Betting Odds - Graffiti - Podcast

David Stern and the NBA in many ways are well ahead of the National Football League. For example, unlike the NFL, Stern’s NBA has taken the lead in protecting its former players. The NBA, however, has also worked hard to force sports betting underground. The league itself was behind a measure that seeks to ban online gambling - the UIGEA (a law now being challenged in the court system).

Proponents of online gambling like chairmanship of the House Financial Services Committee, Barney Frank, insist that regulation of online gambling is the only way to go. The recent controversy surrounding “rogue NBA ref” Tim Donaghy supports Frank’s argument.

While some politicians, special interest groups and the sports leagues will be quick to say “We told you so”, alluding to sports betting’s potential harm to the integrity of the sport itself, these same individuals need to realize they are making matters far worse by pushing the activity underground.

“98% of those who gamble online or in casinos for that matter do so for entertainment purposes,” claims Bet33.com Floor Manager , Zack Williams.” The other 2% have serious issues and do not care who they harm. The UIGEA and the NBA’s attempts to have online gambling banned only harms the 98% who bet on sports for fun. The other 2% will continue to find ways of gambling with disreputable underground betting operations.”

The NBA may try to pass the buck as another “gambling jones problem”, but that won’t be easy, argues Tommy Mac www.tommymac.com and editor of: Betting Odds - Graffiti Wall website. “The NBA itself is the one with the smoking gun in this story,” he says.

Stern spoke at a news conference Tuesday morning where he addressed the “NBA rogue ref” scandal, calling it the “darkest times of his 23 years as commissioner”, and probably not one that is going away any time soon.

Henry Abbott of ESPN’s Hoops Talk offered some interesting observations made during this press conference:

If I’m not mistaken, David Stern somehow made it through all of the press conference (at least the part that I saw before my feed froze) without once saying the words “mob” or “mafia.” He didn’t even make a passing reference, and the only question he really got about that angle he ignored completely. I can imagine why he had that approach — it’s a thicket of bad PR and legal complications — but all the same, it seems odd not to at least address the notion that the mob might have been influencing games.

And…

Stern went to great lengths to explain the fancy background and asset checks that the league has been doing on referees for the last two years, but no one that I saw asked about the reported million dollar Florida home that is said to have raised eyebrows with at least one of Donaghy’s colleagues.

David Stern seemed to have Costa Rica’s and Las Vegas’s back a little. He volunteered at a moment when it seemed a bit forced that it was his understanding that the bets Donaghy is said to have placed were not through Las Vegas. He also said that he canceled a scheduled meeting about how Las Vegas and Costa Rica might fit into the NBA’s future because it seemed unseemly at this time.

New York, NY - NBA Commissioner David Stern met with the media Tuesday to discuss the gambling investigation of former league referee Tim Donaghy.

Donaghy is under investigation by the FBI for allegedly betting on and fixing games that he worked during the past two seasons, in a gambling scam that reportedly involved members of the organized crime community in New York.

Choosing his words very carefully because of the ongoing investigation, Stern called it “the most serious situation and worst situation that I have ever experienced — either as a fan of the NBA, or as a lawyer for the NBA or as commissioner of the NBA.”

Stern spoke for more than an hour, first illustrating the guidelines for officials and the league’s security system that involves former FBI officials, Secret Service and police. He then tried to give as many details about the investigation into the alleged gambling scandal.

According to Stern’s timeline, the league was notified of the investigation, and Donaghy’s alleged involvement, on June 20 and could not take action without hindering the process. Donaghy then resigned on July 9, 11 days before the story broke in a New York Post report on July 20.

“We understand that [Donaghy] is accused of betting on games in the NBA,” Stern said. “We’re not positive it’s games that he worked, although I understand it was some games that he worked. I understand that, maybe, he bet on other games in which he didn’t work.

“I understand that he is accused of, or will likely be accused of, providing information to others for the purpose of allowing them to profit on betting on NBA games.

“I don’t know the number of games. I don’t know which games, and until this moment I have not deployed substantial amount of people to do the work that would be necessary to satisfy us because I felt constrained by the FBI’s request that we not communicate this to anybody, and so the smallest number of people possible knew this in the NBA office.

“On July 9, Mr. Donaghy resigned. Suffice it to say that we would liked to have terminated him earlier upon learning of certain things, but it was our understanding that the investigation would best be aided if we did not, so we did not and he resigned.

