Posted on 07/20/2007 8:09:15 AM PDT by Freedom of Speech Wins
FBI probes allegations NBA ref bet on games he worked ESPN.com news services
Updated: July 20, 2007, 10:37 AM ET
NEW YORK -- The FBI is investigating allegations that a veteran NBA referee bet on basketball games over the past two seasons, including ones in which he officiated.
According to a law enforcement official, authorities are examining whether the referee made calls to affect the point spread in games on which he or associates had wagered.
The investigation first was reported Friday by the New York Post.
The law enforcement official, who spoke to the AP on Friday on condition of anonymity, said the referee was aware of the investigation and had made arrangements to surrender as early as next week to face charges. The official, who did not identify the referee, is familiar with the investigation but was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation.
The law enforcement official said the bets involved thousands of dollars and were made on games during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons.
The NBA issued a brief statement Friday: "We have been asked by the FBI, with whom we are working closely, not to comment on this matter at this time."
The probe, which began recently, also involves allegations that the referee had connections to organized crime associates. Other arrests are expected, the official said.
The referee had a gambling problem, according to the official, and was approached by low-level mob associates through an acquaintance.
"These accusations, if true, are extremely serious and we have been in discussions with the NBA regarding this matter," Lamell McMorris, head of the NBA Referees Association, told Bloomberg News. "In light of the fact that this is an ongoing federal criminal investigation, we have nothing further to say at this time."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Stupid. There are no secrets.
I think he reffed a few games I saw against my team.
I wonder how much money the mob made, by noting the spread that he bet on?
Great - another excuse to bash my Spurs for winning their fourth championship...must have been a ref on the take, not Timmy, Tony, Manu and the rest of the stand-up members of the nicest team in pro sports.
Paranoid? Me? Waddya mean by THAT?
Spurs fan
I knew it! I knew the Mavs got jobbed in the NBA finals against the heat!
Now as for the latest debacle against the 8th seed Warriors I offer no such excuse
The Mavs choked all by themselves.
I believe if you question officials regarding the 2006 finals, you get called for a foul on Dwayne Wade.
One more reason to skip pro-basketball.
He HAD to have been working the 2006 Finals as Dwayne Wade made trip after trip to the foul line against the Mavs.
He HAD to have been working the 2006 Western Conference Finals as Dirk Nowitzki made trip after trip to the foul line against the Spurs.
I meant the Western Conference Semi-Finals against the Spurs.
Possibly, but the Mavs choked on their own.
I looked- This Donaghy guy reffed at least one of the Suns-Spurs games this playoffS!!!!!!!
All the major sports reporting outposts are reporting this as the source/name of the ref.
He has resighned from reffing.
I googled his name and nba playoffs and found that he reffed game 3 of this past NBA series with Spurs/Suns. (Controversial series)
Oooh, anyway we can find the odds on those games and how the bookies made out?
Overs and Unders too.
Second to last game of their playoff series the Lakers were 6 point dogs, surprise surpirse, they lost by 14, not 13 which would have been a push, but 14. Lakers + 14 wasn't good.
Any chance the casinos or the NBA will refund lost wagers on fixed basketball games?
Any lawyers willing to try this one?
When you see the players shooting without even looking at the basket that is when you know the fix is in.
Some of these guys are really bad actors.
They will try to play it off as "an isolated incident", but I believe common sense and following the lines will tell one that this is how it is done with the referees, coaches, and the players.
Witness all the calls against the Seahawks in the Super Bowl against the Steelers. If that can be fixed, what sporting event can't.
Penalty on Hasselback for an illegal block when he tackled the guy who intercepted his pass who would have run it back for a touchdown. How dare he try to stop the guy from scoring a touchdown on an interception return? Give me a break.
NBA, NFL, MLB, and college football and basketball are all in my view complete jokes where the fix is in.
If you don't follow the lines and the results then you can be blessfully ignorant of the massive fixes that are taking place.
They don't even out the betting with the odds, they do what is necessary with the fix for the public to lose the most money on their bets.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.