A Suns fan is writing for FoxSport and saying Spurs-Suns was fixed...

[zocool16]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7045572


Did Donaghy fix Game 3 of Suns-Spurs?
Kevin Hench
FOXSports.com, Updated 2 hours ago


There aren't many dark days in the Valley of the Sun in mid-summer, but Friday must have been pretty gloomy.

Just when Phoenix Suns fans were moving through the acceptance phase of their grief over last year's unjust playoff exit comes another knee to the groin.

As if the playoff suspensions of Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw (in exchange for instigator Robery Horry) hadn't been a big enough miscarriage of justice, now comes news that NBA referee Tim Donaghy is under FBI investigation for betting on basketball. There are even allegations of mob ties.

While those charges have yet to be proven, there is very little debate among the basketball cognoscenti as to what was the most dubiously officiated game in this spring's playoffs. It was Game 3 of the Suns-Spurs Western Conference semifinals on May 12.

It was a bewildering carnival of bad calls, bad non-calls and egregiously late calls.

Who did that game? Eddie F. Rush, Greg Willard and Tim Donaghy.

The Suns' gut-wrenching six-game loss to the Spurs had already plunged their fans into the grief cycle, only then it was due largely to David Stern's failure to insert a measure of mitigating sanity to his zero-tolerance bench-leaving policy.

The pain played out like this:

# Denial — This can't be happening. Robert Horry didn't just hip-check Steve Nash into the scorer's table with the result being the suspensions of our only low-post scorer and best low-post passer. This cannot be happening.

# Anger — We hate you, David Stern! We'd like to see Charles Barkley throw you through a plate glass window at Dan Majerle's bar!

# Bargaining — Please, please, let us squeak out Game 5. Let the series go seven games. We'll forget all about the unjust suspensions.

# Depression — We lost. We're doomed. It's over. Our window of opportunity is closing. Nash is 33. That was our shot.

# Acceptance — We're down, but not out. We just signed Grant Hill. Stoudemire will be another year away from microfracture surgery. Leandro Barbosa is getting better by the minute.

And then whammo! It looks like the NBA has a dirty ref and he called a pivotal playoff game that the Suns lost. So, for beleaguered Suns fans, the stages of grieving begin anew.

# Denial — There is simply no way an official in a major American sport would do this. This isn't Italian soccer, dammit.

# Anger — Was Game 3 the game when Bruce Bowen essentially assaulted Nash from start to finish? Was Bowen really whistled for only two fouls? Did Nash really shoot only three free throws? Was that the game where the Suns were in the midst of a run-out when they were interrupted by a foul call so late it just had to be an inadvertent whistle?

# Bargaining — Okay. Please, Federal Bureau of Investigation, just tell us Donaghy hadn't bet on that game. Please just tell us that a pile of mob money didn't come down on the Spurs in Game 3.

# Depression — Ah, what's the difference? It's not like Stern is going to give us a do-over.

# Acceptance — Probably never.

First, Game 3 will have to be put under a microscope. Hard to believe it will look any better under a jeweler's loupe than it did on TV.

Off the top of my head, the worst non-call — after Bowen forced a turnover by chopping down on Nash's off hand as the point guard was crossing over — came right in front of Rush, not Donaghy.

One other critical officiating error was a whistle on a clean block by Stoudemire, who played only 21 minutes due to foul trouble.

And then there was the whistle delivered from Shangri-La. The Suns had forced a miss, secured the ball and were pushing it up court when a foul was called, retroactive to the shot attempt. If it turns out that Donaghy made this particular call — after having a couple of seconds to think about it — it will look very bad.

The Spurs were favored by four in Game 3 and won by seven, 108-101. They shot nine more free throws than the Suns, a perfectly reasonable gap between an interior-scoring team and a jump-shooting team. While the risk of fixing a playoff game is increased by the closer scrutiny of the game, it is easier to place large bets without setting off red flags because there's much more money being wagered on a playoff game than a regular season game.

If Donaghy is convicted of fixing any games over the last two seasons — during which the FBI was monitoring his games — how will Stern, who must have precious little credibility in Phoenix, ever convince Suns fans that they weren't the victims of a fix? I mean, besides the one he himself sanctioned after Game 4. (And if it turns out Donaghy did conspire to fix Game 3, how happy will Suns fans be with the FBI for allowing their team to be an unwitting victim in a two-year-old sting operation?)

