 1 year ago
Great Article!!! You can definetly see a look of concern on Stern's face after the most recent interviews. He gave an interview full of smirks and chuckles. I don't think that was the most brilliant idea. Donaghy will be punished for what he has admitted to, but the NBA and Stern are going to have their hands full. The home team's winning record does appear very suspicious and not knowing the statistics, I'd like to see the percentages in the other main sports (NFL NHL and MLB).
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Michael Inglis about 1 year ago
I like the comparisson of Jose Canseco and Donaghy but only to a point. We believe Canseco because some of the stuff he said came true. For instance, Rafeal Palmerio and other started testing positive for steroids. My point is he gave us NAMES and then had facts to support his claims.
Donaghy is trying to cut a deal so he can get a lesser jail time. If he is telling the truth then the government will not just want to know that playoffs series were fixed, they will want to know who ordered the refs to fix them and things of that nature. So until i hear Donaghy calling out another offical or league represenative, it's all talk.
Here's why i don't like the comparison. Jose Canseco told the truth becuase had nothing to loose. Donaghy has everything to loose and nothing to gain by not telling the truth (or making something up) Lets say donaghy doesn't accuse the NBA of fixing games, that means twenty years and jail and cased closed. But by doing this he could less time and take down the people that took him down.
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John McClory about 1 year ago
A couple things strike me as odd in the midst of this scandal...
1.) How easy would it be for Donaghy to make this up? I mean, the timing of the whole thing is odd. During the NBA Finals? Come on. That's red flag #1. Also, when we think of horrid officiating in the NBA, which game are we almost immediately going to bring up every time? 2002 West Finals, Lakers vs. Kings. It was atrocious and a complete joke, there's no denying that. So, when Donaghy alleges that there was more to that game than previously thought, of course we are going to collectively freak out. Any loyal NBA fan probably had the "2002 West Finals was fixed" conversation long before this news broke.
2.) The media is quick to denounce the credibility of Donaghy, yet they all report the story as if they're praying and wishing for it to be true so they can delve into it further. Didn't we learn our lesson with fire-starters like Jose Canseco? They want the spotlight. They want every tidbit of what they say to reach the forefront. When they stir up controversy they have their best interest in mind. So, I'm surprised that we've already carried on this national dialogue considering we know next to nothing.
3.) The real problem is Donaghy has taken NBA fans #1 pet peeve (bad officiating) and used it against them. Who's going to question some outlandish NBA conspiracy when we see one-sided officiating in nearly every game? Either Donaghy is a big fat liar or a whistle-blower in disguise as a big fat liar. I don't have much of a problem with the NBA telling an official, "hey, watch #21, he likes to set illegal screens." I do, however, have a problem with the NBA saying, "hey, call more fouls for the home team tonight." I suppose there's a fine line, though.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
Good stuff John
People were quick to try to disprove what I was trying to point out
In Game 2 in Boston, the Celtics had a 38-10 free throw attempt advantage. That's outrageous!
They know the Celtics cant win on the road, so it being set up so they can't lose at home. Just make the shots and you're in....
The Celtics are not that good of a team. They have no Kobe Bryant to save them in the clutch. They cannot beat the Lakers in LA because the Lakers will have the officiating advantage. I would not be surprised to see this go seven games. That means Boston will win and they are the inferior team here.
Secondly, anyone who wants to beleive this league is on the up and up, be my guest. They are also the same group that believes Saddam Hussien was behind the WTC attacks and that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Enjoy your KoolAid, I'll be watching the Food Network
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Spenser T. Harrison about 1 year ago
"anyone who wants to beleive this league is on the up and up, be my guest. They are also the same group that believes Saddam Hussien was behind the WTC attacks and that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Enjoy your KoolAid, I'll be watching the Food Network"
Amen to that preacher John. I agree 110%
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
This column has 37 comments yet only 171 reads....what are the editors doing ...wake up interns
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Nader Hamdan about 1 year ago
I totally think that Sac got screwed in that year and they deserved to be Champs. Stern and the league had it in for the big market Lakers to prevail using desperate tactics by refs to ensure that they would three- peat. Both Kings and Laker fans both knew the Kings were way better that year. I probably had enough of this though. About 5 years ago I wasn't into the Kings-Lakers series even if I was in Northern California and years later people around this area still whin and bitch about it. Sacramento was hungry for national exposure if the Kings won. I think that they need to get over it because nothing is going to change, period. P.S. I don't mind if the Lakers win a championship, but Sacramento would beg a differ to their southern California rivals.
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Michael Inglis about 1 year ago
Here's a tought, Sac would've won that series if Robert Horry hadn't got lucky and and nailed a game winning 3 pointer as time experied. Did the NBA fix it so that Divac would slap it out to Horry. No, you guys are overthinking this. Everytime you think something should've gone the other way, or the better team lost you cry that the series was fixed. Believe it or not, the best team doesn't always win. If they did, nobody would watch sports because we would already know the outcome.
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Michael Inglis about 1 year ago
John you said the Celtics aren't that good of a team. Well, i guess having three hall of famers and the number 1 defense in the league makes you a bad team.
If you're relying on a convicted felon to tell you the truth then you've got something wrong with you. You can think he's telling the truth because he's got nothing to loose or you can think he's making it up to try to cut a deal and prevent more prison time. I don't know about you but I doubt Donaghy just had a moral revelation that lying and cheating is wrong. So if everyone else is cheating then why was he the only caught. And if the NBA did tell him and others to fix series then why would they expose him and have him arrested. I guess the NBA just wanted a big scandel to spice things up and put doubt in the fans minds.
