In 2007, nba ref tim donaghy pleaded guilty to betting on games he officiated. He was released from prison in november 2009, and wrote a tellall book on himself and the nba, detailing the scandal and his role in it. How former ref tim donaghy conspired to fix nba games. Former nba referee and delaware county native tim donaghy was at the center of the nba s biggestever betting scandal in 2007. The 2007 nba betting scandal was a scandal involving the national basketball association nba and accusations that an nba referee used his knowledge of relationships between referees, coaches, players and owners to bet on professional basketball games. In 2007, nba referee tim donaghy pleaded guilty to betting on games he officiated. The 2007 nba betting scandal is one of the greatest sports scandals in modern history as donaghy leveraged his relationships with other referees, coaches, and players to bet on professional. He pleaded guilty in 2007 to federal fraud charges after altering games to affect the points spreads to help himself and others who bet on the games. With betsy beutler, johnny calabro, robert capelli jr.
This book was written by tim donaghy, a veteran nba referee whose gambling habits took the best of him in a wild rollercoaster that eventually led him to bet on nba games which he himself worked in he strongly claims that he didnt fixed these game, but only had a good idea which team has the edge. The scandal, was exposed in 2007 following investigations by the fbi and members of the press represents. Philly and delco are everywhere in espn story about the nbas. Tim donaghy details how nba officials, league allegedly fix. This is the decisive book that reveals exactly what was done and how it all happened. In july 2007, reports of an investigation by the federal bureau of investigation fbi were made public, which alleged that during the 2005. With that being said, the way it was back then, was that the nba would come in in order to extend a series, to go over plays that they felt should have went in miamis favor that didnt and that went in dallass favor that shouldnt have and they started to program and training the referees to. A firstperson account of the scandal that rocked the nba ebook written by tim donaghy. Aug 16, 2007 tim donaghy left the basketball court as a disgraced former n. The nba betting scandal of 2007 involved tim donaghy, jimmy battista and tommy martino who all collaborated to bet on games. Former referee tim donaghy, who resigned in 2007 before pleading guilty to federal charges and serving 11 months in prison stemming from his involvement in a notorious gambling scandal, certainly. The story behind the nba betting scandal and the gambler.
How nba referee tim donaghy fixed games espn investigation. Apr 14, 2020 the tim donaghy scandal came to light in 2007 when murray weiss, a columnist for the new york post, wrote a story stating the fbi was investigating an nba referee for betting on basketball games. Bettingscandal ref says nba suspended draymond to prolong. Scala said donaghy was one of the best referees in the league, and in.
In 2007, when nba referee tim donaghy eric mabius got caught betting on games he worked, he said two men associated with the gambino crime family a bookie named baba battista will sasso and a drug dealer named tommy martino scott wolf threatened to kill his family if he didnt. A prime example was game 3 or 4 of the 2007 sunsspurs series where the suns had pretty much every call imaginable go against them. He has been a referee for years, from 1994 to 2007. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read personal foul. A firstperson account of the scandal that rocked the nba. For a whole new round of conspiracy theories will be hatched on that day. The former nba referee who went from whistle blower to. How former referee tim donaghy conspired to fix nba games in 2007. Feb 16, 2018 tim donaghy, former nba basketball referee speaks about the american professional basketball league nba.
May 14, 2010 disgraced former nba referee tim donaghy really needs the book to be thrown at him. Feb 19, 2019 in 2007, nba ref tim donaghy pleaded guilty to betting on games he officiated. A firstperson account of the scandal that rocked the nba, and battista was the primary source and subject of a subsequent book gaming the game. In july 2007, reports of an investigation by the federal bureau of investigation fbi were made public, which alleged that during the 200506 and 200607 nba seasons, referee tim donaghy bet on games in which he officiated. Former nba referee and delaware county native tim donaghy was at the center of the nbas biggestever betting scandal in 2007. A floridabased book publishing company has cut its ties with donaghy after citing safety concerns. Our twoyear investigation and intensive data analysis. A disgraced former nba referee says that the league suspended draymond green in order to extend the finals and boost the series entertainment value, according to sports illustrated.
Tim donaghy, the former referee at the heart of the nbas more notorious betting scandal, foresees ncaa players fixing games as sports betting becomes legal. Following events relating to the 2003 2007 nba betting scandal and especially those involving former pro gambler jimmy battista, former referee tim donaghy, and mutual pal and intermediary tommy martino. Tim donaghy, who was the referee at the heart of the nba s most notorious sports betting scandal in the late 2000s, spoke with cnbc about. Book publisher drops disgraced nba ref tim donaghy. Throughout nba history, weve seen plenty of conspiracies involving referees who may or may not have fixed certain games. Aug 15, 2007 former referee tim donaghy pleaded guilty to two felony charges wednesday in an nba betting scandal that has rocked the league and raised questions about the integrity of games.