For years Stern has been dismissing the cries of conspiracy theorists and fining anyone who dared open his mouth about the officiating. He even went so far as to threaten to throw Jeff Van Gundy out of the league.

If during a criminal court proceeding it comes to light that Donaghy was influencing the outcome of games, is Stern prepared to return any fine money levied against a player, coach or owner who criticized what turned out to be crooked officiating?

Former Orlando Magic coach Brian Hill was fined $25,000 after complaining bitterly about the officiating in a game Donaghy did on March 6, 2006.

Stern could conceivably return that fine money if it turns out Donaghy was in the bag. But what if evidence emerges that Donaghy had money on the Spurs in Game 3?

If that's the case, Stern's refusal to adjudicate the Horry-Stoudemire-Diaw non-fight fairly will have compounded a criminal act. How could he ever make things right in Phoenix?

He might start by awarding Phoenix, one of the finalists, the 2009 All-Star Game. But would he dare show up?

Suns fans may still be grieving.

[SpursDynasty]

DAMNIT SUNS FANS:

The suspensions were a result of LETTER OF THE LEAGUE RULES: LEAVING THE BENCH DURING AN ALTERCATION, PLAIN AND SIMPLE! It was NOT caused by Horry bumping Nash. The suspensions have NOTHING to do with Stern, a conspiracy, or referee betting. IT'S THE LEAGUE RULE, PLAIN AND ING SIMPLE. Stop typing it in with the current NBA issue.

When are you all going to learn this???? The heat frying your brains out there???

If any of the Spurs left the bench, they would have been suspended too.

Next time Nash will learn not to flop so hugely on a small bump by Horry.

See my signature. And it's not like you guys didn't have your chances before....You got owned in 2005 by SA and 2006 by Dallas. Heck, you guys didn't even belong in the 2006 WCF's. Run and gun and shoot does not equal a championship. You can get your 60 wins by running around and getting any easy jump shots you want vs. poor defensive teams, but once you get to the playoffs, you're not getting easy shots vs the Hawks and the Hornets and the Bears or whoever.

[Beaverfuzz]

I guess Donaghy is responsible for the Spurs making a few more baskets than the Suns?

[zocool16]

he's kinda talkin about game 3.... but yeah what the

[inconvertible]

are you kidding. in that game the suns assaulted the spurs all game. until horry had enough.

[Mister Sinister]

[zocool16]

are you kidding. in that game the suns assaulted the spurs all game. until horry had enough.

game 3 people, game 3 (horry's clutch "shot" was in game 4)

[Dex]

I love how people like to about things that will never change.

You know, I think it'd be pretty in' cool for the sky to be green, but I'm not gonna make it come any closer to happening.

[Darkwaters]

This is exactly what this rivalry needs...a mob connection.

[Budkin]

That wasn't even the ing hip check game... Game 3 was a Spurs blowout until the end of the 4th when the Suns rallied, but the Spurs held them off. Game 4 was almost identical but the Suns were able to come all the way back and win.

GET THE OVER IT SUNS FANS... YOU LOST TO THE CHAMPS!!!!

[Leetonidas]

I thought Robert Horry's hip check came in Game 4 because wasn't Game 4 when they tied it up but Diaw and Amare sat out Game 5?

[Dex]

I thought Robert Horry's hip check came in Game 4 because wasn't Game 4 when they tied it up but Diaw and Amare sat out Game 5?

It did. Horry's hip check came after the Suns had pretty much wrapped up Game 4 and were getting ready to burn out the clock.

The "shangri-la" call he references here was just a su iously late whistle that came about late in Game 3 when the Spurs were pulling away. And it did, admittedly, rob the Suns of one small chance at coming back.

Then again, it's not like they didn't waste plenty others themselves.

[FromWayDowntown]

This column isn't about Donaghy. It's about taking another turn at complaining that Stern's decision to enforce a rule the way it had always been enforced -- that Stern should have made a one-time exception that would have bailed out Amare and Diaw for having their heads up their asses at a crucial moment in time.

The Donaghy thing is now just a means to resuscitate long-dead whining.

[Slinkyman]

i love suns fans, they make me laugh.

