NBA Commissioner David Stern has issued the following statement:
20 07 2007“As we previously stated, we have been cooperating with the FBI in their investigation of allegations that a single NBA referee bet on NBA games that he officiated. As part of that cooperation, we were asked by the Government not to comment about the investigation, but in light of the widespread press coverage and the naming of the referee, Tim Donaghy, we consider it appropriate to make a fuller statement.”
“We would like to assure our fans that no amount of effort, time or personnel is being spared to assist in this investigation, to bring to justice an individual who has betrayed the most sacred trust in professional sports, and to take the necessary steps to protect against this ever happening again. We will have more to say at a press conference that will be scheduled for next week.”
-David Stern 07/20/07
“the best officials, the best-monitored officials, the best-developed officials in all of sports.”
-David Stern a few months ago.
I didn’t think it was fair to blatantly accuse him of being guilty.
Sure sounds like David Stern knows he is guilty.
I find it hard to believe that only one ref was involved.
Come on Tim name names!
Fixing games has gone on for many years. Favoring star players is the same thing. Many more refs are involved and this is not an isolated incident. I hope this guy talks so people will finally open their eyes. The NBA is nothing more than a show like wrestling. It’s only goal is to make more and more money at the expense of the sport. The only real basketball in this country is played at the college level. Hopefully Stern and the entire league will go down with this guy. Maybe that way we can finally have real professional basketball played again in the USA. It’s been too long!
I’m not sure I wouold go as far as Sebastian but it’s hard to argue with some of his statments. Oh please let it not be true!
I have been saying all along that money is the desiding factor, the NBA wants all games to be close so TV commercials have value at the end of the game. I don’t believe there is team favorism but I beleive that the refs know that games need to be close and that their jobs are on the line!