“We understand the relative time period being investigated is the past two seasons — 2005-06 and 2006-07. I can tell you that during that period of time, Mr. Donaghy refereed 139 regular-season games, eight playoff games and four preseason games.

“I also understand that Mr. Donaghy is the only referee who is alleged to have bet on NBA games and disclosed confidential information to others, with respect to NBA games that would enable them to place wagers with an advantage.

“I understand this is an isolated case involving an NBA referee engaged, not only in violation of our rules, but in criminal conduct. I await the outcome of the investigation by the NBA and the determination by the Justice Department to what they are going to do with it.”

Stern refuted reports that said the league knew of Donaghy’s betting activities this season and still allowed him to work. He said there was league knowledge of a prior incident Donaghy had in a dispute with a neighbor while he lived in Pennsylvania.

The dispute, according to Stern, occurred in January of 2005 and the league was unhappy with the issue. Donaghy was unable to work playoff games that season as punishment and he soon moved to Florida because Stern said the league threatened the official’s job if the problem had persisted.

Stern also said there were allegations of Donaghy gambling in Atlantic City, something officials are prohibited from by the NBA. An investigation into those allegations came up negative.

Gambling of any kind, other than horse racing in the offseason, is prohibited for NBA officials, although Stern said “we are going to re-visit everything,” in relation to officiating.

Everything apparently includes the system used to review game work by officials. Stern said the system was instituted to help officials develop and improve, and it was not put in place to check into potential criminal activity, although he added that could now change.

Stern also noted that the league will do its best to restore the credibility of the games.

“We take our obligation to our fans in this matter very, very seriously,” Stern stated. “I can stand here today and pledge that we will do every look back possible to analyze our processes and seek the best advice possible to see if there are changes that should be made and procedures that should be implemented to continue to assure our fans that we’re doing the best we possibly can.

“Doing the best you can doesn’t always mean that criminal activity by a determined person can be prevented. All you can do in many cases is deal with it as harshly as you can when you determine it and hope that acts as a deterrent.

“If there is anything that is possible, virtually regardless of cost, we plan to pursue that and to, in effect, re-affirm our covenant with our fans that the NBA is a product that will remain proud of its officiating staff, which we believe is the best in the world, and that our games are decided on their merits.”

Stern said he felt “betrayed” by what happened, but still said he believed it was an isolated incident.

“We think we have a rogue, isolated criminal,” Stern reiterated. “I still have to be protective of my officials, including those who likely have been and will continue to be unfairly besmirched because of the allegations that have been made against Mr. Donaghy.

“By and large, they get it right most of the times. They get it wrong sometimes. They do their darndest to get the result right.”

In one of his closing statements, Stern was adamant about restoring the league’s good name.

“I think we are going to regain the confidence of our fans,” he said.

BY KEN BERGER NY NEWSDAY

July 23, 2007

Of the 139 games officiated by Tim Donaghy during the past two NBA seasons, the opening point spread moved at least two points in 28 of them, or 20 percent, according to a source within the Nevada sports betting industry.

The trend, along with dramatic free-throw differentials in several of Donaghy’s games, could provide important evidence to the NBA and federal authorities investigating whether the referee bet on games he officiated or furnished information to bettors as part of a possible point-shaving or game-fixing scandal.

Bookmakers pay close attention to the movement in betting lines because they often indicate that more money is being wagered on the team in whose favor the line moves. Two-point movements in NBA lines are common and can result from legitimate strategic factors such as the absence of a key player because of injury.

It is difficult to pinpoint any possible discrepancies in Donaghy’s officiating without data kept only by the NBA on how many fouls he personally called - and, just as important, the players he called them against.

But games officiated by Donaghy, particularly those in which point-spread movements occurred, are under intense scrutiny as part of an FBI investigation of possible point-shaving headed by Eastern District federal prosecutors in Brooklyn. Law enforcement sources have told Newsday that Donaghy, 40, is expected to surrender to authorities as early as tomorrow or Wednesday.

The Knicks were involved in at least two of the games that raised a red flag for the gambling source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation.

When the Knicks hosted Miami on Feb. 26 this year, the opening line favored the Knicks by 3 and moved to 4.5. The Knicks shot 31 more free throws than Miami (39-8) and won 99-93.

On Jan. 2, 2006, Donaghy officiated the Phoenix-Knicks game at the Garden; the opening line favored the Suns by 6.5 and closed at 6. The Knicks enjoyed a 54-16 free-throw advantage - the largest of any game Donaghy officiated in the past two seasons - and won, 140-133, in triple overtime.

