Tim Donaghy Asks NBA Fans, “How Far Down the Rabbit Hole Should We Go?”

As I watched Broncos-Chiefs game today on CBS, I saw repeated advertisements for the Tim Donaghy interview on 60 minutes tonight, but didn’t think much of it.

After watching the interview, I was left wondering why 60 Minutes didn’t ask him about specific allegations he made about current and past NBA referees.

Then, as I checked Denver Nuggets news, it turns out Donaghy not only helped fix a game that the Nuggets lost, he divulged some valuable “information” about many other of the NBA’s referees, specifically Dick Bavetta.

In a post from deadspin.com , which has many excerpts of Donaghy’s book Personal Foul: A First-Person Account of the Scandal that Rocked the NBA , Donaghy said Bavetta, one of the most respected NBA referees, basically fixed some NBA games—including Denver’s 2003-04 regular season finale against San Antonio.

From the book in Donaghy’s words, “Two weeks before the 2003–04 season ended, Bavetta and I were assigned to officiate a game in Oakland. That afternoon before the tip-off, we were discussing an upcoming game on our schedule. It was the last regular-season game we were scheduled to work, pitting Denver against San Antonio.

"Denver had lost a game a few weeks prior because of a mistake made by the referees, a loss that could be the difference between them making or missing the playoffs. Bavetta told me Denver needed the win and that it would look bad for the staff and the league if the Nuggets missed the playoffs by one game.

"There were still a few games left on the schedule before the end of the season, and the standings could potentially change. But on that day in Oakland, Bavetta looked at me and casually stated, 'Denver will win if they need the game. That's why I'm on it.’

“I was thinking, ‘How is Denver going to win on the road in San Antonio?’ At the time, the Spurs were arguably the best team in the league. Bavetta answered my question before it was asked."

'Duncan will be on the bench with three fouls within the first five minutes of the game,' he calmly stated.

It turns out the Nuggets had locked up the playoffs in the week leading up to the regular season finale, so Bavetta changed his mind and told Donaghy, “In our pregame meeting, he talked about how important the game was to San Antonio and how meaningless it was to Denver, and that San Antonio was going to get the benefit of the calls that night.”

Just one instance that Bavetta and other refs were going to make sure one team wins over the other which is a huge hit on the NBA’s credibility. I’ve heard of “make-up calls,” but make up games? Despicable, even if it was going to benefit my beloved Nuggets.

Speaking of make-up calls, Donaghy spoke about them too.

“Minnesota and New Orleans were in a tight game going into the last minute, and (Joey) Crawford told us to make sure that we were 100 percent sure of the call every time we blew the whistle. When play resumed, Minnesota coach Flip Saunders started yelling at us to make a call. Robinson got intimidated and blew the whistle on New Orleans.

The only problem was it wasn't the right call. Tim Floyd , the Hornets' coach, went nuts. He stormed the court and kicked the ball into the top row of the stadium. Robinson had to throw him out, and Minnesota won the game.”

“Later that week, Ronnie Nunn told me that we could have made something up at the other end against Minnesota to even things out. He even got specific—maybe we should have considered calling a traveling violation on Kevin Garnett . Talk about the politics of the game! Of course the official statement from the league office will always read, ‘There is no such thing as a makeup call.’"

So, according to Donaghy, make-up calls are a real in the NBA, too. They serve as an easy solution to a ref who misses a call or blows the whistle at the wrong time.

That wasn’t all, though.

Donaghy stated that during the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Sacramento Kings and L.A. Lakers that, “In the pregame meeting prior to Game Six, the league office sent down word that certain calls—calls that would have benefitted the Lakers—were being missed by the referees.

"This was the type of not-so-subtle information that I and other referees were left to interpret. After receiving the dispatch, Bavetta openly talked about the fact that the league wanted a Game Seven.”

Bavetta reportedly even called himself the NBA’s “go-to guy” when speaking about the 2002 WCF series. If the conversation did take place, what did Bavetta mean? He’s the ref the NBA goes to when they need a game “manipulated” the most?

Donaghy’s personal better, Jack Concannon, “expressed amazement at the way an NBA game could be manipulated. Sobering, yes; amazing, no. That’s how the game is played in the National Basketball Association. ”

Say it ain’t so, Dick!