You also said that it's convenient that the Lakers and Celtics are in the Finals. Well you can't just focus on one instance where thing went the way most fans wanted them too. You should try to be more objective. Many times we get the matchup that nobody wants to see. For example, last years matchup of the Cavs and Spurs. And you can well the NBA wanted Lebron in the finals. Well if they did that, i don't think they would've got him there just to be swept. Back in 2005 nobody wanted to see Spurs and Pistions but that's what we got. Or how about in 2004 when the Lakers lost to the Pistons. Wouldn't you think the NBA would want Karl Malone to get a ring. You could agrue both sides and say either way the NBA is fixed but for the most part you have to believe that most officals are out there doing the best job they can.
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Michael Inglis about 1 year ago
So John, do you still think the Celtics can't win on the road? Now they they have 3 of the last 5 on the road. You said Boston can't win in LA because of the officiating, well what do you think now? Did the officals forget to fix the game this time or is it possible that almost all of the refs are out there doing an honest job.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
This only serves to prove my point. The officiating has been too much of an issue and the league most likely mandated an on the level game to take the pressure off.
With that being said, the Celtic got a fair shake and were able to win the ballgame. Now watch the Lakers win a game in Boston....
I'm not championing this cause - because I really don't give a shit. I'm like John Thompson - I gave up on basketball a long time ago. I'm just relaying the sentiments of my constituency on the state of pro basketball. That constituency being the one that operates in the real world - from millionaire financiers to underworld operatives....
Even yesterday afternoon as I stopped in saloon to grab a refreshment the bartender - who I know has connections to high-ranking figures in the illicit wagering community - gave me his take.
"Everyone knows pro basketball is rigged" he said "It's like jai alai in shorts"
Who am I to argue?
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Ryan about 1 year ago
Though you have to discount his word, I feel Donaghy is telling the truth. It's not hard to believe that refs fixed games based on who the NBA wanted to win. Marquee match ups bring ratings and there isn't a league out there who wouldn't hope for two of the most popular teams to meet up in the championship game.
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Michael Inglis about 1 year ago
This is what im talking about John, you can spin it anyway you want to suit your side of the story. First you said the Celtics can't win in LA because of th officiating. However, when the Celtics do win in LA you say its because the league allowed the refs to call one fair game because the officiating was becoming too much of an issue. Thus the game was called fairly and the Celtics won.
You take both sides of the fence. You tell us what is going to happen because the NBA is fixed and then when your prediction doesn't come through you give alternative reasons as to how this big conspriarcy is working now.
You could do this type of thinking with anything, not just sports.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
You're not living in the real world. You're thinking like a fan, Step away from fandom for a second and listen.
I was a wheel on Wall St for 26 years. My acquaintances are people that never lose money - even in down markets they find a way to make a buck They live in place like Saratoga, Palm Beach, Napa Valley, Park Avenue....none of them watch the NBA.
They watch baseball and football and college basketball and boxing and horse racing blah blah blah,,,but the NBA lost its luster in the 80's - for the resaons I told you - and its never gotten it back for the upscale fan because it has reduced itself to WWF standards.
Last time I heard a heavyweight talk NBA was in Lake Tahoe several years back. He had a 'tip'. For this guy to even use the word 'tip' was unusual. His 'tip' happened to pay off, although I personally stayed away from it.
Need I say more?
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Michael Inglis about 1 year ago
John i write a comment talking directly about what you have previously said. Then you reply with nothing personal life experience and how being 40 makes you an expert.
You clearly said the Celtics can't win on the road and they've won 3 of the last 5. You said the celtics wont win in LA because of the officitaing but as soon as you are proven wrong you come back with an explanaiton to back yourself up.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
This is the last I'll say about this, because the lie has been perpetrated for so long that some cannot see the reality from the fantasy
Here is an article that appeared in Advertising Age this morning. AA is the the ad world whar WWD is to the fashion world. That means its practically gospel. Why would they run this article if it was baseless?
The reason is - its not....
enjoy
http://adage.com/article?article_id=127759
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Michael Inglis about 1 year ago
If you hate the NBA why have you spent the last couple of days talking about it. My biggest problem is you don't put much of any facts to back up your opinion. You only give theories and personal stories. Sorry, but that just wont cut it.
As soon as something doesn't go your way and things look like they weren't fixed you have an explanation for that too. Believe it or not, everything is not a conspriacy.
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Michael Inglis about 1 year ago
The only evidence you give is David Stern's face when the Donaghy news broke, a false statistic of home winning percentage, and that all the courts are designed the same. Do you seriously expect me to change my opinion over those facts. I even checked the home team stats myself and came up with 58%. That's not an overwhelming number.
Off course playing at home is going to be easier. That's where they practice everyday and most of them live in the city they play in. Not to mention you have 20,000 screaming fans rooting for you opposed to against you. Throughout the history of sports the home team has always had an advantage. That's why they call it home court advantage.
You said the NBA loves game 7s. Well of course they do, but how often do we have a game 7. Since David Stern has taken over there has only been 3 game 7s in the NBA Finals and that's out of 23 chances. (13%) Prior to 1984 the NBA has had 13 game 7s out of 38 chances (34%) Stats don't lie.
Ill agree that superstar athletes get the benifit of the call or that some games the free three disparity is bad but you haven't presented anything valid enough to make me think the NBA is fixed.
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