Pistons < Spurs
10-21-2007, 09:40 AM
In the biggest fallout from the Tim Donaghy betting scandal to date, six NBA refs have been disciplined by the league for breaking its strict, if unrealistic, anti-gambling rules.
Sources say that the six, whose identities remain unknown, were busted for infractions as minor as frequenting casinos. The refs' links to gambling came as a result of the league's investigation into its 60-man staff after the federal case against Donaghy.
While it's no crime for players, coaches, GMs or owners to hit the poker tables in the high-stakes VIP rooms of Las Vegas, refs are forbidden from frequenting casinos or engaging in any gambling, even if it's legal. The six refs' infractions in no way came close to resembling the crimes Donaghy committed, sources said.
"Nobody's getting suspended," said a source. "They were reprimanded and punished, but nobody lost their job."
The NBA was not specific about the infractions or the punishments.
Donaghy will be sentenced Jan. 25 for taking cash payoffs from gamblers and betting on games he officiated for the last two seasons. He faces 25 years in prison. Nearly three months after the NBA's worst betting scandal, sources say the league's investigation turned up no other ref who bet on games. All along, David Stern believed that Donaghy was a "rogue, isolated criminal."
"Thank God," said a source. "It would have been devastating if there was anybody else who was doing what Donaghy did."
After pleading guilty to two felonies, Donaghy reportedly was set to blow the whistle to prosecutors on 20 fellow refs for gambling activities. But Stern told the refs last month that the infractions did not warrant dismissals. According to league rules, refs are permitted one offseason trip to the racetrack and that's it.
"There were some violations," Stern said, referring to the six, while he toured preseason camps in Europe. "But they are not hanging crimes."
Since Aug. 21, the league's investigation of officials has been handled by Larry Pedowitz, a former federal prosecutor. Stern has promised to do more background checks and have the league admit to its mistakes involving officiating more quickly than in the past. Otherwise, the league goes into the season opener on Oct. 30 having done little else to reduce the chances of another gambling scandal. That doesn't sit well with some owners and executives, who are under gag orders that prevent them from going public with their complaints.
But warned one Western Conference executive: "If nothing has changed personnel-wise, or process-wise, there is nothing to stop it from happening again."
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/2007/10/21/2007-10-21_after_donaghy_scandal_nba_punishes_6_ref.html
Sources say that the six, whose identities remain unknown, were busted for infractions as minor as frequenting casinos. The refs' links to gambling came as a result of the league's investigation into its 60-man staff after the federal case against Donaghy.
While it's no crime for players, coaches, GMs or owners to hit the poker tables in the high-stakes VIP rooms of Las Vegas, refs are forbidden from frequenting casinos or engaging in any gambling, even if it's legal. The six refs' infractions in no way came close to resembling the crimes Donaghy committed, sources said.
"Nobody's getting suspended," said a source. "They were reprimanded and punished, but nobody lost their job."
The NBA was not specific about the infractions or the punishments.
Donaghy will be sentenced Jan. 25 for taking cash payoffs from gamblers and betting on games he officiated for the last two seasons. He faces 25 years in prison. Nearly three months after the NBA's worst betting scandal, sources say the league's investigation turned up no other ref who bet on games. All along, David Stern believed that Donaghy was a "rogue, isolated criminal."
"Thank God," said a source. "It would have been devastating if there was anybody else who was doing what Donaghy did."
After pleading guilty to two felonies, Donaghy reportedly was set to blow the whistle to prosecutors on 20 fellow refs for gambling activities. But Stern told the refs last month that the infractions did not warrant dismissals. According to league rules, refs are permitted one offseason trip to the racetrack and that's it.
"There were some violations," Stern said, referring to the six, while he toured preseason camps in Europe. "But they are not hanging crimes."
Since Aug. 21, the league's investigation of officials has been handled by Larry Pedowitz, a former federal prosecutor. Stern has promised to do more background checks and have the league admit to its mistakes involving officiating more quickly than in the past. Otherwise, the league goes into the season opener on Oct. 30 having done little else to reduce the chances of another gambling scandal. That doesn't sit well with some owners and executives, who are under gag orders that prevent them from going public with their complaints.
But warned one Western Conference executive: "If nothing has changed personnel-wise, or process-wise, there is nothing to stop it from happening again."
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/2007/10/21/2007-10-21_after_donaghy_scandal_nba_punishes_6_ref.html