Meanwhile the nba will dread the release of its former referee s book. Former nba referee tim donaghy, wearing his disgrace like. Tim donaghy was an nba referee for years before resigning in 2007 after a gambling scandal. Weiss wrote, the investigation, which began more than a year ago, is zeroing in on blockbuster allegations that the referee was making calls that. Tim donaghy also says the nba routinely encouraged.
January 2007, toronto march 2007 and washington april 2007. In july 2007, reports of an investigation by the federal bureau of investigation fbi were made public, which alleged that during the 200506. Nov 16, 2017 donaghy, 50, officiated in the nba from 1994 2007. Jul 14, 2008 tim donaghy, 41, has admitted to violating nba policy by betting on his own games for four nba seasons beginning in 2003. But it was never proved that he fixed them until now. During his career in the nba, donaghy officiated in 772 regular season games and 20 playoff games. The newspapers report said the national basketball association was aware of the investigation but had been requested by the fbi not to comment. The 2002 western conference finals is usually the first thing people. Donaghys downfall and the resulting scandal that has threatened the national basketball. Oct 18, 2019 the nba referee betting scandal tim donaghy may be the most famous referee in nba history, but its not necessarily for anything he did, good or bad, on the court. An nba referee is reportedly under investigation by u. Delco screenwriter andy callahan unravels tim donaghy nba. That game was refereed by donaughy and, even before the scandal came out, simmons wrote a full length article talking about how shady the officiating was.
Tim donaghy said he would fail polygraph if asked if. Tim donaghy is a permanent nba stain new, 12 comments no matter how much the nba tries to sweep this scandal under the rug, its always going to be there. Tim donaghy details how nba officials, league allegedly. Disgraced nba official tim donaghy doubles down on assertion that mavericks should have won 2006 nba finals the former referee is. Instead, donaghys fame or infamy resulted from a betting scandal that he was at the center of. Games in personal foul, which will be released friday, tim donaghy also claims that referees influence games by favoring some players. Personal foul takes an indepth look at former nba referee tim donaghy and the betting scandal that rocked professional basketball. Inside game, a dramatic thriller about the truelife nba betting scandal in the early 2000s involving referee tim donaghy, is headed for theaters november 1 in a. Weiss wrote, the investigation, which began more than a year ago, is zeroing in on blockbuster allegations that the referee was making calls that affected the point spread to guarantee that he. A firstperson account of the scandal that rocked the nba is an autobiography written by former national basketball association nba referee tim donaghy and published by floridabased vtigroup, inc. Jul 20, 2007 nba commissioner david stern is aware of the investigation and has a report about the referee on his desk, another source said.
Tim donaghy is a former professional basketball referee who worked in the national basketball association for seasons from 1994 to 2007. Former nba referee tim donaghy arriving at brooklyn federal court for his sentencing in july 2008. Donaghy says the nbas request for an integrity fee from the betting pool to cover compliance costs and protect the game is a joke. Nba commissioner david stern is aware of the investigation and has a report about the referee on his desk, another source said. For other nba referees watching the game on television, it was a shameful performance by bavettas crew, one of the most poorly officiated games of all time. He broke the record for most games worked by an nba official in 2006. October 12, 2019 from left will sasso as james baba battista, lindsey morgan as tommy martinos girlfriend stephanie, scott wolf as tommy martino, and eric mabius as tim donaghy in the film inside game. In a followup email to the referee staff and the league office, crawford railed about the lack of respect players had for referees and the nba s failure to back him up. May 24, 2018 tim donaghy, who was the referee at the heart of the nba s most notorious sports betting scandal in the late 2000s, spoke with cnbc about legalization of sports betting and the problem he foresees. Within months, the public knew the broad outlines of a scheme involving donaghy betting on games he officiated with a coconspirator, longtime donaghy acquaintance and professional gambler jimmy baba battista. The tim donaghy betting scandal, also known as the 2007 nba betting scandal was a scandal involving nba referee tim donaghy, who bet on and unfairly influenced nba matches he officiated in during the 200506 and 200607 seasons. The biggest sports gambling scandals houston chronicle. In 2007, when it was all fresh, david stern called the tim donaghy referee betting scandal the worst situation that i have ever experienced either as a fan of the nba, a lawyer for the nba or a.
Referee pleads guilty to gambling charges the new york. As far as the referees of the infamous game 6, dick bavetta is now 72 years old and is still reffing nba games. Feb 19, 2019 in 2007, nba referee tim donaghy pleaded guilty to betting on games he officiated. Gaming the game i have been and, at least for the near future, remain consumed with my responsibilities as the academic year comes to an end, and thus havent been available to humor each and every media request related to gaming the game. Disgraced former ref tim donaghy says mavericks were. In 2007, when it was all fresh, david stern called the tim donaghy referee betting scandal the worst. Ex nba ref tim donaghy free from jail november 4, 2009 1. Tim donaghy left the basketball court as a disgraced former n. A former referee at the center of a gambling scandal has alleged that nba referees rigged a 2002 playoff series to force it to seven games. How tim donaghys referee scandal wound up benefiting some. In 2007, long before sports betting was even close to becoming mainstream, a gambling scandal rocked the nba after the fbi caught top referee tim donaghy betting on games including ones he officiated. May 16, 2018 ex nba ref tim donaghy and the 2007 nba betting scandal tim donaghy was an nba referee for years before resigning in 2007 after a betting scandal that shook the league. Ex nba ref tim donaghy, who resigned in 2007 amid fbi charges of fixing and betting on games, is currently suing his book publisher and reportedly wanted a movie deal.
