Personal foul takes an indepth look at former nba referee tim donaghy and the. Referee tim donaghy explains why he bet on nba games. Before his fourth year donaghy was called to officiate in the nba. Donaghy was an nba referee from 1994 to 2007, resigning after an fbi investigation found that he bet on games he officiated and. Nba referee betting scandal movie gets november release. Disgraced referee tim donaghy and the nba have always been aligned on one narrative. The tim donaghy matter concluded over a decade ago with a full investigation by the federal government, donaghys termination from the nba, and his conviction for criminal acts. More evidence suggests disgraced nba ref tim donaghy fixed.
Former nba official tim donaghy is back in the news again, reasserting that the nba ordered officials to favor certain teams during the 2002 western conference finals and. A look at how former nba ref tim donaghy fixed games. The media has often speculated and sports fans have debated, but until now no one has known the real story. Donaghy was also a participant in the nbas read to achieve program, for which he participated in an event at the universal charter school during the 2002 nba finals. In 2007, nba ref tim donaghy pleaded guilty to betting on games he officiated. 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. Tim donaghy is a former professional nba basketball referee for over years. Former nba referee tim donaghy arriving at brooklyn federal court for his sentencing in july 2008. Nba tim donaghy blowing the whistle tim donaghy book gettypic top 2 as promised earlier, here are a handful of excerpts from david sterns favorite book, blowing the whistle, by tim donaghy. Though the movie is based on a book of the same name written by tommy martino, a longtime delaware county friend and one of his co. Disgraced former nba referee tim donaghy reportedly refused to take a polygraph test in 2009 on the subject of whether he fixed nba games because he.
Former nba referee tim donaghy has broken his silence on an espn article that provided a wealth of circumstantial evidence that points to matchfixing. Former nba referee tim donaghy served months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate commerce. Nba tim donaghy blowing the whistle tim donaghy book gettypic top 2 as promised earlier, here are a handful of excerpts from david sterns favorite book, blowing the whistle. Red cards s1 e2 inside the gambling ring of nba referee tim donaghy. The reports claimed that donaghy had started betting on games in 2005, and had connections. 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. Nba referee tim donaghy is at the center of an fbi organizedcrime probe after he allegedly made bets on basketball games, some of which he was officiating, the post has learned. Donaghy was a participant in the nbas read to achieve program, for which he participated in an event at the universal charter school during the 2002 nba finals. Tim donaghys book fuels nba conspiracy theories but is bunk.
Disgraced nba referee tim donaghy opens up about the gamefixing scandal he caused. A firstperson account of the scandal that rocked the nba, and battista was the primary source and subject of a. Disgraced nba referee tim donaghy arrested after allegedly. Jailed nba ref tim donaghy details how he knew what games to.
More evidence suggests disgraced nba ref tim donaghy fixed games. In 2007 tim donaghy resigned prior to reports that the fbi was investigating him on allegations that he bet on games he was officiating. Nba emphasizes its investigation never concluded tim. Nba fans are happily entertaining the ridiculous musings of disgraced exnba referee and convicted felon tim donaghy, who in their eyes is. Personal foul takes an indepth look at former nba referee tim donaghy and the betting scandal that rocked professional basketball. Former nba referee ref sued book publisher by william bender daily news staff writer, posted. Former nba referee tim donaghys tellall book blowing the whistle. Former nba referee tim donaghy, who spent time in prison after he was found to have bet on nba games he officiated, was arrested for aggravated assault with a hammer in florida, reports tmz sports. The story was soon picked up by other major news agencies, as it was revealed that donaghy was the referee under investigation. Exnba referee tim donaghy told the feds two officials fixed the outcome of a playoff series and that refs were told not to eject star. Disgraced nba official tim donaghy doubles down on.
