Disgraced NBA ref: League fixed games
posted at 12:00 pm on June 11, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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With the NBA finals on this week between the Lakers and the Celtics, what better time for convicted basketball referee Tim Donaghy to launch an accusation of game-fixing against league executives? Donaghy, who will go to federal prison for his own actions in fixing games for gamblers, now says that the entire league is corrupt. He accuses the NBA of having its referees favor big-market teams and attempt to draw finals out to more games in order to boost revenues:
Rick Moran writes about this today:
However, nothing changes the fact that Donaghy’s letter was self-serving and totally void of proof. All we have is the word of a convicted gambler that conspiracy theories that have been the staple of sports talk radio for more than a decade may actually be true – not a lot to hang your hat on for most observers although I’m sure the lines will be hot with “I told you so’s” from the conspiracy promoters at the big sports talk radio stations today.
If the charges have not been investigated, it is paramount that the prosecutor and FBI do so. If the specific allegations have been looked at and found to be baseless, the league should make that plain to the public. As it stands now, David Stern’s statement is ambiguous about these additional charges.
Donaghy put the pro game under a cloud with his gambling. His shocking allegations could bring the NBA crashing down – if they were true. But even if they haven’t been investigated, Donaghy’s lack of proof in making these spectacular charges only reinforces the idea that he is just another con looking for a break from prosecutors.
We’ve heard these accusations before, in baseball and football as well as basketball. Most of it sounds like conspiracy-theory nonsense, with no evidence to support it. Donaghy’s remarks are self-serving in the extreme, a sort of “everybody does it” that one might hear from a teenager caught with a joint.
In this case, though, Donaghy certainly got away with it for a while, and with millions of dollars at stake rather than a few thousand, the temptation would certainly exist. Donaghy also makes specific claims regarding the 2002 playoffs, as well as the 2005 series where the Dallas Mavericks. Mark Cuban complained bitterly about unfair enforcement of the rules at the time, and Ralph Nader complained about officiating in the 2002 Lakers-Kings series.
These were controversial at the time, and Donaghy could simply be exploiting the controversy to gain some credibility for his accusations. Perhaps, though, the FBI should continue probing the NBA to ensure it’s on the level — and hasn’t transformed itself into the WWF.
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The NBA is still around? I’d rather watch paint dry. College hoops is where its at.
robblefarian on June 11, 2008 at 12:06 PM
My father (RIP) maintained a long time ago that NBA games were somehow “fixed.” Could it be that Donaghy is simply confirming what many of us have suspected in the past.
Sounds plausible – especially when you factor in that the NBA brings in about $80 Million dollars per game.
My late father was probably on to something.
Corky on June 11, 2008 at 12:07 PM
One more reason why I say that playing sports is 100X more entertaining than sitting around watching others play.
jgapinoy on June 11, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Bulls*hit.
malan89 on June 11, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Given the disparity between the foul calling between games 2 and 3, it wouldn’t surprise me.
This is Celtics-Lakers, something that hasn’t been seen since 1987. It’s in the best interests of everyone involved for this to go seven games instead of the Celtics sweeping it in 4.
crazy_legs on June 11, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Anyone who thinks sports gambling isn’t a major factor in professional sports management is naive. Basketball is just a bit easier to manipulate. Baseball is probably the most difficult.
a capella on June 11, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Anyone who watched that Kings/Lakers series in 2002, or the Yao Ming illegal screen fiasco a few years ago, or Wade’s parade to the FT line against the Mavs, has very little trouble believing the NBA is a fixed league.
Hell, look at this season’s playoffs. Was there any doubt we’d end up with a Lakers-Celtics final? The no-call on Brent Barry in the San Antonio series, the dubious blocking call between Pierce and Lebron in game 6 of that series, and there was no question that LA would shoot more FTs than Boston last night after what happened in game two. And surprise, they did.
Stern has been trying to paint Donaghy as a rogue operative since this scandal broke, but c’mon. There were two other officials on the court while Donaghy was making these calls and there’s no way one official could have that kind of impact without his fellow officials being either (a) retarded or (b) co-conspirators. Plus, Donaghy has little to gain right now by telling stories (under oath) because he’s going away for a long time whether he paints his fellow officials as co-conspirators or not. The NBA went after him for the petty sum of $1M and now he’s fighting back by going to the feds.
I generally hate conspiracy theories, but I believe every word that Donaghy has said on this subject. The NBA is a joke and the public reaction to this scandal is proof that most people know it. It’s not like baseball where congress gets involved because players are violating some sacred trust between the game and its fans. It’s like people already know the NBA is joke entertainment, so nobody’s really all that bothered by this scandal. That tells you all you need to know about the NBA.
