ItsTheBlog™

Frankly, I don't know. But, it's bad.

Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy is being investigated by the FBI for betting on NBA games, both that he officiated and those that he didn't. What does that mean? Well, I don't know, but based on numbers crunchers, outcomes of games Donaghy reffed in the past 2 seasons were clearly altered. Over/Under bets were on average much more volatile, and, in what I think is the most damning piece of evidence, ESPN reports that the over/under bets shifted by more than a point in just minutes before the tip. That means that big money was being placed in the final minutes of games that Donaghy was reffing.

So, what does it all mean for the future of the NBA? Stern calls Donaghy's action an isolated incident--but is it? Who knows if other referees are acting in the same way? Who knows if this has been a long storied tradition among refs? What can stop them? Who let the cat out of the bag for Donaghy? I wish I knew the answers to these questions. We all do.

More importantly, did Donaghy effect the outcome of games? If he did, that unleashes a spiral effect on everything. If Donaghy even had an impact on a victory or loss of even 1 game, that could have ultimately had an effect on the way the playoff seedings played out, and therefore the playoff matchups, and therefore the NBA Champion. It's cheating. That's all there is to it.

Bonds (allegedly) taking steroids? Awful, but he still had to make contact with the ball.
Floyd Landis (allegedly) taking steriods? Awful, but he still had to pedal, train, and work hard
Pete Rose gambling on games? Awful, but it's hard to be solely responsible for the outcome of a game in baseball.

Donaghy? He's the ref. Everyone listens. He blows the whistle, and decides who gets kicked out of the game, who shoots free throws, and in general, who gets the ball, and when.

Foxsports.com says that Donaghy led the NBA in the last two seasons in technical fouls, free throw attempts, and foul outs per game.

There's a reason for that. And it's sad.

What does it all mean? I don't really know. But it's not good.

Labels: Bonds, cheating, Donaghy, Floyd Landis, Kevdog, NBA, Pete Rose, scandal