Once he realized her intentions, he halted the books production. In 2007, donaghy was busted by the feds for conspiring with pro gambler jimmy baba battista and their mutual boyhood pal, lowlevel drug dealer and all round dogsbody tommy martino. The scandal led then nba commissioner david stern to revise behavior guidelines to avoid future nba referee scandals. The nba betting scandal of 2007 involved tim donaghy, jimmy battista and tommy. Oct 31, 2019 in june 2007, the fbi informed the nba that one of its referees, tim donaghy, was the subject of a probe into illegal gambling. Nba referee betting scandal movie gets november release. Personal foul takes an indepth look at former nba referee tim donaghy and. He was involved in the biggest nba scandal testimony of a. In 2007, when it was all fresh, david stern called the tim donaghy referee. Donaghy allegedly wagered on games during the 200506 and 200607. Donaghy, who had resigned from the league as a central figure in the 2007 nba betting scandal, describes his involvement in and inner workings. Disgraced former ref tim donaghy says mavericks were screwed. The 2007 nba betting scandal was a scandal involving the national basketball association nba and accusations that an nba referee used his knowledge of.
May 22, 2015 the former nba referee who went from whistle blower to whistleblower after serving months in a federal prison camp for his role in a seismic 2007 betting scandal on the mobs impact. The media has often speculated and sports fans have debated, but until now no one has known the real story. The former nba referee who went from whistle blower to whistleblower after serving months in a federal prison camp for his role in a seismic 2007 betting scandal. Apr 01, 2020 before the donaghy scandal broke, if you told me there was a compromised official working a 2007 playoff game and made me guess the game, i would have selected game 3 of the spurssuns series. This book was written by tim donaghy, a veteran nba referee whose. In july 2007, reports of an investigation by the federal bureau of investigation fbi were. He pleaded guilty in 2007 to federal fraud charges after altering games to affect the points spreads to. In 2007, nba ref tim donaghy pleaded guilty to betting on games he. Former nba ref from betting scandal warns on legal.
Nba referee tim donaghy cops to a plea deal mirror on. T im donaghy was an nba referee for years before resigning in 2007 amid a betting scandal that rocked the sport and tarnished the leagues reputation. Tim donaghy was born on january 7, 1967 in havertown, pennsylvania, usa. Ex nba refs scandal rankles his hometown people who grew up with former nba referee tim donaghy are trying to make sense of the betting scandal surrounding the pennsylvania man. So theres a set of rules, and its a rule book, and youre supposed to go out. Feb 25, 2019 tim donaghy is a permanent nba stain new, 12 comments no matter how much the nba tries to sweep this scandal under the rug, its always going to be there. The 2007 nba betting scandal was a scandal involving the national basketball association and accusations that an nba referee used his knowledge of relationships between referees, coaches, players and owners to bet on professional basketball games. Jun 12, 2008 ex nba referee pleads guilty to felony charges aug. Sean patrick griffins new book gaming the game wont make disgraced nba referee tim donaghy happy. In july 2007, reports of an investigation by the federal bureau of investigation were made public, which alleged that during the 200506 and 200607 nba seasons, referee tim donaghy bet on games in which he officiated. Jun 26, 2011 tim donaghy details how nba officials, league allegedly fix games exclusive interview part 3. He was the central figure in the biggest scandal the nba has ever seen. Disgraced nba official tim donaghy doubles down on.
Nba officiating news, rulebook and referee operations. Oct 12, 2019 delco screenwriter andy callahan unravels tim donaghy nba gambling scandal in new film by frank fitzpatrick, updated. From 1994 to 2007 tim donaghy worked for the nba, officiating in 772 regular season. Mar 22, 2011 sean patrick griffins new book gaming the game wont make disgraced nba referee tim donaghy happy. Espn analyzed 40 games donaghy officiated between dec. The tim donaghy scandal came to light in 2007 when murray weiss, a columnist for the new york post, wrote a story stating the fbi was investigating an nba referee for betting on basketball games. A firstperson account of the scandal that rocked the nba is an autobiography written by former national basketball association nba referee tim donaghy. Associated press minutes after a recent telephone interview about the new film that portrays his role at the center of an nba betting scandal, tim donaghy texted the reporter with a suggestion, actually a wish that will never come true. Former nba referee tim donaghy pleads guilty to felony charges posted.
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