David Stern also called it the worst situation that he had experienced during his tenure as commissioner. The scandal is focused on referee Tim Donaghy who is being investigated by the FBI on allegations of betting on games that he officiated.
Tim Donaghy has officiated 131 games over the past 13 seasons, including 5 playoff games according to
espn.com. Now he's being accused of losing control of his gambling problem and using his officiating power to affect the point spread in an unknown number of games.
It's not the kind of manipulation that would necessarily affect the winner or loser of the game, but for gamblers who bet on the
under or over, meaning they bet on the total points scored, it's a clear indication that gambling money is involved.
"Mr. Donaghy is the only referee alleged to have bet on NBA games and disclosed confidential information to others...I'll say it again, I understand this is an isolated case.'' said David Stern to a room full of
reporters at a news conference.
According to the
Manila Bulletin, Donaghy's name came up in recorded conversations of Gambino mobsters. In addition to affecting point spreads the 40 year old referee would have known in advance, which officials would be working at games, allowing gamblers to act on knowledge about their officiating tendencies and even inside information on players.
According to a
New York Times reporter, it was not clear whether the Donaghy was betting on games that he worked, or on other games, but Stern did say that the alleged leaks of information and manipulation of scores would have occurred during the last two seasons. Stern denied that the league knew about the problem before June 20th when they supposedly first heard from the FBI. NBA officials were told to keep him on as an employee, so that the investigation could continue without interference.
Regarding the potential for information to be leaked,
TSN reported that Stern was quoted as saying 'Not only aren't they permitted to either gamble or provide information to people...they may not even provide other than to their immediate family the details of their travel schedules or the games they are going to work.''
Stern stands by his officials who are supposed to follow a strict code of conduct. According to the
New York Times a pamphlet is given to all N.B.A. referees and employees, forbidding them from from gambling on any league game. Referees are also barred from “participating in any gambling or placing bets of any kind”, with the exception of race tracks during the off season.
"It is my hope," Stern said, according to the
USA Today, "that the NBA will be similarly accorded the benefit of the doubt, based upon what we have done, what we stand for and what we pledge to continue to do."
If the FBI's investigation proves that Donaghy is guilty, it affects the integrity of the game in the same way that the putrid stench of corruption rises to the surface when incidents like the figure skating scandal of the 2002 winter Olympics. Sports is entertainment, but it's also a money making business and heavy gambling is not new to the NBA or any other sport. Paid employees of sports leagues need to be especially diligent of their behaviour or suffer the humiliation of someone like
Pete Rose who spoiled a brilliant baseball career and legacy because he couldn't restrain himself from betting on the game.