World B. Free on June 11, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Which explains the stunning success of the Knicks this year.
Rhinoboy on June 11, 2008 at 12:14 PM
I am a Sacramentan, and all one has to remember is Horry’s late shot after the end of the third quarter to be certain the sixth game of the Kings/Lakers series was fixed. It was so late no one on the broadcast team thought it was good, nor did anyone with whom I watched the game, including a Kings hater. That would be my final ex-ladyfriend. Anyway, I was devastated when it was ruled good after the station break. Ridiculous.
sondiehl on June 11, 2008 at 12:14 PM
That would mean Bob Delaney, who was one of the refs that game, is tainted. In a previous life he was and undercover NJ State Trooper
Rich on June 11, 2008 at 12:16 PM
It’s obvious that Rick Moran did not view the 2002 Lakers-Kings series. I was living in Sacramento during that series, (biased but factual) and the officiating in games six and seven were so blatently one-sided, it was obvious that the league was not going to allow Sacramento to play against New Jersey in the NBA finals for one simple reason—-$$$$$$$.
After that travesty, I have lost total interest in the game I grew up loving and playing. The NBA has nothing over the “Black Sox” when it comes to detroying their sport.
Rovin on June 11, 2008 at 12:16 PM
How do you spell “NBA” again? Been so long since I watched that I forgot.
thirteen28 on June 11, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Basketball is such a joke. If the games are fixed that just makes it a bigger joke then it already was.
Zetterson on June 11, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Don’t kid yourself. College hoops is just as corrupt. Tyler Hansborough (UNC-CH) doesn’t take 15 free throws per game without EVER fouling out for no reason. Carolina blue means big green for any marketer.
Stern has always said that he would prefer LA vs. LA in the finals. It is definitely fixed. You aren’t allowed to question the officials. It is fixed that the finals will go 7 games. Look at all the calls in Boston vs. the calls in LA.
Most people don’t care. . . ESPECIALLY LA and CAROLINA fans. They think they are just ‘better’ than everybody else.
Look at the criteria for ‘MVP’ – there is none. They gave it to Kobe who begged to be traded, settled a rape case, forced the trade of Shaq O’Neil. He’s no MVP – he’s Stern HYPE. They only won because they got Pau Gasol.
ThackerAgency on June 11, 2008 at 12:20 PM
The Patriots could not be reached for comment.
Nor could Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens.
lorien1973 on June 11, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Yeah, is it really still self-serving if he waited to release this information until after he’s convicted? I mean, if he was really just one co-conspirator amongst many, wouldn’t he have wanted to use that as a defense of some sort?
apollyonbob on June 11, 2008 at 12:21 PM
This is news? Slow day.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on June 11, 2008 at 12:21 PM
sondiehl on June 11, 2008 at 12:14 PM
How about the inbounds pass to Bryant in LA with minutes to go in the game? As Bryant catches the ball, he turns and literally floors Bibby with a shoulder. Three refs and the nation watched the foul…..NO CALL. Pathetic.
Rovin on June 11, 2008 at 12:23 PM
One just has to go back to Jeff Van Gundy getting fined $100K from the league bc he said someone (a ref?) told him that the referees were directed by the league to target Yao Ming. He refused to reveal to N.B.A. investigators the person who told him that information. That was the Mavs-Rockets series in question.
..
Something doesn’t add up
Butters on June 11, 2008 at 12:24 PM
I question the timing.
hillbillyjim on June 11, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Heh. Just goes to show how bad Zeke really was. Even the refs couldn’t fix his mistakes.
a capella on June 11, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Some of the gaudy home winning percentages in the NBA always seemed a little suspect to me.
forest on June 11, 2008 at 12:26 PM
I believe games were fixed. As for playoff games fixed this year, I’m not sure. The NBA might be gun shy after Donaghy was indicted.
I hope the FBI takes Donaghy seriously and hauls in David Stern and everyone else before a grand jury and asks them what they know.
indythinker on June 11, 2008 at 12:26 PM
It’s been pointed out that the NBA is the only pro sport where officials can both put points on the board and take them off by the way they call fouls, awarding or taking away free throws (NFL refs can take touchdowns or field goals off the board with penalty flags, but they can’t put points on). So any game like Game 6 of Kings-Lakers is going to raise questions when the fourth quarter foul calls and free throw shooting are so lopsided for one team, and the game draws as much focus as that one did.
But it’s entirely possible that the answer is simply that the NBA refs suck — a problem for Stern, but a much smaller one than if Donaghy’s accusations are true. He’s kind of named names, in that it’s easy to find out who the refs were once he IDs the games, but as of now, his claims are sort of in the realm of a hard-core NBA fan who remembers what the biggest questionable call games were and can regurgitate those games in order to draw the most publicity.