Those were among 16 games Donaghy officiated in 2005-06 and 2006-07 in which the home team shot at least 14 more free throws than the visitors, the source said. In five of those games, the home team shot at least 20 more free throws. Donaghy also officiated two games in which the visiting team enjoyed a free-throw advantage of at least 20.

When Memphis played at Utah on Nov. 19, 2005, the Grizzlies initially were favored by 5. The line increased to 7, and Memphis shot 19 more free throws (30-11) than the Jazz in an 80-72 victory.

On Dec. 18, 2006, Washington opened as a 2 1/2-point favorite at Denver. The line increased to 3.5 points, largely because of suspensions for Carmelo Anthony and Nene. The undermanned Nuggets shot 44 free throws compared to Washington’s 18 and won easily, 117-108.

Of the eight playoff games Donaghy officiated in the past two seasons, two raised red flags for the Nevada betting source.

On April 28, 2006, the line favoring the host Lakers over the Suns moved a half-point in L.A.’s favor. The Lakers won and covered, 99-92, enjoying a 23-17 free-throw advantage with 22 fouls called on Phoenix and 14 on the Lakers. Four of the Suns’ five starters finished with at least four fouls.

On April 29, 2007, the result was flipped. The Suns opened as a 4 1/2-point favorite, the line increased to 6 and Phoenix won by 13 - 113-100 - with a 31-17 free-throw advantage.

But several games in the Donaghy file don’t fit the profile of a fixer, the source said, highlighting how difficult it will be for the NBA and federal authorities to build their case against him.

For example, the 76ers were favored to beat the Raptors by one point at home on Jan. 15, 2007, but heavy betting on Toronto resulted in the closing line favoring the Raptors by 1. Toronto won in a blowout, 104-86, and 21 fouls were called on each team.

Two nights later, heavy wagering on Phoenix for its game at Houston increased the point spread favoring the Suns from 4 1/2 to 8. The Suns won, 100-91, but each team shot only 12 free throws. Houston stars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady missed the game with injuries, accounting for much of the betting line movement.

Another anomaly: In Game 6 of the 2007 first-round series between the Nets and Raptors, the line opened at 3 points favoring the Nets at home and closed at 5. That result would’ve been under scrutiny, but only by any fixers who might’ve been involved. The Nets failed to cover in a 98-97 series-clinching victory and had only a slight free-throw advantage (29-25).

“If [Donaghy] was involved there, he’s in trouble,” the Nevada source said. “And not with the NBA.”

East Rutherford, NJ - The New Jersey Nets signed head coach Lawrence Frank to a multi-year extension. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.

“We are pleased to announce this contract extension, which will keep Lawrence on the Nets sidelines for the foreseeable future,” said New Jersey president Rod Thorn. “Lawrence has done an outstanding job, and we feel confident that he will continue to provide the leadership so invaluable to the success of our team in the future.”

Frank was named the Nets’ head coach on June 21 of 2004 after first being chosen as the interim head coach in January of that year.

The Teaneck, New Jersey native began his NBA coaching career with 13 consecutive wins, an NBA record for most consecutive victories by a head coach to begin a coaching career.

Since then Frank has become the Nets’ all-time winningest head coach and has amassed a 157-129 record during his three-plus seasons as the team’s mentor.

The Nets have also reached the postseason in each of the last four years under Frank’s watch.

“I would like to thank principal owner Bruce Ratner and the other Net owners, president Rod Thorn, and general manager Ed Stefanski for this contract extension,” said Frank. “I am truly fortunate for the support from this first class organization. I would also like to express my appreciation to our coaching staff and players for their effort, sacrifice, and dedication over the past three and a half seasons. I look forward to continuing and improving upon the winning tradition of Nets Basketball.”

Milwaukee, WI - Less than two years after being traded to the New Orleans Hornets, Desmond Mason is returning to Milwaukee.

The Bucks inked the former Oklahoma State star to a multi-year contract Monday as they attempt to add depth at small forward. Bobby Simmons’ status is still uncertain following an injury-plagued 2006-2007 season.

The 29-year old swingman has apparently reconciled with Bucks general manager Larry Harris, who he reportedly called a “snake in the grass” following his October 2005 trade.

“We’re happy to welcome Desmond back to Milwaukee,” said Harris. “He was a fan favorite during his first stay and we know our fans are going to love having him back on the team. Adding him to our roster boosts our athleticism, defense and veteran leadership. And in addition to his basketball abilities, we look forward to what he will bring back to the Milwaukee community.”

