Sources: Local refs considered Donaghy an outcast
By JOSEPH SANTOLIQUITO
For the Daily News
The relationship between Tim Donaghy and the other Philadelphia area referees was first strained long ago.
That the disgraced NBA referee reportedly will turn in as many as 20 of his former colleagues for taking part in gambling activities has ruptured the relationship beyond repair, sources said.
As part of his cooperation agreement with federal authorities, Donaghy will provide the names of officials who bet at golf courses, race tracks during the season and casinos, and are involved in football pools, the Daily News reported yesterday. Those activities would violate NBA restrictions.
Donaghy, who resigned July 9, was one of six NBA referees from the Delaware Valley last season, joining Joe Crawford, Mike Callahan, Ed Malloy, Steve Javie and Mark **********. Crawford, Callahan and Malloy all attended Cardinal O'Hara, from where Donaghy graduated in 1985.
"Donaghy betrayed all his buddies in the NBA. That's what he does, betray people," said a former close friend of Donaghy who is also close with several referees. "If you're close to Tim, he could be a loyal and close friend. But if he feels you've crossed him in some way, he'll knife you in the back in a second."
Another source friendly with several officials said the referees he has spoken with are tired of dealing with all the questions surrounding the gambling probe.
"It's hell, it really is," the source said. "One of the referees told me that if they were going to really look into this and take drastic action, they'll get rid of 75 percent of all NBA refs for doing everything from playing in a $5 card game to pulling a slot machine.
"And they all have made a bet or two involved with something. But none of these guys have done anything as criminal as Donaghy. A lot of these guys are hurt and confused by this. Some of these guys are scared for their jobs, but I just hope the NBA considers the source."
Donaghy's motivation, however, might be to reduce a potential sentence. Donaghy, 40, pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y., last Wednesday to conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to transmit betting information across state lines.
The activities allegedly involving the other referees are not illegal, but would violate NBA restrictions that prohibit referees from gambling other than at horse tracks during the offseason.
Said a local law-enforcement source: "This sounds like a case of a desperate guy drowning, trying to drag down as many guys as he can with him, and he really has nothing to hold on to, other than throwing out there that they might have bet on a golf course or in a casino. From what I'm told, a lot of these other refs didn't even like the guy."
The league said it has received no evidence that any referees other than Donaghy bet on games.
On Tuesday, the NBA announced the hiring of former federal prosecutor Lawrence Pedowitz to manage a review of the league's gambling policies and how it hires, trains and monitors officials.
The referees are not allowed to comment under a league-imposed gag order, but the former Donaghy close friend described the "NBA referee fraternity" as being furious with Donaghy.
"Donaghy didn't know what these guys were doing and what they weren't doing," he said. "He'll basically lie about anything to make himself look good, and I think that came out in the plea. He's certainly not beyond making up lies to make his coworkers in the NBA look bad. I'm sure all of these guys curse the day they ever met Tim Donaghy, or even helped him get in the league."
Several sources said Donaghy has not been close socially with the local referees for 2 to 3 years. One said Donaghy "wore out his welcome" with them.
"Crawford and Callahan have helped Donaghy, went out of their way to give him advice, and this is the thanks they get. They get spit on," the second source close to several refs said this week.
About 4 years ago, Donaghy supposedly punched Crawford in the face during an NBA referees camp in New Jersey, because Crawford did not invite Donaghy to a morning TV show that paid $500 for the appearance.
"That's true," said another source. "Crawford helps this guy into the league and that's how he repays him. You'll never come across a group of guys better than Crawford, Malloy and Callahan, and Javie and ********** are standup guys. They've had nothing to do with Donaghy for a while. Playing golf with Donaghy? I don't think they'd sit for 2 minutes with him."
The league, however, will be supporting Donaghy financially. Indications are that Donaghy, who spent 13 years in the NBA, will receive a severance package as well as his pension. A source said the pension plan provides for up to $78,000 annually for life, based on seniority. The pension is paid at age 58, but can be taken as early as 45, with a 5 percent reduction for each year before 58. The plan is guaranteed for 10 years, meaning should Donaghy die within the 10 years since he began drawing the pension that his heirs would receive the money. *
Send e-mail to santolj@phillynews.com.
