Sports / Basketball
NBA Commissioner calls ref's betting scandal isolated
(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-07-25 08:52
NEW YORK - NBA Commissioner David Stern said on Tuesday an FBI probe
learned that former referee Tim Donaghy was a "rogue, isolated criminal"
who bet on games and that it appeared no other league employees were
involved.
NBA Commissioner David Stern speaks a press conference to discuss former
NBA referee Tim Donaghy in New York July 24, 2007. Donaghy is accused of
betting on games he officiated. [Reuters]
Stern told a news conference that he was told by the FBI, which is
conducting the investigation, that Donaghy was the only referee it has
evidence of betting on games.
"If that understanding changes tomorrow I will inform you," said Stern.
Stern vowed that the league would give its full cooperation and conduct
an exhaustive review of its security practices.
"This is the worst thing that can happen to a professional sports
league," said Stern, adding that any official's involvement in gambling
shatters the covenant with fans over the integrity of the game.
"This is the worst situation I have ever experienced either as a fan of
the NBA, a lawyer for the NBA or the commissioner of the NBA," he said,
calling it "a betrayal of what we know in sports as a sacred trust."
Stern said the investigation involved games that Donaghy, a 13-year NBA
veteran, worked over the last two seasons. Donaghy submitted his
resignation on July 9.
The commissioner said the FBI came to him about Donaghy on June 20 and
asked that the league not act on the information to safeguard the
investigation.
Stern said the NBA has had talks with Donaghy's lawyer and understood he
was discussing a plea deal with authorities.
Word of the FBI investigation broke Friday with a report that the
referee's gambling became known during a separate investigation of
organized crime.
"It is my understanding that he is accused of betting on games in the
NBA," Stern said Tuesday about Donaghy, who he described as "a rogue,
isolated criminal."
"Including some games that he worked and others he didn't work. I
understand he will likely be accused of providing information to others
for the purpose of betting on NBA games."
The commissioner said the NBA would review Donaghy's games after the
criminal investigation is completed.
"He worked 150 games over the last two years ... we did not want to sort
of march people together and say, we are now going to investigate Tim
Donaghy ...
"But I can assure you that in the fullness of the summer and the autumn,
we will have the opportunity to review Mr. Donaghy statistically and by
video, and it will be done."
Stern said all gambling, other than off-season visits to horse racing
tracks, was forbidden for officials. He said Donaghy earned $260,000 last
season.
Asked if he was surprised by the breach, Stern said: "Yes, I'm surprised,
but I think no more surprised than the head of the FBI, the head of the
CIA, that rogue employees turn on their country in criminal activity
despite the best investigative procedures you can possibly imagine."
Stern said the NBA routinely monitors officials, employing 30 observers
to ensure one at every game. Every game is also reviewed on video and
some are audited by a group supervisor.
Stern said the league hired additional experts this year to audit the
auditors evaluating referees.
He said he expected changes in the wake of the scandal.
"We're going to revisit everything. Everything."
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