Mason is coming off a season in which he started 75 games for New Orleans / Oklahoma City, averaging 13.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. If not for a late-season fractured cheek sustained in a collision with Seattle’s Chris Wilcox, he may have started all 82 games.

Mason spent the better part of three seasons with the Bucks following a 2003 trade from Seattle, which also briefly brought Gary Payton to Milwaukee. Prior to the 2006 trade to the Hornets for Jamaal Magloire, Mason played in 145 games for the Bucks, starting 130. His relationship with Michael Redd, among other current Bucks, outweighed any lingering resentment he may have for Harris.

This off-season, the Hornets drafted Kansas small forward Julian Wright and signed swingman Morris Peterson away from Toronto, opening the door for Mason to sign elsewhere.

New York, NY - Graffiti Wall is reporting that Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, who is under investigation by the FBI for allegedly betting on and fixing games that he worked during the past two seasons, reportedly called local police to his Florida home Sunday after he received threatening phone calls.

According to The New York Post, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office responded to Donaghy’s home in Bradenton.

“Our concern is for his safety and his family’s safety,” Sheriff’s Lt. Robert McNealy told the newspaper. “We are definitely going to share any information we get with the FBI.”

Donaghy allegedly had a significant gambling problem and fell into debt with bookies connected with the Gambino crime family in New York.

Games were allegedly fixed during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons and the New York Daily News reported Sunday that Donaghy is expected to cooperate with authorities investigating the scheme.

The New York Post reported Sunday that the NBA referee embroiled in a massive gambling scandal was forced into helping crooked gamblers by a fledgling gangster who threatened him.

Donaghy, 40, was a troubled gambler who placed high-stakes bets on just about anything he could - including his own rounds of golf - before the Philadelphia-based wiseguy wannabe learned the ref bet on games that he worked, sources said.

The thug’s threats to expose Donaghy pressured the ref into feeding crooked gamblers privileged information that helped them win bets against the point spread - the margin of victory on which bettors wager - on NBA games, sources said.

The report goes on to suggest that Donaghy also made officiating calls during games that affected margins of victory.

The NBA said on Friday (and within minutes reported here on Betting Odds - Graffiti Wall), it was cooperating with an FBI investigation into whether Donaghy was betting on games he officiated.

Donaghy allegedly wagered on games during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 NBA seasons, according to the newspaper.

The FBI organized-crime squad in New York was handling the case, the newspaper said.

Federal Bureau of Investigation spokesmen in New York were not immediately available for comment.

The Akron Beacon-Journal’s Brian Windhorst (who’s filling in for Henry Abbott at True Hoop) weighs in, calling the story ‘a potential nightmare.’

With so many fouls and so many free throws in NBA games, it could so easily be done without notice. An official can call a handcheck foul or a loose ball foul virtually on every possession if he wanted to. Especially if it is a game that is largely decided — say, a six-point game with 12 seconds to go. This situation happens almost every night in the NBA.

Windhorst is spot on with regards to how this could slip under the league’s radar, so I think we should withhold the pitchforks aimed at David Stern until we know more. But forget ‘potential nightmares’ — this thing is already full-blown disaster. It won’t kill the league (let us pray), but it will cause serious serious serious damage.

Outraged fans already are suggesting they receive refunds as a report surfaced that the FBI is investigating allegations that a veteran NBA referee bet on basketball games over the past two seasons, including ones in which he officiated. Whether the allegations prove true or false, fans say this inevitably puts the heat on commissioner David Stern to prove his league isn’t being fixed.

Some of the messages posted at ESPN.com:

This will lead to some of the most global changes ever in the NBA. The credibility of the officials was already shaky … probably at the top of the list for fans of problems with the NBA. To find out that even some of the conspiracy theories are correct the league will have to take some actions to ensure that none of them are true from now on. Some form of replay will have to be implemented. Some form of coach’s challenge also. How they are going to do this without slowing the pace is beyond me. I think the solution is to let the players self-officiate just like in the gym and use officials only as timekeepers and line judges. – Hartshwk

and…

THIS IS HUGE! This is a gigantic slap in the face of David Stern. He needs to step down and apologize to all the fans. I stopped watching the NBA 5 years ago, mainly because I felt the refs were controlling the game too much. Regular-season games are basic scrimmages, and the playoffs are a boring marathon of overpaid puppets. – castaneda90210

During his career in the NBA, Donaghy officiated in 772 regular-season games and 20 playoff games, from 1994 to 2007 and resigned prior to reports of the current ongoing FBI investigation.