So unless he has more specifics than your average sports talk show caller, Donaghy is blowing smoke, but has no fire. But if he’s willing to go a little further and can back it up, then your into the Jose Canseco/steroids territory, where Canseco’s past history made people disbelieve his book’s allegations, until many of the stories were later proven through other sources to be true.
jon1979 on June 11, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Not all news is life and death Dr CC. Believe me, this is going to be watercooler conversation worldwide. It is news and could actually develop into a rather big story.
Zetterson on June 11, 2008 at 12:28 PM
All sports are corrupt, except NASCAR.
joeswampy on June 11, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Exhibit A last night in Los Angeles. The Celtics had to work really hard to lose that game. The officials took Paul Pierce out of the game right off the bat and sent Kobe to the free throw line 10 times in the first quarter. Garnett missed all kinds of open shots. Doc Rivers kept Rondo out of the game after he had 16 assists in game 2. And yet the Celtics still nearly won the game.
The Lakers stink. Though I didn’t watch much of the western conference playoffs, I have to think the NBA rigged them to get Celtics-Lakers in the finals. There is no way the Lakers were really the best team in the West. If they let these two teams play 20 games for real the Lakers might not win one of them.
And I love basketball more than any other sport. I have watched every second of every Celtics game I could watch this year, and seen them twice in person. I went to my first NBA playoff game this year. And even I think the game is rigged.
rockmom on June 11, 2008 at 12:29 PM
How is this going to help Michelle Obamas kids ?
Texyank on June 11, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Finally we get to some real issues…
ClassicCon on June 11, 2008 at 12:31 PM
I don’t think the playoffs are fixed this year. The Celtics are the best team in the east. The Spurs couldn’t get past the Lakers because Ginobili’s injury just got worse and Duncan didn’t have his edge. The Hornets just don’t have it yet.
I think the NBA needs to fire their entire management team, call games fairly, and institute an NFL-like instant replay official challenge system.
indythinker on June 11, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Pbhttt. I’ve known this for years after the Jazz played (and lost) to the Bulls in back to back seasons. Those refs handled Jordan with absolute kid gloves.
Not saying he wasn’t THE player of the game in history…but man, they sure made it easier for him. TBHTTT!
(Not that I’m still bitter or anything. ;))
Don’t really care now. Dennis Rodman was the harbinger of the spoiled thug mentality that has pervaded and destroyed the game.
Sarjex on June 11, 2008 at 12:32 PM
World,
“The no-call on Brent Barry in the San Antonio series,”
You’re taking it out of context, because you are ignoring several bad calls in the 5 minutes prior to that play which went against the Lakers.
Officiating has consistently given the edge to the stars, and to the home team. And different refs call things differently, and the calls are different from the first quarter to the fourth quarter. On an individual-game or play basis, that’s not fair, but it evens out over the long run. But fans will look at one particular play or game, and extrapolate, which doesn’t give an accurate picture.
The same happens in every sport. Look at the strike zone Greg Maddux gets from the umps, as opposed to a rookie pitcher just up from the minors. Or from the batter’s perspective, if Ted WIlliams didn’t swing, it must not have been a strike. It didn’t matter where the pitch actually was.
COmmon sense tells you that the NBA as a league has a lot to gain from finals being stretched out, but they have even more to lose. ESPECIALLY in the wake of the Donaghy issue.
exhelodrvr on June 11, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Let’s not forget what happened to Sacramento in 2002. Just say “game six” and a lot of people see red.
I’m not even a sports guy and it ticks me off.
TheUnrepentantGeek on June 11, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Yes, let’s all watch cars going around in circles.
jgapinoy on June 11, 2008 at 12:34 PM
“Garnett missed all kinds of open shots. ”
That’s not evidence of corruption. Garnett was taking the wrong shots anyway.
The Celtics are better than the Lakers. If the Celtics would have made two fewer turnovers, two more rebounds, and two more shots, they would have won last night’s game.
indythinker on June 11, 2008 at 12:34 PM
I think they should just allow hitting. That would solve the mind numbing monotany of one lame foul being whistled after the next. Anyone?
Zetterson on June 11, 2008 at 12:35 PM
I still think Wilt was the greatest NBAer of all time.
jgapinoy on June 11, 2008 at 12:36 PM
because they blew a 20 point lead in game 1. I don’t know if the calls had anything to do with it, but that is what defined the Spurs/Lakers series.
I think the Celtics are the class of the NBA – I’ve always been a Celtics fan, and I look forward to Garnett getting a ring. Garnett is an example of someone who should have gone to some college. He was every bit as talented as Duncan, but missing that level of competition hurt his development. You still see him making bad decisions and being out of position today. He would have learned if he had played a year or two in college. I still love Garnett though.
