This is an old, old, old problem.....dating back to even before when Ed Rush acted as a procurer for Michael Jordan.
DIRTBAG DONAGHY HINTS AT OTHER REFS' BIASES
By MARC BERMAN
August 16, 2007 -- In pleading guilty to two felony counts related to gambling yesterday, Tim Donaghy cast a cloud over all referees when he said in federal court that one of his betting tips to gamblers centered on referees' relationships with certain NBA players.
Donaghy also said he made picks based on which referee crew would be working a game, and that he got paid for every pick that was correct.
In addition, the disgraced former NBA official said he made picks on some games he worked.
By acknowledging he used referees' identities as a handicapping tool, Donaghy implied NBA officials show favoritism to some teams and players - a widely held theory that has sullied the league's image.
The NBA's Referees Association was quick to release a statement after Donaghy's court appearance to dispute the integrity issue.
Association spokesman Lamell McMorris said, "We recognize that a cloud has descended upon all referees, but we are committed to showing the public this was an isolated event and NBA officiating is conducted at the highest levels of honesty, integrity and fairness."
Donaghy said in court yesterday, "I was given access to master referee schedules that included the identities of officiating crews for particular games. I was also aware of the manner in which officials interact with players and called games as well as the condition of players prior to a game. By having this non-public information, I was in a unique position to predict the outcome of NBA games."
Donaghy said he used "this non-public information in order to pick NBA teams that I predicted would win particular games and also cover the point spreads set by professional bookmakers."
Commissioner David Stern would not comment directly on the implication that refs show favoritism, but acknowledged he is investigating all aspects of officiating.
"We will continue our ongoing review of the league's officials program to ensure the best possible policies and procedures are in place to protect the integrity of the game," he said.
John Lauro, Donaghy's lawyer, seemed angered at Stern yesterday, believed to be because of Stern's news conference a few weeks ago in which the commissioner spoke as if Donaghy had already been found guilty of the charges.
"I'm sure there are questions that need to be addressed to the league, need to be addressed to Commissioner Stern," Lauro snarled, referring to the referee issue. "As I understand it, he held a press conference previously and is comfortable talking to the press [about this case]."
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