Ref Under Suspect by FBI and League!

[SpursFanFirst]

No, there isn't. Shaving points can still affect the outcome of the game. If San Antonio is favored by 4 to beat Dallas, and this ref shaves points to ensure that San Antonio doesn't win by more than 4, this could still affect who wins and loses. What if Dallas gets hot at the end and wins it? What might have been a 20 point blowout by the Spurs could turn into a Mavericks win simply because a ref shaved points to cover the spread.

Thank you...I agree. I was trying to think of a way to put something similar.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I just noticed that Bavetta was 33-33 against the line. Seems a little too perfect if you ask me. Hmmmmmmm.

[SpursFanFirst]

I don't gamble and I don't condone any of this by any means, but for those of you who wonder if gambling sites keep stats like this, check this out:

(It's easier to read if you click on the link)

http://www.coverwire.com/basketball/refdata.htm

NBA 2006-07 Referee Data Name Gm Ov% Over Under Avg Tot Avg Foul
Gary Forest 2 1.000 2 0 206.5 49.0
Jim Clark 66 .651 41 22 202.6 47.6
Orlandis Poole 54 .627 32 19 200.9 44.3
Bennett Salvatore 61 .621 36 22 204.0 46.7
Tommy Nunez 61 .610 36 23 202.4 45.1
Zach Zarba 62 .610 36 23 201.2 44.5
Eric Lewis 55 .604 32 21 197.8 47.3
Tim Donaghy 66 .603 38 25 202.1 46.6
Derrick Collins 58 .600 33 22 201.5 45.6
Jeff Smith 5 .600 3 2 216.2 53.6
Jess Kersey 60 .589 33 23 200.3 44.1
Leon Wood 66 .578 37 27 199.0 45.2
Brian Forte 7 .571 4 3 209.4 47.7
Tom Washington 67 .561 37 29 198.9 45.7
Bernie Fryer 46 .558 24 19 203.2 45.1
Scott Wall 63 .557 34 27 195.5 44.1
Benny Adams 66 .556 35 28 199.1 45.4
David Guthrie 63 .554 31 25 196.9 44.3
Ron Garretson 69 .552 37 30 198.2 44.9
Michael Smith 63 .550 33 27 199.0 44.5
Dan Crawford 66 .548 34 28 198.7 42.6
Pat Fraher 67 .548 34 28 198.5 44.0
Bill Kennedy 70 .545 36 30 198.9 44.9
Greg Willard 67 .538 35 30 198.8 43.7
Mark Wunderlich 57 .537 29 25 198.5 43.9
Eddie F. Rush 69 .532 33 29 196.0 44.8
Gary Zielinski 64 .532 33 29 198.6 43.1
James Capers 68 .530 35 31 197.8 42.8
Leroy Richardson 54 .529 27 24 198.1 45.0
Tony Brothers 65 .524 33 30 195.0 42.9
Tony Brown 55 .509 27 26 197.6 45.9
Ely Roe 60 .509 29 28 198.5 44.6
Derrick Stafford 59 .500 27 27 201.2 45.8
Bavetta 69 .500 33 33 198.1 46.0
Ed Malloy 64 .500 31 31 197.1 43.4
George Toliver 2 .500 1 1 201.0 49.5
Joe Forte 62 .500 30 30 195.0 45.6
Monty Mccutchen 65 .492 31 32 195.4 45.6
Robby Robinson 49 .489 23 24 197.4 44.6
Ron Olesiak 46 .489 22 23 193.7 44.0
Ken Mauer 67 .484 31 33 192.4 42.6
Scott Foster 69 .484 31 33 196.5 44.6
Marc Davis 63 .484 30 32 194.5 44.3
Violet Palmer 64 .483 29 31 194.4 44.7
Joe Derosa 64 .476 30 33 195.0 42.6
Mark Ayotte 55 .472 25 28 195.6 42.4
Matt Boland 61 .466 27 31 195.6 44.4
Bob Delaney 61 .458 27 32 195.9 44.7
Sean Wright 58 .455 25 30 195.6 44.5
Mike Callahan 71 .449 31 38 195.0 43.9
Steve Javie 58 .446 25 31 194.3 41.2
Derek Richardson 72 .443 31 39 196.4 44.5
Jack Nies 53 .442 23 29 197.2 42.1
Phil Robinson 70 .441 30 38 197.3 45.4
Jason Phillips 66 .435 27 35 196.7 44.6
- 34 .433 13 17 198.4 43.1
Rodney Mott 62 .417 25 35 197.0 45.0
Sean Corbin 64 .410 25 36 194.0 43.6
David Jones 61 .400 24 36 191.4 43.0
Courtney Kirkland 65 .393 24 37 195.7 42.1
Joe Crawford 42 .357 15 27 191.0 43.4
Kevin Fehr 60 .356 21 38 193.2 43.2
Luis Grillo 42 .350 14 26 194.1 45.4
Bill Spooner 3 .333 1 2 187.0 47.7
Curtis Blair 1 .000 0 1 181.0 43.0

