Do you believe there is a wide spread problem with games being fixed in the NBA?

[Best Buckeye]

I'm not voting because the only thing I care about the NBA is how many vbucks I can win.

 

[Jake]

I am not taking the word of a guy who's going to prison as anything yet, I am still open, I hope that someone who's a third party does an investigation, but really, how do you prove shit? There's like at least one foul committed on every posession, they just don't get called.

People are going to believe what they want to believe, no matter how many checks and balances are in place. Officiating is subjective, and that makes it open to human failure. For some, that opens the door to a conspiracy. That's never going to change.

There can be 1000 examples that don't support the theory, but as soon as one comes up the conspiracy theorists will say "See?, I told you!"

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

People are going to believe what they want to believe, no matter how many checks and balances are in place. Officiating is subjective, and that makes it open to human failure. For some, that opens the door to a conspiracy. That's never going to change.

There can be 1000 examples that don't support the theory, but as soon as one comes up the conspiracy theorists will say "See?, I told you!"

I wasn't aware that there was an allegation that each and every NBA game was fixed.

 

[Best Buckeye]

BKB must have at least two aliases that are refs, ask him.
And I'm sure he must have vouched for all of them.

 

[BuckNutty]

He has no motivation to lie in an effort to get a lighter sentence. If his "info" does not check out, then he doesn't get the lighter sentence.

Attorney John F. Lauro submitted the letter in an effort to spell out how Donaghy cooperated with the FBI after he became implicated in a betting scandal that cost him his league job.

I guess I misinterpreted this. Sounds to me like he's trying to throw people under the bus for leniency, especially considering there is no real way to prove or disprove his accusations. Or maybe he's just trying to stick it to David Stern, who knows.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

BKB must have at least two aliases that are refs, ask him.
And I'm sure he must have vouched for all of them.

I did vouch for Donaghy, that is true.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

I guess I misinterpreted this. Sounds to me like he's trying to throw people under the bus for leniency, especially considering there is no real way to prove or disprove his accusations.

I can't say for sure, I'm only following this tangentially and going mostly off what I heard about it on the radio today. My understanding is that the "lid came off" today basically because Stern and the NBA foolishly sought restitution from him, knowing he can't pay it, of course, thus increasing the likelihood of a stiffer sentence. So, playing hardball, he fired back.

I don't know these characters, and for all I know or care Donaghy is the anti-christ. Just saying his status as a felon trying to avoid as much jail time as possible can be view as a marker for truth in his assertions and not a default of "he's lying."

Admitting again, of course, that I'm inclined to believe him simply because I like it when the NBA squirms.

 

[Best Buckeye]

I heard that the NBA had sued him earlier this month for a Million and that was his reason for coming out with these stories now.

 

[OCBucksFan]

He has no motivation to lie in an effort to get a lighter sentence. If his "info" does not check out, then he doesn't get the lighter sentence.

The thing is, how do they prove his "info" ? Do they get a bunch of refs in there, ask them and hope they come clean? Or if they don't does it suddenly screw him more? Also, this is a jaded individual who's pissed off at the company that he worked for, they basically tossed his ass under the bus when this all started. The NBA didn't offer to pay for legal help, and to top this off, this all started because after the investigations were done, the league decided to sue him for the costs of the investigation.

I have seem some horribly refereed games, I was at that Kings game in 2002, but it's one thing to see it on TV and another to see it live. All I know is that either way, the damage to the NBA is going to be serious, people were already questioning the league, now they have a "confirmation" that, regardless of the outcome, they will latch onto.

 

[muffler dragon]

I'm told the game in question, Lakers Kings Game 6 2002, is notorious as the worst officiated basketball game ever. I don't know myself, cause I gave up on the NBA a long long time ago.

Anyway, some guy made the point that the guy going to prison is trying to cut a deal with prosecutors regarding his sentence. That he's only going to be able to do that if he gives full cooperation, which includes providing only truthful info. I don't know if he's making it up or not, but there is surely reason to believe he's blowing the whistle, his status as a felon not withstanding.

Exactly ! I think he is telling stuff to get a lighter sentence. But at the same time I could believe that the ref do cheat.

He has no motivation to lie in an effort to get a lighter sentence. If his "info" does not check out, then he doesn't get the lighter sentence.

I guess I misinterpreted this. Sounds to me like he's trying to throw people under the bus for leniency, especially considering there is no real way to prove or disprove his accusations. Or maybe he's just trying to stick it to David Stern, who knows.

FWIW, (and you may know how to confirm something like this, BKB) the word on why Donaghy is sharing is this:

1) It's part of his agreement with the government that he would share what he knows.
2) If he shares things that are true; then it COULD lessen the amount of time he serves. It's not a guarantee. However...
3) If he IS lying; then he puts himself out there in a bad way. Apparently, more time or punishment gets tacked on.

My personal opinion is that truth can be uttered even by the lowest piece o' chit out there. Furthermore, I don't find the NBA management nor the officiating leadership to be high on integrity. Que sera sera.

 

[OCBucksFan]

FWIW, (and you may know how to confirm something like this, BKB) the word on why Donaghy is sharing is this:

1) It's part of his agreement with the government that he would share what he knows.
2) If he shares things that are true; then it COULD lessen the amount of time he serves. It's not a guarantee. However...
3) If he IS lying; then he puts himself out there in a bad way. Apparently, more time or punishment gets tacked on.

My personal opinion is that truth can be uttered even by the lowest piece o' chit out there. Furthermore, I don't find the NBA management nor the officiating leadership to be high on integrity. Que sera sera.

Well, this all came about because Stern decided to sue Donaghy over the costs of the investigation, over 1 million dollars. So he could just be pissed about that. Stern picked the wrong time, imo, to sue though, he should have waited two weeks, because now it's what everyone is watching for in these playoffs.

 

[billmac91]

I think most be shocked at the level of gambling in all sports. All it takes is a greedy person or someone in serious debt and lots of things can happen.

 

[CCI]

If Donaghy took $$ for not doing his job and getting paid for it, easy $$. Don't ya think other refs are dirty also, all it takes is a few.

 

[billmac91]

If Donaghy took $$ for not doing his job and getting paid for it, easy $$. Don't ya think other refs are dirty also, all it takes is a few.

Like when they found out how to make extra cash by downgrading plane tickets?

It's abolutely possible others were in on games. The guy wagered on over 100 games he directly officiated between 2002-2006. Not once, another official wasn't in on it?

Plus, when the story first broke, it was reported by the NBA that Donaghy never gambled on games he officated. A bit premature as that turned out to be very false. Also, the first reports indicated he was giving out lots of inside information....would telling people you are in debt to that the league is going to make sure the Lakers win game 6 qualify as inside info.?

 

[OH10]

Consipiracy theories are fun, but no, I don't think the NBA is fixed. I think the officials unintentionally suck. Who wants to be that bad at their job on purpose?

Admitting again, of course, that I'm inclined to believe him simply because I like it when the NBA squirms.

Outside of the fact that you do not like the product, did the NBA do something to offend you personally? I mean, I don't watch the MLS, because the quality of soccer is poor, but I don't begrudge those that do like it or hope that the league folds.