NBA Office Could See Shakeup Following Donaghy Fiasco

Donaghy Scandal To Cost Nunn (c) His Job?

CASE DETAILS: On Long Island, Ken Berger cites sources as saying that Donaghy “did not engage” in classic point shaving, described as “manipulating the margin of victory in games.” Sources said that he also “did not manipulate the over/under.” Sources said that investigators believe Donaghy “did more than supply information to gamblers on the condition of players and assignment of referees, but won’t disclose what that is” (NEWSDAY, 7/26). Law enforcement sources said that “any arrests in the NBA case weren’t expected until next week.” One source said that officials “are waiting for the media furor to die down,” adding, “It is on hold” (NEWSDAY, 7/26).

A SYSTEMIC ISSUE? Two veteran NBA referees believe that "an ineffective system for training and evaluating game officials helped allow possible illegal betting to go undetected."  Retired ref Hue Hollins: “It’s a dysfunctional referee situation. ... The whole thing needs to be revamped.” Also, with an emphasis on increased offense, one ref said, “Any contact is a foul. At the end of a game you can call any point of emphasis, and nothing can be said” (USA TODAY, 7/26). Hollins added that the league’s referee observers “don’t have the NBA backgrounds, that some are high school referees and some are college referees.” Hollins: “They have no idea about the NBA game. That’s like asking a plumber to do open heart surgery” (USA TODAY, 7/26).

Some In Gambling Industry Feel NBA Games Are Too Hard To Monitor For Possible Fixes

OTHER LEAGUES: ESPN.com’s Mike Sando writes the Donaghy scandal “has given other leagues, including the NFL, reason to review their own policies regulating game officials.” An NFL spokesperson said, “We do regular background checks on all officials and maintain extensive contacts in the gambling community and law enforcement to monitor what is taking place.” The league declined to make VP/Security Milt Ahlerich or VP/Officiating Mike Pereira available for comment (ESPN.com, 7/25). Former umpire Jim Evans said in MLB, “Occasionally, the head of security would bring in former mob figures or ex-cons who would explain how the mob or gamblers might try to get to us.” MLB Umpire Supervisor Marty Springstead: “I feel sorry for the NBA officials next year, because everything they do [is] going to be scrutinized and everything they do is not going to be believed” (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 7/26). ESPN.com "informally canvassed" a number of leagues about their safeguards regarding game officials' potential involvement with gambling.  Visit www.SportsBusinessDaily.com for a link to ESPN.com's list of safeguards regarding game officials' potential involvement in gambling instituted by a number of sports leagues and organizations.

REAX CONTINUE: Heat G Dwyane Wade indicated that “everyone realizes the integrity of the game is in their hands” in the wake of the Donaghy allegations. Wade: “There’s always something going on with the officials about calls, but that’s part of competing” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/26).  ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan: "Perhaps the first thing the league needs to do is worry about restoring its integrity with the fans who have stuck around, because if those folks start abandoning the sport, the hardcore customer base begins to shrink" (ESPN.com, 7/25). NBCSPORTS.com’s Rich Zuckerman offered five reasons “why the NBA will ultimately be just fine” (NBCSPORTS.com, 7/25).Visit www.SportsBusinessDaily.com for a link to NBCSPORTS.com’s Rich Zuckerman's five reasons "why the NBA will ultimately be just fine."

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