The NBA directing referees to call games in favor of one team over another? These claims aren’t new, but they are very serious. It would make it as though the NBA (David Stern) was the puppet master, the refs his personal puppets.

If this were the case, Stern and his bias for bigger media markets means a “small-market” team like the Nuggets, from Denver, CO have little or no chance at winning a championship.

Say it ain’t so, NBA!

Donaghy admitted to other referees dishonoring the NBA as well.

Tommy Nunez supposedly helped the Spurs advance past the Suns in the playoffs in 2007. Nunez “wanted to come back to San Antonio for the conference finals.

Plus, he, like many other referees, disliked Suns owner Robert Sarver for the way he treated officials. He (Nunez) was pointing out everything that Phoenix was able to get away with and never once told us to look for anything in regard to San Antonio. Nunez should have a championship ring on his finger.”

Donaghy accused Derrick Stafford and Jess Kersey of being in cahoots with Isiah Thomas, and said that Stafford called a game for the Knicks when Thomas coached them in exchange for some autographs. Kersey would do the same. He also explained how Steve Javie loathes Allen Iverson, and would call technicals on the star whenever he could.

The refs letting personal biases give teams wins or players thrown out of games?

Say it ain’t so, referees!

Donaghy effectively threw himself, his former co-workers, and the entire NBA under a huge bus. He placed a shroud of darkness over the league and is essentially playing into the hands of the conspiracy theorists that for one reason or another despise a game that many love. 

Why should we believe Donaghy, though?

His name has already been soiled, he's the one in jail, and can never officiate again—something he admitted on 60 Minutes that he missed and as the reason he won’t watch NBA basketball now.

Donaghy is an admitted liar, immoral, and an unethical buffoon.

There is no reason to believe that most of his most egregious allegations are true. Sure, some refs have it out for some players and some are favored (Donaghy admits that super stars get more calls), but that's minor.

For Donaghy to call out all those referees, especially in such great detail with Dick Bavetta, seriously questions the credibility of the league—but really, Donaghy is the one left without a grain of credibility.

He said he only made $2,000 per game, and a total of $100,000 in four years—money that Donaghy says was squandered away in casinos or paying off “football debts.” But apparently the mob was making millions of dollars, and that doesn’t seem to add up.

Why would Donaghy commit such serious crimes, risk his career, his family, and even his own life for a mere $2,000 per game? Donaghy had to make more money than that or maybe he is that cocky and stupid.

Plus, Donaghy is now releasing his book, something that purposefully stirs up the NBA, all to make money. Trying to discredit an entire league is sad, and the way he’s trying to ruin other referee’s careers is just plain wrong.

Throughout the book Donaghy talks about the politics being played in the NBA, but it seems he’s the one playing the politics game the most—taking personal stabs at ex-cohorts that he likely had problems with. And if he can’t be part of the NBA, why not try to take down the whole league with him?

Donaghy has lost everything in his life, money, his wife divorced him, his cushy high-paying career, and even had a knee bashed in prison—he has every reason to attempt to discredit the NBA.

NBA Commissioner David Stern has repeatedly said that Donaghy was a “rogue felon” in this case and that he was the only referee to bet on games. He also said measures were being taken so that referee’s personal biases aren’t affecting outcomes of games.

Stern released a comment following Donaghy’s 60 Minutes interview tonight that attempted to clear the air about the depth of the NBA conspiracies that Donaghy opened the door to through his book.

In the interview, Donaghy repeated his allegations against his former colleagues, NBA referees, as well as the NBA. Those allegations have been fully investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the government completed its investigation, finding that the only criminal conduct was that of Mr. Donaghy.

In addition, the NBA appointed Lawrence B. Pedowitz, a former Chief of the Criminal Division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York to lead a comprehensive independent review of the NBA’s officiating program. Mr. Pedowitz’ review revealed that the NBA’s core values of neutrality and accountability were not compromised by anyone other than Mr. Donaghy.”

So, as quickly as Donaghy opened the door on a wild array of cheating, dishonesty and altering of NBA games, Stern closed it.

The FBI found no other cheating besides Donaghy and the NBA keeps right on ticking. Case closed.

Thank goodness, I love basketball too much to have to question every whistle blow I see during a game. Oh wait, I love to criticize officials so much I do it anyway. At least now I can be sure that even though they make mistakes, at least the refs are on the level.