The big news of the day is the New York Post piece asserting that an NBA official will be arrested fairly soon, accused of point-shaving in NBA games due to Mob ties. Blogfrica is all over this today — see Shanoff, Deadspin, TSF, TBL, With Leather, Brooks, etc.
Forget off-the-court criminal acts, nothing can do more to damage any sports league than an affront to the credibility of the on-field or on-court product. If this turns out to be true, and goes deeper than Murray Weiss’ report, then David Stern is in a snit that makes Bud Selig’s will-he-won’t-he on Barry Bonds and Rog of Iron Fist’s current Vick quandary look like child’s play.
The sources indicated the referee apparently had a gambling problem, slipped into debt and fell prey to mob thugs.
“That’s how he got himself into this predicament” by wagering with mob-connected bookies, one source said.
It’s very, very difficult to believe that in the 21st century, where everyone and their mother has the luxury of gambling online, that a ref wouldn’t know better than to get involved with a street bookie — especially one with connections to organized crime. The Velvet Glove (Stern) will be playing some serious spin control.
UPDATE: Tim Donaghy is the ref being investigated, and he’s apparently offered his resignation already.
Filed under: NBA, crime, officiating
If nothing else, this should improve the quality of ref-taunting in NBA arenas next season.
Zero, I can only imagine it puts a new spin on the crowd yelling if the ref is trying to make that new payment on his house or something.