The culture of fraud in the nba has been pulled by its publisher triumph, a division of random house. A referee in the national basketball association, he loved the limelight, was considered one of the nbas better refs and. In an unpublished book, the former referee tim donaghy accuses his former colleagues of manipulating games and allowing friendships and grudges to dictate calls. Former referee tim donaghy admitted to gambling on n. The following is the nbas response to how former ref tim donaghy conspired to fix nba games, published by espn on feb. Our twoyear investigation reveals how he did it, whom he. Tim donaghy is a former professional basketball referee who worked in the national basketball. During tim donaghys season nba career he officiated in 772 regular season games and 20 nba playoff games. Kim donaghy, the exwife of maligned former nba referee tim donaghy, explained some of the circumstances that led to their immediate divorce after the scandal involving her exhusband. Disgraced nba official tim donaghy doubles down on assertion that mavericks should have won 2006 nba finals the former referee is promoting a movie that chronicles his. Former nba referee tim donaghy, wearing his disgrace like a. At the heart of the book is a gripping and sad firsthand account of a gambling addiction tearing apart a family, a career and a reputation. But something happened between wallace and referee tim donaghy at the loading dock at the rose garden on jan.
Compromised nba ref tim donaghy disses regulated sports. Through speaking and community outreach, donaghys goal is to encourage others to learn from his failures. The culture of fraud in the nba, has been canceled by publishers over concerns of potential liability. Nba referees, current and former nba staff, gamblers, bookmakers. This is the decisive book that reveals exactly what was done and how it all happened.
Former nba ref from betting scandal warns on legal. In the federal prison camp in pensacola, florida, donaghy started to write his memoir, blowing the whistle. Disgraced nba referee tim donaghy opens up about the gamefixing scandal he caused by greg cote, miami. Tim donaghy recently launched his speaking career, inspired by his ongoing recovery from a serious gambling addiction that abruptly and permanently ended a very successful year career as an nba referee. But it was never proved that he fixed them until now.
In 2007, nba ref tim donaghy pleaded guilty to betting on games he. At the same time, at the request of the nba, former prosecutor. 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. Donaghy, who had resigned from the league as a central figure in the 2007 nba betting scandal, describes his involvement in and inner workings. 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 u. Former nba referee tim donaghy, wearing his disgrace like. Tommy martino high school friend of donaghy and battista who served as the gobetween in the betting scheme during the 20062007 nba season. Tim donaghy, who was the referee at the heart of the nbas most notorious sports betting scandal in the late 2000s, spoke with cnbc about legalization of sports betting and the problem he foresees. Tim donaghy veteran nba referee who wagered on his own games but was never charged with manipulating them. 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.
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. How former ref tim donaghy conspired to fix nba games. The book was to have covered his nba career, described his dealings with the underworld during the betting scandal, and explained how he would determine the winning team in the games he refereed. 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. Exreferee tim donaghy said that bias against mavericks owner mark cuban cost dallas the 2006 nba championship against dwyane wade and the miami heat. 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.
During his career in the nba, donaghy officiated in 772 regular season games and 20 playoff games. A firstperson account of the scandal that rocked the nba is an autobiography written by former national basketball association nba referee tim donaghy. Exreferee tim donaghy blows whistle on nba dirty secrets. Glenn james contributor, getty though it is universally accepted that disgraced former nba referee tim donaghy bet on nba games that he referred in, the longheld stance by both donaghy. Nba referee gambling scandal linked to the mob revealed. Welcome to the third and final installment of our exclusive with exnba referee tim donaghy. The nba has its version of what happened, and rasheed wallace has his, and the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Tim donaghy details how nba officials, league allegedly. Personal foul by tim donaghy is a action novel about a young referee coming out of philadelphia and making a impact on players, coaches, and other referees in the nba. Nba response to espns tim donaghy story nba official. Just getting to the nba he was the gambling type and calls this the kiss of death. Twilight companion book from edwards perspective to hit shelves this summer.
This book was written by tim donaghy, a veteran nba referee whose gambling habits took the best of him in a. With betsy beutler, johnny calabro, robert capelli jr. From 1994 to 2007 tim donaghy worked for the nba, officiating in 772 regularseason games and 20 playoff games. The story first broke when the new york post reported that the fbi was investigating allegations that an nba referee had bet on games.
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