So what is your take on this? I don't necessarily understand all of that.

[maxpower]

Unfortunately refs don't have to make incorrect calls to influence the game. They just make more or less of the calls that many times get overlooked. There are tons of holding calls during the game which do not necessarily affect the outcome of the play which can be called at any given moment.

I wonder which refs make their home in the big apple. First thing I thought when i heard this from a coworker was it had to be in the east coast and then I thought it had to be a ref who lived in the east coast.

[inconvertible]

this should allow the spurs to repeat.

[inconvertible]

this should allow the spurs to finally repeat.

[td4mvp3]

No, there isn't. Shaving points can still affect the outcome of the game. If San Antonio is favored by 4 to beat Dallas, and this ref shaves points to ensure that San Antonio doesn't win by more than 4, this could still affect who wins and loses. What if Dallas gets hot at the end and wins it? What might have been a 20 point blowout by the Spurs could turn into a Mavericks win simply because a ref shaved points to cover the spread.

Just look at the last two games of the NBA Finals, both were won by the Spurs without too much sweat but there were plays in the final seconds of both that determined winners and losers when it came to the spread. In Game 3, after LeBron James missed a 3-pointer that would've tied the game, Zydrunas Ilgauskas threw in a jump shot that appeared to be before the buzzer. It was meaningless because the Cavs needed three points, so it wasn't counted and wasn't reviewed. But not meaningless in Vegas, where the spread was 2.5 points. In Game 4, with the Cavs down by four points, Damon Jones tossed in 3-pointer at the buzzer. It made no difference to the Spurs, who were out celebrating at midcourt, or the Cavs, who had just been swept. But that hoop allowed the Cavs to cover. Now, those are just examples of the last two NBA games played.

I think the average margin of victory in the NBA last season was something like 3.5 points -- don't quote me on that, I can't find the research at the moment on the net -- but know that it is close. So a referee who is aware of the spread and aware of where he needs it to come down can make calls that may not determine the outcome but can change fortunes. With so many fouls and so many free throws in NBA games, it could so easily be done without notice. An official can call a handcheck foul or a loose ball foul virtually on every possession if he wanted to. Especially if it is a game that is largely decided -- say, a six-point game with 12 seconds to go. This situation happens almost every night in the NBA.

i think this would be the most likely approach, not something that would garner a lot of attention and , probably not any of the big games folks would be following precisely because so many folks would be watching that something untoward would get too much attention and ruin the whole setup. but i guess they got found out some way.

[BobcatsDynasty]

I could see this coming from a mile away. All these fluke teams winning fluke games, getting fluke playoff seedings and fluke championships because of crooked refs. I fully expect Charlotte to dominate in the new look NBA next season.

[Oh, Gee!!]

I could see this coming from a mile away. All these fluke teams winning fluke games, getting fluke playoff seedings and fluke championships because of crooked refs. I fully expect Charlotte to dominate in the new look NBA next season.

now nothing stands in the way of Bobcat nation. roar!!!!