[HaHaa]

This column isn't about Donaghy. It's about taking another turn at complaining that Stern's decision to enforce a rule the way it had always been enforced -- that Stern should have made a one-time exception that would have bailed out Amare and Diaw for having their heads up their asses at a crucial moment in time.

The Donaghy thing is now just a means to resuscitate long-dead whining.

Well....he made an acception for Tim Duncan.

Hmmmmmmmm

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MHyuPorlLiQ

[SAGambler]

While the risk of fixing a playoff game is increased by the closer scrutiny of the game, it is easier to place large bets without setting off red flags because there's much more money being wagered on a playoff game than a regular season game.

I disagree with this. If you have a game like Spurs - Hornets and the Spurs are a 16 point favorite, it's much easier to control that type of spread without being so obvious about it. And being just another RS game, it won't draw attention when the Spurs only win by 13. It'll just be well, the Spurs took their foot off the pedal once the game was in hand.

Those are the type of games I would bet he had money on.

[td4mvp21]

This column isn't about Donaghy. It's about taking another turn at complaining that Stern's decision to enforce a rule the way it had always been enforced -- that Stern should have made a one-time exception that would have bailed out Amare and Diaw for having their heads up their asses at a crucial moment in time.

The Donaghy thing is now just a means to resuscitate long-dead whining.

Exactly. The suspensions were completely irrelevant to bring up in an article about Donaghy. All I saw in that article was ing-not too surprising for a Suns-related product.

[Leetonidas]

Well....he made an acception for Tim Duncan.

Hmmmmmmmm

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MHyuPorlLiQ

It's funny how most other fans in the NBA realize that there wasn't an altercation on court which is why Tim Duncan wasn't suspended yet moronic whiny ass Suns Fans don't ing get it.

You assholes are so ing annoying with your conspiracy bull . You really think David Stern wanted the ratings-poison Spurs in the Finals instead of the most fast paced exciting team in the NBA? Get real dumb . Your team just sucks ass and two of your players and ing idiots.

[td4mvp21]

Well....he made an acception for Tim Duncan.

Hmmmmmmmm

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MHyuPorlLiQ

You can't even see anything. When Duncan is seen on the court, all you see is Nash and a referee. What an altercation! If you want to convince us that Stern made an exception for Duncan (which he didn't), then you'll have to show us some better evidence (which you won't be able to find any). In fact, I'm willing to bet you'll either:
a) Completely ignore this post
b) Disregard what I said and tell me how I and other Spurs fans are just in denial
c) Show some other stupid footage that proves nothing

[HaHaa]

Exactly. The suspensions were completely irrelevant to bring up in an article about Donaghy. All I saw in that article was ing-not too surprising for a Suns-related product.

So why didn't Tim Duncan get suspended then??

Since your so adamant about the Amare and Boris suspensions being in line with the rules....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MHyuPorlLiQ

[HaHaa]

It's funny how most other fans in the NBA realize that there wasn't an altercation on court which is why Tim Duncan wasn't suspended yet moronic whiny ass Suns Fans don't ing get it.

You assholes are so ing annoying with your conspiracy bull . You really think David Stern wanted the ratings-poison Spurs in the Finals instead of the most fast paced exciting team in the NBA? Get real dumb . Your team just sucks ass and two of your players and ing idiots.

SO WHY DID HE COME ONTO THE COURT THEN MORON?!

YOUR OBVIOUSLY IN DENIAL BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE TRUTH

[Slinkyman]

Well....he made an acception for Tim Duncan.

Hmmmmmmmm

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MHyuPorlLiQ

Tim was going to the scorers table to check in

[coopdogg3]

Well....he made an acception for Tim Duncan.

Hmmmmmmmm

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MHyuPorlLiQ

1) Not to nit-pick but it's exception, not acception - very big difference.

2) The rule states there has to be an altercation. There wasn't. No rule was broken.

[FromWayDowntown]

So why didn't Tim Duncan get suspended then??

Since your so adamant about the Amare and Boris suspensions being in line with the rules....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MHyuPorlLiQ

Because there was no altercation when Tim Duncan was on the floor. There was an altercation when Amare and Boris were on the floor.

Really, you're about 2 months too late with this stuff.

[TwoHandJam]

I knew it! I'm positive I saw Donaghy hold Nash scoreless for the first half of that game.

Damn crooked refs.