NBA punishes 6 refs who broke rules

[Pistons < Spurs]

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 iden ies 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/ba...hes_6_ref.html

[FromWayDowntown]

Interesting that this has garnered no responses. I think the most interesting part of the story isn't that there may be officials who were in technical violation of the rules in their CBA concerning gambling issues -- and it seems clear to me that any violations would be mere technical violations -- it's the issue of transparency. The Commissioner promised the fans that we would get more transparency in the league's handling of officials, but this story, if true, would seem to suggest that the new level of transparency isn't going to be very revealing. I don't particularly have a problem with that, but I've also not generally had a problem with NBA officiating on the court. But for those (coughcoughMarkCubancoughcough) who scream and yell for all sorts of reporting about officials, the silence on this issue -- at least to this point -- would seem to be a reason for concern about whether the league learned anything from the Donaghy fiasco.

[Pistons < Spurs]

The NBA on Sunday denied a New York Daily News report that the league has disciplined six referees for violating anti-gambling rules for officials.

The league's internal review of its entire officiating program in the wake of the Tim Donaghy scandal -- which is being conducted by former federal prosecutor Lawrence Pedowitz -- is not complete yet, according to league spokesman Tim Frank.

"There is no truth to this report," Frank said. "The commissioner has made it clear that we will have details to share once the review is completed."

NBA commissioner David Stern acknowledged earlier this month at a news conference in London that the internal review has indeed unearthed league policy violations from referees besides Donaghy. But the resultant penalties are not expected to be issued until the review is finished.

"There were some violations," Stern said. "But they are not hanging crimes."

Stern added in London that no firings will be necessitated by the findings of the review.

The Daily News reported in Sunday's edition that the six unnamed referees were found in violation of the league's anti-gambling policy for such infractions as going to casinos.

On July 24, Stern called the disgraced Donaghy a "rogue, isolated criminal," then said in London that the review has confirmed that.

Donaghy, who pleaded guilty to two felony charges after admitting to betting on games he officiated, will be sentenced on Jan. 25 before Judge Carol B. Amon, the Philadelphia Daily News reported, citing sealed court do ents filed in Brooklyn (N.Y.) Federal Court.

The 40-year-old veteran official pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to transmit gambling information across state lines -- for taking cash payoffs from gamblers and betting on games he officiated. He has been free on $250,000 bond.

In a letter to Stern, Donaghy resigned on July 9.

Court papers say Donaghy started placing bets on NBA games in 2003. He then gave gamblers inside information, including tips on which crews would officiate games and how the various officials and players interacted.

Donaghy faces a maximum of 25 years in prison. He also must pay a $500,000 fine.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3072928

[FromWayDowntown]

We'll see, I guess, if the league actually reveals the details, as Frank's statement suggests it will.

[ChumpDumper]

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.

They can bet on horse racing during the offseason. A journalist should be aware of this.