Ex-NBA ref pleads guilty to gambling charges

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20269972/ ^ | 8-15-07

[Hydroshock]

NEW YORK - Former referee Tim Donaghy pleaded guilty to two felony charges Wednesday in an NBA betting scandal that rocked the league and raised questions about the integrity of games.

Donaghy faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced for conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting wagering information through interstate commerce.

Donaghy provided recommendations, called “picks,” to co-conspirators about what team they should bet on, said U.S. District Court Judge Carol Bagley Amon. If he was correct, they paid him.

[Hydroshock]

Thugball

[Loud Mime]

So low he has to climb to the bottom....this is terrible.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

I’d feel cheated if I still watched the NBA.

Luckily I gave that up long ago when they stopped playing basketball.

[gridlock]

Refs control the game in basketball. If they didn’t, this guy would have had nothing to sell.

[laotzu]

I’d feel cheated if I still watched the NBA

Yeah. The Knicks will leave you feeling that way.

[poobear]

“I’d feel cheated if I still watched the NBA.”

Same here, I remember watching with my Dad growing up. Saturdays for college, Sundays with the NBA. Not that they didn’t have troubles then but today I don’t bother. The 80’s and early nineties were the last hurray for the NBA.

Maybe I’m too old to appreciate thug basketball. Maybe that is a good thing.

[dfwgator]

The thing is, foreign players are starting to take over the league. “Thugball” may be on the way out.

[Yo-Yo]

Thugball

How did Basketball get the nickname "cagers"?

[Hydroshock]

There is a reason the Portland Trailblazers are called the Jailblazers.

[RC2]

This is really great. The guy is looking at 25 years for betting. Vick is looking at one year for killing dogs. Something wrong with our system in the courts.

[jmyrlefuller]

I’ll bet money that this is going on in other leagues too.

[Aegedius]

There is no truth to the ugly rumor that the guy taking bets on the length of the prison sentence is the judge in the case.

[Hydroshock]

I think you are right.

[Sonny M]

I’ll bet money that this is going on in other leagues too.

I don't think it is, but I am dang positive that there are more NBA refs doing this.

[rogue yam]

The 80’s and early nineties were the last hurray for the NBA.

Celtics vs. Lakers
Celtics vs. Pistons
Lakers vs. Pistons
Pistons vs. Bulls

That was some pretty good basketball.

[BJClinton]

There is no truth to the ugly rumor that the guy taking bets on the length of the prison sentence is the judge in the case.

That would be beautiful irony.

[cherry]

sports are important to Americans and to have this little idiot helping to shave points off important games and alter the outcomes just is maddening....not that I haven't suspected refs in all sports to have done this before....but now we have first hand proof....

I think that all umps or refs should be reviewed by independent organizations for their calls .....

I don't follow the NBA but I did watch the La lakers with Shaq play against the KIngs in a playoff match and the calls were brutal against the Kings, who eventually lost....I wonder if this creep was officiating at that game...