The west had a ton of good teams but was a toss up. I think that the Spurs should have beaten LA, but I also think that the Hornets could have beaten LA too (though I think the Jazz would have beaten the Hornets).
I’m still mad at stern from the 90’s when he suspended the entire Knicks team (with Ewing) during the PLAYOFFS that basically cost them the championship. I was hoping Ewing would get a ring at some point. Miami’s PJ Brown (now a Celtic) punked Charlie Ward at the end of a blowout, caused a bench clearing brawl. . . and Stern suspended the entire team. That was New York and Ewing’s year. They were dominant if they let them play.
Sorry for being so long winded. I can talk basketball for years.
ThackerAgency on June 11, 2008 at 12:40 PM
You mean like that nutjob conspiracy theory that baseball players are all juicing up? Yeah the Baseball Commission really was dead on all the years they denying that “nonsense.”
It may just be human nature but with the literally billions of dollars involved with professional sports and virtually no regulatory oversight, one has to at least pause and wonder if there is some manipulation going on.
Here in New Orleans the Hornets started the season under the threat of being sent to another city if attendance didn’t meet a certain threshold during the season. The Hornets lackluster beginning picked up with a season that only ended when they lost in game 6 (?) against San Antonio in the first round of the playoffs. Threshold met. It may not be outright game-fixing but that kind of “miracle season” might have been helped along with a bit of creative refereeing for the sake of entertainment and ticket proceeds.
highhopes on June 11, 2008 at 12:41 PM
I trust nothing Donaghy says or implies. A lowlife scumbag trying to save his own hide.
Every losing team of a close game in the history if basketball believes they have legit gripes about foul calls.
If the Kings didn’t miss 14 FT’s in Game 7 of the 2002 WC Finals, they’d probably have been NBA champions and we wouldn’t be hearing about it.
Except from Phil Jackson…
JammieWearingFool on June 11, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Even those poker games that are always on the sport channel?
highhopes on June 11, 2008 at 12:42 PM
World Wildlife Fund?
Serioulsy, more like WWE would make the sports “thuggery” legit!
Back in the day, I knew a guy whose father insisted that NASCAR was rigged and thus couldn’t have respect for the races. However, he watched WWF (at the time) and WCW religously. Go figure.
geckomon on June 11, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Yeah, the timing is for sure questionable, but Doneghy might just be right too.
It’s really a shame professional sports has become nothing more than a big money business. Like MLB’s recent court loss for trying to sue fantasy sites for using player stats.
JetBoy on June 11, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Basketball. Bleeeeeeeeeeeeeechhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
That said, how about those Incredible Hulks at home plate?
Who said you can’t fool all the people all the time?
Limerick on June 11, 2008 at 12:46 PM
It just always seemed that playing seven game series was ridiculous.
Yeah, yeah – I “get it” about how tems are better some nights than others, but championship teams are supposed to be champions – no just the championon a good night.
I always had a sneaky suspicion that basketball was “funny”: teams which are supposed to be awesome losing away games to come back and have twenty point blowouts at home two days later – I know “home field” helps, but that much? Consistently? Look at the SA/LA series.
Series getting drawn out to six or seven games – when one of the teams is obviously so much better than the other? No revenue generation there huh?
Teams which are obviously good, blowing huge leads and not recovering?
Add to that a lot of the blatant “thuggery”?
I never liked BBall anyway, but I’ve had fun watching it from time to time. Just always felt there was something fishy going on with the whole shebang.
catmman on June 11, 2008 at 12:48 PM
The officiating in the NBA is so bad that if the refs were fixing games it would be hard to tell the difference. That’s the real scandal, and that’s how Donaghy got away with it for as long as he did.
There are some shady things in the NBA, though. Coming off years of spiraling ratings, the Celtics/Lakers rivalry is revived after Kevin McHale trades Garnett to the Celtics and Memphis rescues the Lakers from Bynum’s injury by swapping Pao Gasol for Kwame Brown. I’m not saying it’s a conspiracy, just that the way the NBA is structured the small-market teams may as well be NBDL teams.
RightOFLeft on June 11, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Not quite the same thing. A pitcher with a rep for good control and a batter with a rep for a good eye may get the benefit of the doubt on close calls, so some individuals may benefit. But, instant replay forces umpires to not favor one team over another on the strike zone, even if strike zones vary with the individual umpire. And, close plays on the infield aren’t foreseeable, so couldn’t be counted on to be a difference maker when big money is at stake. Basketball is ideal because one can anticipate opportunities to cheat, thus making a bet safer.
a capella on June 11, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Ya, stuff like that cracks me up. It’s free advertising for their sport, but they want a piece of the pie.
