Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Donaghy letter alleges other refs altered games

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Donaghy letter alleges other refs altered games

    Donaghy letter to court alleges refs altered games

    ESPN.com

    Jeff Van Gundy ultimately backed off comments that a referee told him that officials had targeted Yao Ming in the Houston Rockets 2005 first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks. Maybe he was right.

    A letter sent to the sentencing court on behalf of convicted former referee Tim Donaghy outlines just such a plan. Donaghy's legal team is trying demonstrate his cooperation with a government investigation before he is sentenced on July 14 on felony charges alleging he took cash payoffs from gamblers and bet on games himself.

    In other documents filed with the Brooklyn court, Donaghy's lawyers responded to the NBA's claim that he must pay $1 million in restitution to cover the cost of the league's private investigation.

    The letter alleging referees altered games mentions only the year 2005, but the circumstances make it apparent that it is referring to the Rockets-Mavs series.

    "Team 3 lost the first two games in the series and Team 3's Owner complained to NBA officials," the letter says. "Team 3's Owner alleged that referees were letting a Team 4 player get away with illegal screens. NBA Executive Y told Referee Supervisor Z that the referees for that game were to enforce the screening rules strictly against that Team 4 player. Referee Supervisor Z informed the referees about his instructions. As an alternate referee for that game, Tim also received these instructions."

    Mavs owner Mark Cuban did in fact complain after his team lost the first two games of the series, and Dallas went on to beat Houston in seven games. Van Gundy said that a working referee had told him about the league's plan. Donaghy's letter claims that Supervisor Z contacted the coach. Van Gundy was ultimately fined $100,000.

    Looking at box scores from the series, however, the only game in which Yao fouled out was in fact Game 1. He did average 4.4 fouls per game in the series.

    The letter also details an incident in the 2002 playoffs in which Donaghy alleges that two referees, who were known as NBA "company men," wanted to extend a series to seven games. "Team 5" could have wrapped up the series in Game 6 but lost two players to ejection, lost that game and ultimately the series.

    It is not clear which series this account refers to.

    Donaghy also alleges that team executives conspired with the league to prevent star players from being called for too many fouls or being ejected. He claimed that league officials told referees that doing so would "hurt ticket sales and television ratings."

    According to the letter, when an official did eject a star player in the first quarter of a game in 2000, he was privately reprimanded.

    In addition to game-altering allegations, Donaghy's letter claims that many officialy carry on relationships with team exectutives, coaches and players that violate their NBA contracts.

    "Tim described one referee's use of a team's practice facility to exercise and another's frequent tennis matches with a team's coach," the letter states.

    The NBA has not commented on Donaghy's allegations. Donaghy's attorney and prosecutors also declined to comment to The Associated Press on Tuesday. Donaghy faces up to 33 months in prison.

  • #2
    This is ugly.

    Not to mention very unfortunate timing for Stern and Co.
    You can't always get what you want, but if you try some time, you might find, you get what you need.

    Comment


    • #3
      Of all the sports, the majority of people think that the NBA is fixed. I for one am now a firm believer the fix is in.

      Rat em all out Tim.
      Am I the longest tenured BC member?

      Comment


      • #4
        The new allegations are 2 refs fixed a 2002 playoff series.

        Comment


        • #5
          ifd like to see the game tape of that series, these rfs know when to call the fouls, sometimes its not the amount called but when there called. like the celtics the other night were shooting free throws for the quarter with around 9 minutes to go, also dick bavetta screed the lakers big in that game1 4th quarter. they were calling fouls on the lakers and letting boston get awya with alot, just some observations, bol gc-

          Comment


          • #6
            Too bad they will sweep all this under the rug as much as possible.
            NBA is a joke

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by zeib10
              Of all the sports, the majority of people think that the NBA is fixed. I for one am now a firm believer the fix is in.

              Rat em all out Tim.
              I agree. I have always believed if anyone can fix NBA games it would be the refs. I believe Tim Donaghy's allegations.

              I still don't believe any NBA player has participated in point shaving.

              Comment


              • #8
                It is just a shame David Stern with all his money will call him a man just trying to get a lighter prision term and all that nba money will crush this man. He has no chance in this.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by trick4
                  It is just a shame David Stern with all his money will call him a man just trying to get a lighter prision term and all that nba money will crush this man. He has no chance in this.
                  Stern and the NBA might have the money but they don't stand a chance if the feds decide to investigate and the allegations are true.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    sometimes in a game, you can see the frustations on the coaches and players faces, i bet some are almost resigned to it. its truly amazing the power of a heavy fine keeps them from going into the post game interview without coming right out with the bashing of the refs. i knew the minute greg popovich said that d.fisher did not foul on that last second shot on b.barry the game whic put la up 3-1 and basically decided the series.THAT he probably wants a nice cushy nba job when his spurs job comes to an end. whicjh is sonn as duncan retires. no one in there right mind could be that much of a good sport. then the next day the league makes him look like a real ass. saying it should have been a 2 shot foul. i know i strayed from the thread point,but i mean kissing a little nba ass or what? you think the fans in sanantonio were happy to hear it wasnt a foul from there coach? i doubt it. gc-

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Shocker..
                      SOBER SINCE MARCH 28TH OF 2007!!!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        The letter also details an incident in the 2002 playoffs in which Donaghy alleges that two referees, who were known as NBA "company men," wanted to extend a series to seven games. "Team 5" could have wrapped up the series in Game 6 but lost two players to ejection, lost that game and ultimately the series.


                        Kings/Lakers, this was obvious to anybody that watched it

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Ahhh The Power Of Tv Ratings, The Networks Get There Best Ratings In Game 6 And 7 Which Makes Sense. I Didnt Know That The Nba Helped Them To Achieve This Though.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by BigWeiner
                            The letter also details an incident in the 2002 playoffs in which Donaghy alleges that two referees, who were known as NBA "company men," wanted to extend a series to seven games. "Team 5" could have wrapped up the series in Game 6 but lost two players to ejection, lost that game and ultimately the series.


                            Kings/Lakers, this was obvious to anybody that watched it
                            What pisses me off about this:

                            1) People are still actually naive enough to think the NBA isn't fixed, and

                            2) The coverage of this fiasco pales (sp) in comparison to Spygate yet that story was on ESPN every day for way too long

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Chado1
                              Shocker..

                              If this shit is all proven, I think you might be owed an apology buddy.
                              $100/unit

                              They are all booger eaters!!!

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X