[ancestron]

nba message boards are lighting up with suns fans and their "see i told you so! The NBA is fixed!" crap. oh brother.....

[Extra Stout]

Why are you still reading Suns boards? Obsessed?

[BobcatsDynasty]

now nothing stands in the way of Bobcat nation. roar!!!!

They'll be beating teams they're supposed to beat.

[ancestron]

im not reading suns boards. im reading NBA boards.

[bdictjames]

That's dumb.

What if they found out that the ref was actually helping both the Suns and Mavs to 60-win seasons and 15+ game winning streaks? LOL

[jmard5]

NBA Referee With 'Gambling Problem' Under FBI Investigation for Betting on Games

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,290124,00.html

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 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 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.

The investigation first was reported Friday by the New York Post.

[Kori Ellis]

I'm going to guess it's one of the younger refs, yet someone who has been around a while and is not talked about much.

[dbestpro]

They'll be beating teams they're supposed to beat.

Does Charlotte have the UTSA Roadrunners on their schedule?

[Solid D]

nba message boards are lighting up with suns fans and their "see i told you so! The NBA is fixed!" crap. oh brother.....

Just ignore them or tell them "What goes around, comes around". Fill in the blanks.

Who knew Raja Bell would be called, by come critics, the pivotal player of the 2006 Western Conference playoffs? Now he's the guy known for "The Clothesline"

Who knew Robert Horry would be called, by some critics, the pivotal player of the 2007 Western Conference playoffs? Now he's the guy known for "The Hipcheck"

and watch the anthill overflow with angry ants.

[judaspriestess]

WHERE IS LAKER LANNY???????

This does prove if true that ANY sport can be fixed. And for anyone to believe that it could never happen is simply naive.

[FromWayDowntown]

I'll mention this: in looking at who got playoff assignments over the last two seasons, there is one curious thing that I can't really account for -- Bill Spooner went from calling 7 playoff games in 2006, including one conference finals game, to not calling any playoff games (at least that I can find) in 2007. It would also appear from Solid D's numbers that Spooner called an absurdly low number of games in 2006-07 for a guy with his credentials. I also don't recall hearing that Spooner had gotten injured.

For whatever that's worth.

[KEDA]

so does this mean that all teams get an asterisk?

[CosmicCowboy]

I'll mention this: in looking at who got playoff assignments over the last two seasons, there is one curious thing that I can't really account for -- Bill Spooner went from calling 7 playoff games in 2006, including one conference finals game, to not calling any playoff games (at least that I can find) in 2007. It would also appear from Solid D's numbers that Spooner called an absurdly low number of games in 2006-07 for a guy with his credentials. I also don't recall hearing that Spooner had gotten injured.

For whatever that's worth.

hmmmmmmmm...

So, if Stern knew/suspected and kept it in house without notifying law enforcement is he a co-conspirator?

[Findog]

so does this mean that all teams get an asterisk?

No, only the Spurs get the *, and only in games in which they played the Suns. Everything else is on the up and up.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Well, bye-bye Vegas franchise.

[FromWayDowntown]

hmmmmmmmm...

So, if Stern knew/suspected and kept it in house without notifying law enforcement is he a co-conspirator?

I don't think so. I think that if the numbers from that site that Solid D posted are correct -- and if my deduction has any credibility at all -- it suggests to me that perhaps su ion was cast upon that official sometime early in the 2006-07 season and that as soon as such su ion was cast, he was no longer officiating NBA games.

I stress that this is all a gigantic guess on my part, trying to piece together some highly cir stantial evidence and relying in part on numbers that I can't vouch to be accurate. I don't have time to scour every NBA boxscore from this season to see if Spooner called more than 3 games. If he did, I'd say that my hypothesis would most likely be invalid -- it would be just as likely that Spooner didn't get playoff assignments because the league deemed him to be an inadequate official.

But, if you're looking for an official who carried enough clout to really make a difference in games and one who's statistical footprint looks kind of odd right now, Spooner would certainly be a candidate.