It’s stunning to watch how everyone jumps all over big oil, yet people are shelling out huge money to attend sporting events, getting raped by stadium vendors, paying a massive markup for merchandise and paying extra to cable companies to watch sports on television.
reaganaut on June 11, 2008 at 12:51 PM
It was the second round, Game 7. And Paul should have been MVP.
ThackerAgency on June 11, 2008 at 12:53 PM
If Ted Williams didn’t swing, then it was not a strike.
reaganaut on June 11, 2008 at 12:53 PM
highhopes, the officials didn’t have anything to do with Paul’s dominance. Chris Paul is a franchise player. He will win with any team. If you are in NO, appreciate him because I’m trying to convince him to go to a bigger market like the Knicks to play with LeBron in a couple of years.
New Orleans was about Chris Paul. The League would not have cared if they went to Oklahoma City. New Orleans did not have a great season because of the officials. They don’t have a large enough of a market to warrant officiating bias. The League wouldn’t get anything out of a NO finals.
ThackerAgency on June 11, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Better than watching a ball bounce.
Meg Tilley is hot.
The Hornets should have won it all.
joeswampy on June 11, 2008 at 12:56 PM
I’m sure the NHL manipulates via the refs. In the last Pittsburgh/Detriot Stanley cup series they recalled at least 2 of Detroit’s goals, and made numerous ridiculously and obviously bad calls against Detroit. My theory was that they wanted to a) stretch out the series and b) raise up their annointed NHL mascot, Sidney Crosby; a young, handsome, English-speaking talent who has drawn in a lot of young female NHL viewers. While I don’t think the refs can win or lose a game outright against a better team, certainly in games like hockey they can take valuable players out altogether on penalties and make it easier for the lesser team.
foxforce91 on June 11, 2008 at 1:05 PM
For the record, Ed, Vince is probably busy trying to recover from being Rickroll’d on live TV on Raw Monday night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdMj10s6nYw
fusionaddict on June 11, 2008 at 1:15 PM
indythinker,
You could say the same thing about the Lakers in games one and two.
exhelodrvr on June 11, 2008 at 1:17 PM
The continual bane of professional sports teams in NOLA. Great players not the best of markets. The Manning boys didn’t even consider playing here.
highhopes on June 11, 2008 at 1:17 PM
Dude. Turn-on a playoff game, then write your gobbley-gook article.
I’m always fascinated to hear color commenters make statements like “These are the finals, the refs gotta let that call go.” And so, is the state of affairs in the Pituitary League of America. Flexible rules, depending on the game or game situation.
Current NBA rules, from what I an tell ……
Walking Violation = more than four steps
Intentional Foul = loss of limb or blindness
Three Second Violation = four for home team, two for visiting team
It’s really a joke the way the game is played these days. It’s a microcosm of society today. To hell with the rules, my wallet needs a refill.
College hoops are much better, but creeping towards NBA standards of play and play-calling with each passing year.
fogw on June 11, 2008 at 1:18 PM
reaganaut,
“If Ted Williams didn’t swing, then it was not a strike.”
Of course not. Williams never made a mistake. And if Jordan didn’t get called for a foul, then he obviously shouldn’t have been called for a foul.
exhelodrvr on June 11, 2008 at 1:19 PM
I am from Sacramento as well, and had the good fortune of being at that game 6 at Arco. The Kings had it together that year; by far, their best year ever. Anyone who says differently is just channelling Charles Barkley.
The game was fixed. And for nothing other than money. We would have beaten New Jersy like dirty rugs if given the chance. No prioblem in anybody’s mind.
David Stern has gotten into the mix regarding Sacramento’s proposed new arena. I can think of a good way for him to get some forgiveness around town here.
Pay for it. That would be some compensation for the money he stole from the town by denying us our due in the Finals.
Gunslinger on June 11, 2008 at 1:19 PM
I think they should just allow hitting. That would solve the mind numbing monotany of one lame foul being whistled after the next. Anyone?
There’s already a sport like that. It’s called “hockey”. You should check it out.
I R A Darth Aggie on June 11, 2008 at 1:21 PM
a capella,
“But, instant replay forces umpires to not favor one team over another on the strike zone”
Not true at all. Watch a game that Maddux pitches.
exhelodrvr on June 11, 2008 at 1:21 PM
As evidenced by the comments here, most fans are too affected by their allegiances to individual players or teams to be able to look at this objectively.
exhelodrvr on June 11, 2008 at 1:23 PM
I’m sure the NHL manipulates via the refs. In the last Pittsburgh/Detriot Stanley cup series they recalled at least 2 of Detroit’s goals
Which two are you thinking of? I watched most of that series, and I don’t recall any waved off goals that where “bad” calls.