EDIT - the **** parts of the article refer to NBA referee Mark W-u-n-d-e-r-l-i-c-k. BGOL and it's censoring laws
By JOSEPH SANTOLIQUITO
For the Daily News
The relationship between Tim Donaghy and the other Philadelphia area referees was first strained long ago.
That the disgraced NBA referee reportedly will turn in as many as 20 of his former colleagues for taking part in gambling activities has ruptured the relationship beyond repair, sources said.
As part of his cooperation agreement with federal authorities, Donaghy will provide the names of officials who bet at golf courses, race tracks during the season and casinos, and are involved in football pools, the Daily News reported yesterday. Those activities would violate NBA restrictions.
Donaghy, who resigned July 9, was one of six NBA referees from the Delaware Valley last season, joining Joe Crawford, Mike Callahan, Ed Malloy, Steve Javie and Mark **********. Crawford, Callahan and Malloy all attended Cardinal O'Hara, from where Donaghy graduated in 1985.
"Donaghy betrayed all his buddies in the NBA. That's what he does, betray people," said a former close friend of Donaghy who is also close with several referees. "If you're close to Tim, he could be a loyal and close friend. But if he feels you've crossed him in some way, he'll knife you in the back in a second."
Another source friendly with several officials said the referees he has spoken with are tired of dealing with all the questions surrounding the gambling probe.
"It's hell, it really is," the source said. "One of the referees told me that if they were going to really look into this and take drastic action, they'll get rid of 75 percent of all NBA refs for doing everything from playing in a $5 card game to pulling a slot machine.
"And they all have made a bet or two involved with something. But none of these guys have done anything as criminal as Donaghy. A lot of these guys are hurt and confused by this. Some of these guys are scared for their jobs, but I just hope the NBA considers the source."
Donaghy's motivation, however, might be to reduce a potential sentence. Donaghy, 40, pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y., last Wednesday to conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to transmit betting information across state lines.
The activities allegedly involving the other referees are not illegal, but would violate NBA restrictions that prohibit referees from gambling other than at horse tracks during the offseason.
Said a local law-enforcement source: "This sounds like a case of a desperate guy drowning, trying to drag down as many guys as he can with him, and he really has nothing to hold on to, other than throwing out there that they might have bet on a golf course or in a casino. From what I'm told, a lot of these other refs didn't even like the guy."
The league said it has received no evidence that any referees other than Donaghy bet on games.
On Tuesday, the NBA announced the hiring of former federal prosecutor Lawrence Pedowitz to manage a review of the league's gambling policies and how it hires, trains and monitors officials.
The referees are not allowed to comment under a league-imposed gag order, but the former Donaghy close friend described the "NBA referee fraternity" as being furious with Donaghy.
"Donaghy didn't know what these guys were doing and what they weren't doing," he said. "He'll basically lie about anything to make himself look good, and I think that came out in the plea. He's certainly not beyond making up lies to make his coworkers in the NBA look bad. I'm sure all of these guys curse the day they ever met Tim Donaghy, or even helped him get in the league."
Several sources said Donaghy has not been close socially with the local referees for 2 to 3 years. One said Donaghy "wore out his welcome" with them.
"Crawford and Callahan have helped Donaghy, went out of their way to give him advice, and this is the thanks they get. They get spit on," the second source close to several refs said this week.
About 4 years ago, Donaghy supposedly punched Crawford in the face during an NBA referees camp in New Jersey, because Crawford did not invite Donaghy to a morning TV show that paid $500 for the appearance.
"That's true," said another source. "Crawford helps this guy into the league and that's how he repays him. You'll never come across a group of guys better than Crawford, Malloy and Callahan, and Javie and ********** are standup guys. They've had nothing to do with Donaghy for a while. Playing golf with Donaghy? I don't think they'd sit for 2 minutes with him."
The league, however, will be supporting Donaghy financially. Indications are that Donaghy, who spent 13 years in the NBA, will receive a severance package as well as his pension. A source said the pension plan provides for up to $78,000 annually for life, based on seniority. The pension is paid at age 58, but can be taken as early as 45, with a 5 percent reduction for each year before 58. The plan is guaranteed for 10 years, meaning should Donaghy die within the 10 years since he began drawing the pension that his heirs would receive the money. *
Send e-mail to santolj@phillynews.com.
EDIT - the **** parts of the article refer to NBA referee Mark W-u-n-d-e-r-l-i-c-k. BGOL and it's censoring laws
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