Donaghy pleads guilty

[TXMike]

Typically what happens in conspiracy cases ( at the fed level anyway), in order for someone to be give a plea bargain deal, they have to agree to a "full and truthful disclosure" and agree to be polygraphed regarding any disclosure they make. That helps keep the investigating agency from going on wild goose chases just because someone is trying to do all they can to get their exposure bargained down.

[UMP25]

This is far from over.

So sayeth an attoryney for one of the others alleged to be involved. Story here:

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/spor...from_over.html

[Brad]

Originally Posted by UMP25

We shall see, as time will, indeed, tell.

P.S. Hello to The Woodlands, Brad. I was just there earlier this month visiting my brother and his family. My nephew turns 6 today and I went down for his birthday and vacation. I'm down there every couple months and will return second weekend in November for my niece's birthday. You wouldn't happen to know any big-wigs in the Conroe Independent School District, would you, particularly The Woodlands High School or College Park High School?

Big wigs? Not sure... Depends on what you need... LOL

Email me and I'll let you know if I can help you out...

[Brad]

Originally Posted by TXMike

How is it a non-story?!?!?!!?!? If he names all those refs and they admit or are proven by NBA to have violated the NBA rules don't you think the NBA would be under incredible pressure to dump them??? The story would be the huge turnover in officials in the NBA next season.

It's a non story because it will not involve gambling on NBA games, their own games, or sports betting in general -- there is no way that 20 NBA officials are caught up in this. I doubt that there is even one other NBA official involved.

I don't think the NBA is going to fire an official because he played blackjack or craps a few times. But, personally, I doubt the veracity of what Donaghy is putting out there right now. He doesn't exactly have a lot of credibility as far as I'm concerned.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

I would expect them to be fined or disciplined but not dumped. 20 refs from the NBA gone all at once? I seriously doubt it.

QFT

[TXMike]

Originally Posted by Brad

It's a non story because it will not involve gambling on NBA games, their own games, or sports betting in general -- there is no way that 20 NBA officials are caught up in this. I doubt that there is even one other NBA official involved.

I don't think the NBA is going to fire an official because he played blackjack or craps a few times. But, personally, I doubt the veracity of what Donaghy is putting out there right now. He doesn't exactly have a lot of credibility as far as I'm concerned.

LIke I said, part of the deal will be a polygraph. If he passes, the NBA will be forced to do an internal investigation. Should not be too hard to prove, assuming any betting refs don't just go ahead and admit it. Once it is proved, then the NBA is forced to make a decision. Dump 'em or just discipline some other way. If memory serves, didn't they hire back some guys a few years ago after they were convicted in tax cases? There is precedent for them being lenient. Just seems to me, the inertia of the current situation will force drastic action by the League.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by TXMike

LIke I said, part of the deal will be a polygraph. If he passes, the NBA will be forced to do an internal investigation. Should not be too hard to prove, assuming any betting refs don't just go ahead and admit it. Once it is proved, then the NBA is forced to make a decision. Dump 'em or just discipline some other way. If memory serves, didn't they hire back some guys a few years ago after they were convicted in tax cases? There is precedent for them being lenient. Just seems to me, the inertia of the current situation will force drastic action by the League.

I'd bet that the NBA referees association might have something to say about the NBA starting an investigation based on the results of Donaghy's polygraph!!

The NBA letting officials back in the league after the tax issues wasn't leniency -- it was being reasonable. The entire tax issue was a joke dreamed up by the IRS to get them some news coverage. What the NBA officials were doing wasn't anything different than thousands of businessmen did (and probably still do) at the time. However, going after the NBA officials got the IRS on ESPN, whereas prosecuting regular businessmen wouldn't.

Don't kid yourself that the NBA wasn't aware of the officials downgrading first class tickets and pocketing the fare refund. They knew what was going on and it was common practice among the officiating staff. For the IRS to prosecute anyone for not declaring that as "income" is absurd.

[TXMike]

Originally Posted by Brad

I'd bet that the NBA referees association might have something to say about the NBA starting an investigation based on the results of Donaghy's polygraph!!.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement specifically forbids quite a bit of gambling type activity by the refs. Not only would the League be completly within their rights to initiate an investigation based on Donaghy's successful polygraph, they could do it on much less reasonable suspicion than that. Nobody has a "right" to be an NBA ref and if you step outside the bounds of permissible behavior by the employer than you should expect some action.

Don't look for the ref's union to stonewall much of anything since they have publicly said:
"We are going to work hard to restore the public's trust in the integrity of the officials in the NBA," he said. "We're going to do our part to gain and regain the public trust and confidence and to make sure that this is not the final word regarding how referees are defined in the public eye."

[Brad]

Originally Posted by TXMike

The Collective Bargaining Agreement specifically forbids quite a bit of gambling type activity by the refs. Not only would the League be completly within their rights to initiate an investigation based on Donaghy's successful polygraph, they could do it on much less reasonable suspicion than that. Nobody has a "right" to be an NBA ref and if you step outside the bounds of permissible behavior by the employer than you should expect some action.

Don't look for the ref's union to stonewall much of anything since they have publicly said:
"We are going to work hard to restore the public's trust in the integrity of the officials in the NBA," he said. "We're going to do our part to gain and regain the public trust and confidence and to make sure that this is not the final word regarding how referees are defined in the public eye."

Maybe, but I bet you it won't happen

[jmaellis]

Originally Posted by Brad

Maybe, but I bet you it won't happen

I bet you that you are wrong.

Here's my prediction:

1. The NBA was investigate any allegation made by Donaghy;
2. Any official proven to have gambled in a casino will be fired, whether it's one or 20 of them;
3. The referee's association will fully cooperate.

[tomegun]

David Stern is a Lawyer, a Business Man and other things. He will do whatever he can so he can come out smelling like a rose. If that means firing 20 guys, 20 guys will be fired.

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by tomegun

David Stern is a Lawyer, a Business Man and other things. He will do whatever he can so he can come out smelling like a rose. If that means firing 20 guys, 20 guys will be fired.

Hey, Tom! How's things? Where ya been? I disagree with you, but it's nice to see you around.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Hey, Tom! How's things? Where ya been? I disagree with you, but it's nice to see you around.

I'm good. I look in occasionally, but I have been busy with a lot of "stuff."

Tell me how/why you disagree. Do you think Stern would "go down with the ship" without doing something to maintain his image? I think things could get (more) out of control if things got worse and he didn't do something big. Mark Cuban might buy the cubs, sell the Mavericks and try to take Stern's job. You know he is somewhere with that "I told you so" grin on his face.

[Adam]

I think Stern knows NBA fans aren't idiots. He knows they can tell the difference between betting on one's own games (Donaghy) and going to a casino to play a game of black jack. He won't need to go down with the ship, because this isn't going to bring the ship down.

I expect, if anything, to see fines levied and nothing more.

Brad has a point, polygraphs aren't really admissable in court, so unless he is able to provide more evidence than that, Stern may not be able to do much. Then again, the NBA Officials Association isn't exactly the Major League Baseball Players Association.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I think Stern knows NBA fans aren't idiots.

How does he know that?

Haven't you seen some of the previous posts on here from some of the NBA fanboys, especially some of the Dallas Mavs followers? If they aren't idiots, then you'd only have to add a coupla points to their IQs to make 'em idiots.