I R A Darth Aggie on June 11, 2008 at 1:29 PM
It is only fitting and proper that NBA games are fixed, don’t you think collie?
My collie says:
Mark this one down as a non-issue.
CyberCipher on June 11, 2008 at 1:30 PM
LMAO
reaganaut on June 11, 2008 at 1:32 PM
Why would a basketball league turn into an environmental organization?
(Oh, and as for the game being fixed – Duh!)
corona on June 11, 2008 at 1:40 PM
C’mon, even crooked refs couldn’t get the Clippers that far.
corona on June 11, 2008 at 1:42 PM
Yea I’m filing this one under: If you don’t believe this happens in the NBA, then you’ve either never watched a game before in your life, or you’re an ostrich.
It IS fixed. Welcome to the human, frickin’ race pal. Sure, this guy beefing about it now is selfish- but he CAN. And that’s the point, because he’s got tons of actual ammo to fire. If they’re going to throw him to the wolves, he might as well lead those same wolves right to Stern’s door.
The American game is a joke, and has been for decades. It’s baked into the system, rendering our own talent starry-eyed and slack-jawwed when actually having traveling violations, illegal picks, or (God forbid) actual PHYSICAL DEFENSE CALLED & PLAYED UPON THEM against international teams.
Ya know: Re: Recent Olypic Suckitude.
They’re all pampered babies. Their “sudden” failure at the international level should tell you that.
It’s fixed. I’ve no doubt.
ChipDWood on June 11, 2008 at 1:45 PM
Saying that 2002 was rigged is just a Kings fans sour grapes…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp19op8uK1E&feature=related
even if refs make calls one way or the other, teams still have to put the ball in the hole, and there is no prediction of where a rebound will end up. Look at the above end of the video. Lakers need 2 points to tie but ended up with 3 points for the win! Kobe went up for the lay up and it got blocked, Shaq grabbed the rebound and it got blocked by Manu Ginobili, Manu batted out all the way towards Horry he was standing behind the 3 point line, he put it up and in. That was the luck of the draw and not officiating. And to say that it was made after time ran out is ridiculous! Look at the clock above the basket from the tv angle shot behind Horry’s back. When the ball came out of his hands there was .2 secs left. That’s all you need!
Do refs favor one team over another. Yes! But ultimately if the team doesn’t have the offense it ain’t gonna win.
Sultry Beauty on June 11, 2008 at 1:49 PM
Sorry, I’ve watched a lot of his games. He may get the benefit on borderline pitches as many control pitchers do. If his opposing pitcher is also a control artist, it mostly evens out, perhaps with a slight nod to the star. Likewise, Dontrelle Willis wasn’t getting any breaks in his meltdown in the Tigers-Indians game the other night, nor was Joba in his first start. My point is simply that calling strikes and balls has a visual reference point, of which all umpires are aware, and it can’t be easily manipulated to the point that a game with big money riding on it can be thrown because visual proof with many data points is available. The ball/strike ratio is the only thing that happens consistently enough in a game to be able to influence a bet on the outcome if the ump is tainted. Almost everything else can’t be anticipated.
a capella on June 11, 2008 at 1:51 PM
I didn’t word that well. Of course a fair/foul call can influence the outcome, but the potential can’t be anticipated, therefore a prudent gambler/fixer can’t depend on it. Guess what I am trying to clumsily say is the opportunity to cheat for big bucks is more limited
a capella on June 11, 2008 at 1:59 PM
LOL aren’t the Clippers in Anaheim?
ThackerAgency on June 11, 2008 at 1:59 PM
You are forgetting golf where the players call penalties on themselves. Their peer pressure system is pretty strong, where if a player is accused of cheating even once, it follows them their whole career. Ask Vijay Singh.
Mallard T. Drake on June 11, 2008 at 2:02 PM
I first realized that major league sports were corrupt when the Baltimore Orioles were playing the New York Yankees in the playoffs one year. A fan clearly interfered with a fly ball near the fence and I mean OBVIOUSLY interfered and the umpire called it a Yankee home run.
At that point I realized that the Yankees had already been “selected” to win the playoffs. They just had better umpires than Baltimore did. And sure enough, every single close judgment call went for the Yankees in that series.
That was pretty much the end of my enjoyment of professional sports.
crosspatch on June 11, 2008 at 2:02 PM
Don’t forget the 1993 Western Conference finals between the Sonics and the Suns. Game 7, winner to face the Bulls. Charles Barkley on the Suns. Suns vs. Bulls, Barkley vs. Jordan, NBA wet dream.