Donaghy was best-known previously as one of three referees who worked the infamous Detroit Pistons - Indiana Pacers game at The Palace of Auburn Hills on November 19, 2004 that ended with Pacers players fighting with Pistons fans. This game was considered one of the darkest moments in NBA history.

Donaghy was also involved in another controversial incident in 2003 when he called a technical foul on Rasheed Wallace (below), then playing with the Portland Trail Blazers, for allegedly throwing a ball at another official during a game played at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon.

While Donaghy was leaving the arena, he was confronted by Wallace at the arena’s loading dock in which Wallace screamed obscenities towards Donaghy. Donaghy claimed Wallace threatened him, and after an investigation by the NBA, the league suspended Wallace for seven games. This was the longest suspension issued by the league for an incident not involving violence or drugs.

New York, NY - Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy is under investigation by the FBI for allegedly betting on and fixing games that he worked during the past two seasons, in a gambling scam that reportedly involved members of the organized crime community in New York.

The New York Post broke the potentially earth-shattering story on Friday, saying that the year-long investigation included one NBA referee who allegedly was making calls to affect the outcome of the games he worked — ensuring that the referee and those involved with the scam profited from the result.

Later Friday afternoon, numerous media sources reported Donaghy as the referee in question.

The Philadelphia area native allegedly had a gambling problem, and fell into debt with bookies that had mob ties. Games were allegedly fixed during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons, the Post said. The story also reported that the number of games affected are in the double digits.

After Donaghy’s name surfaced, NBA commissioner David Stern issued a brief statement.

“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,” Stern said. “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.”

By Warren Blatt, NBA Editor

It doesn’t get much worse than this. Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy is under investigation by the FBI for allegedly betting on and fixing games that he worked during the past two seasons.

The FBI is looking into whether Donaghy, reportedly as part of a gambling scam involving organized crime members in New York, made game-changing or score- altering calls. Wow! This is just bad for the league and professional sports.

Commissioner David Stern has had to deal with plenty of difficult situations, but this is completely different. He has handed down harsh suspensions to players for not obeying the rules on the court, including the infamous brawls between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers on November 19, 2004 at The Palace of Auburn Hills, and the spat that broke out between the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks this past season at Madison Square Garden.

And let’s not forget the suspensions handed down to Boris Diaw and Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns during their conference semifinal series against the San Antonio Spurs during this year’s playoffs.

These incidents involved players losing their cool during games and behaving inappropriately. There is no excuse for going into the stands and confronting fans or for leaving the bench when something happens on the court.

Players need to control their emotions no matter what the circumstances are. They are expected to act in a respectful manner and project a positive image of the franchise and league that they represent. That doesn’t always happen, of course.

While fights on the court are embarrassing to the league’s image and show an ugly side of the NBA’s players, Stern is able to deal with these situations and puts out the fire by handing down harsh suspensions and fines.

Fans want to see the best players in the league do their thing on the court, and decide the outcome of a contest because of the natural ability. They eventually forgive the fighting or derogatory quotes after a heated contest. After all, athletes are humans and sometimes they lose their cool in a heated moment.

Stern and the league are now involved in a different kind of mess. Where there’s smoke there is usually fire. If the alleged accusations against Donaghy prove to be true, the NBA’s integrity will be ruined. Recovering from a scandal like this would take a very long time. The lasting effects will almost certainly prove to be devastating.

Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are some of the superstars fans will pay to see. Fans want someone on their favorite team to hit a game-winning three at the buzzer or to block a possible game- winning shot by the other team’s best player in the final seconds. No one wants to see a referee make a call that costs a team a game or changes the score of a game, especially an official that has an ulterior motive.

Officials make errors as well. They miss calls because, quite frankly, they are not perfect — but to make a bad call to protect one’s outside interests? That is corruption and there is no place for it in any kind of sports.

This investigation is devastating. There is no other way to describe it. Some of the most talented athletes in the world play in the NBA, and it could be a former referee who tarnishes the league for a long, long time.

Miami, FL - The Miami Heat signed general manager Randy Pfund to an undisclosed contract extension on Friday.

Miami posted a 44-38 mark last season, winning the Southeast Division title before losing to the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs.

Pfund has been with the Heat for 12 seasons. He is considered to have a keen eye for talent and has worked closely with president and head coach Pat Riley in bringing players like Shaquille O’Neal to South Beach.