That game was as rigged as the day is long. 64 free throws for the Suns!! And the Suns still only won by 13 points. The calls were so blatant in favor of the Suns, at one point I gave up being mad and resigned myself to the fact that the NBA wanted the Suns vs. Bulls and no amount of anger or angst would prevent that.
I am not surprised by Donaahy’s statements. I would like to see them substantiated.
Mallard T. Drake on June 11, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Yeah, NASCAR is just stupid.
srhoades on June 11, 2008 at 2:16 PM
About the current series, Celtics fans need to quit whining. Game 2 was handed to your team by the unbelievably lopsided calls. Without that advantage they’d certainly have lost the game.
And about that no-call on Barry. The refs blew the previous call on the other end. Fisher’s shot with time running out clearly hit the rim which meant no 24 second violation. The ball deflected down and went off the foot of someone on the Spurs (I forget who) and out of bounds. In other words, the only reason Barry had the ball in those final seconds was because the refs blew a call and gave it to him. So get over it already.
John on June 11, 2008 at 2:19 PM
Go watch any 1990s Knicks-Pacers game and tell me the NBA is not fixed like the WWE.
Ewing and Starks could do no wrong, ever.
RightWired on June 11, 2008 at 2:22 PM
I’ve referred to that game (Kings Lakers Game 6) as “the Fix” ever since I watched it live. I had no dog in the fight but was still livid that they would steal a game like that. I was angry throught that whole fourth quarter. Bibby was clutch and C-Webb was going to get the monkey off of his back but Stern wanted the Lakers in the finals. Breathing on Shaq was a foul in that game and so was taking an elbow from Kobe.
LevStrauss on June 11, 2008 at 2:29 PM
OK, so the Clippers aren’t the best in basketball, but they could probably beat the Angels.
corona on June 11, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Thanks for bringing back the other fixed game that is in my mind but this is MLB. Livan Hernandez and his 40 foot strike zone against the Braves in the playoffs while Bob Costas, the Katie Couric of sports reporting is narating a Cuban soap opera in the background. I hate the Braves and that game still made me sick.
LevStrauss on June 11, 2008 at 2:33 PM
And let’s not forget Superbowl XL, Seahawks vs. Steelers. I don’t think it was a NFL conspiracy against Seattle, just the most incompetent officiating ever in an NFL game. Locklear still hasn’t held Haggis, and Rothlisberger still hasn’t gotten the ball over the goal line.
Mallard T. Drake on June 11, 2008 at 2:43 PM
For those who are so sure that there is a conspiracy, this comment was from another poster on another blog:
“How can people think this league is rigged when the Spurs (boring to casual fan) have a dynasty, Nash’s (most exciting/marketable white guy since Bird) teams never win, Yao goes out (with a billion Chinese viewers) in the first round, and the Knicks (NYC market) are the biggest travesty in pro sports?”
exhelodrvr on June 11, 2008 at 2:45 PM
RightWIred,
“Ewing and Starks could do no wrong, ever.”
Absolutely! That’s why they won all those titles!!
exhelodrvr on June 11, 2008 at 2:46 PM
Lev,
I don’t know that that was fixed, I think that was just Gregg’s unpiring. But it is a perfect example of the disparity in the way rules are enforced.
exhelodrvr on June 11, 2008 at 2:50 PM
There would have been no game 7 if the refs hadn’t sent the Lakers to the line 20 times in the 4th quarter of game six. It was a total fix by Sterns and the NBA to put LA into the finals. The NBA would have lost millions with a Sacramento Jersey series.
There are Lakers fans in the LA Times that are posting that the game was FIXED against the Kings. Yes, LAKER FANS—–what does that tell ya?
Rovin on June 11, 2008 at 3:21 PM
I sent an open letter to David Stern two weeks ago asking how they can be anti gambling with issues such as the referee and Barkley, yet TAKE sponsor money from Casinos, such as Pechanga’s sponsorship of the Lakers?
On my blog, I’ve linked back to Ed’s story.
The NBA should divest themselves of all gambling sponsors.
originalpechanga on June 11, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Well, Tiger Woods has had some pretty questionable rulings from the officials on the course. In one tournament they moved a large stone from next to his ball. If that had been Bob Tway I think they would not have made the same ruling. So even golf has its officiating controversies and seems to favor the star players.
Snidely Whiplash on June 11, 2008 at 3:36 PM
The rule is that golfers are allowed to remove “movable obstructions” that interfere with their swings or the lie of the ball, provided the ball does not move. The reason he got the ruling was that he was able to recruit enough guys from the gallery to move the rock out of the way. Bob Tway might not have the nerve to ask or the cache to get guys to volunteer for him. So, what Tiger did wasn’t against the rules, though it was, arguably, questionable. To the extent that I think they clairifed the rule to allow the removal of the movable obstruction only by the player himself.
A better example of a superstar ruling for Tiger was the tournament where his approach shot on the ninth hole was launched over the clubhouse. No one monitoring the tournament found the ball, although the blimp shots showed a cook at the back of the building found it. Rather than penalize Tiger the OB or lost ball penalty and make him rehit from the original location, he was given a drop near the 10th tee. From there he made bogey on the hole. Without the favorable ruling it is likely he makes a double bogey.
But, any favorable rulings for Tiger, Phil, or any of the stars of the various tours are rare.
Mallard T. Drake on June 11, 2008 at 4:12 PM
That should be preferential rulings.
Mallard T. Drake on June 11, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Ask Utah Jazz fans if the refs favored Michael Jordan during those classic NBA finals series in the ’90’s.
WasatchMan on June 11, 2008 at 4:23 PM
They are rare, IMHO, because the opportunities for such rulings are rare. And, as with other sports, there needs to be some appearance of objective fairness in order to keep it from looking like pro wrestling. Golf is becoming more and more influenced by the big money, just like other sports.
Snidely Whiplash on June 11, 2008 at 4:40 PM
I’ve seen slo-mo replays of the play, sondiehl, and the ball leaves Horry’s hand, climbs up out of camera shot, and comes back down into camera view as the numbers expire to “.00″, then the ball swishes the net.
There was no conspiracy, my friend, Vlade was just dumb enough to slap the ball straight out to Big Shot Rob. :-)
clark smith on June 11, 2008 at 4:44 PM
If fixed means the NBA rotates good and bad (homer and impartial) referee crews to do certain playoff games and extend series, then it’s fixed. Bill Simmons at ESPN Page 2 has frequently commented on this.
Mister Ghost on June 11, 2008 at 4:53 PM
You’ve made two excellent points, and I was trying to use some form of shorthand. First, the Kobe/Bibby fiasco is the first choice of everyone who has felt that series was rigged. Also, there can be no doubt that the Lakers should never have won game 6. But Horry’s shot is the most easily and obviously shown, and I have been peeved at NBC ever since for not pounding that replay into the dirt.
sondiehl on June 11, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Puh-LEEZE!
I guess you don’t remember game five. The closing sequence in that game was …
1) Vlade fouls Kobe as Kobe takes drives toward the net to put the game away, but no call.
2) Next Kings possession, Webber is dribbling by himself at the baseline, and fumbles the ball straight out of bounds. Inexplicably, the refs give the ball to the Kings instead of the Lakers.
3) Kings inbound the ball to Bibby. Fisher sets his feet in front of Bibby, and Bibby plows through Fisher. Refs don’t call the clear charge.
Even if the refs called it a block, the Kings would have had to hit two free throws just to tie, and that’s if the Lakers didn’t score on the few seconds remaining.
The fact remains, there was clear foul-level contact between Bibby and Fisher, but no foul was called. Only after that non-call Webber drained the game-deciding trey.
So Kings fans and basic Laker haters can just zip it on the ‘Refs gave the Lakers Game 6′ mantra, not after how the refs handed the Kings Game 5.
clark smith on June 11, 2008 at 4:57 PM
Sondiehl, I’ve seen that replay in slo-mo several times. It leaves Horry’s hand with time showing on the game clock. The ball is descending when the game clock expires.
I realize it was a traumatic moment for you, but simply understand it was shot within regulation. Accede to reality, Sondiehl, it happened.
Next thing Spurs fans will get on here and say, “Fisher didn’t really bury that jumper with .4 seconds in ‘04!”
clark smith on June 11, 2008 at 5:16 PM
Then you must have missed Game 5 of that same series, or you’d have been livid over how the refs “fixed” the game for the Kings.
Even if Game 6 is all that Laker haters claim it to be, it was nothing more than a make-up for the horrendous reffing that handed the Kings Game 5.
clark smith on June 11, 2008 at 5:37 PM
The game’s been fixed since long before 2002. Shaq is the prime example. The man gets fouled every time he touches the ball, but because he doesn’t throw himself violently and phonily to the floor crying and moaning like every other player, the refs don’t call it.
Not just the Kings/Lakers game, but even the Mavs/Spurs 2 years ago, I saw clear signs of deliberate “engineering” of games.
The refs would fix free throw shooting if they could get away with it.
fossten on June 11, 2008 at 6:20 PM
True that Shaq was fouled frequently with no call, but also true that Shaq committed frequent offensive fouls that were not called. He would bowl over defenders more than any other player I can remember, and rarely got called for the offensive foul. By the way, I was at the Lakers/Clippers game back when Shaq scored 61 in 2000; he was unstoppable that night.
Snidely Whiplash on June 11, 2008 at 8:24 PM
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