FBI investigates NBA ref who bet on games - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

QuasiMondo · 07-20-2007, 10:47 AM

Quote:

NEW YORK (AP) -- 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.

According to a law enforcement official, authorities are examining whether the referee made calls to affect the point spread in games on which he or associates had wagered.

The law enforcement official, who spoke to the AP on Friday on condition of anonymity, said the referee was aware of the investigation and had made arrangements to surrender as early as next week to face charges. The official, who did not identify the referee, is familiar with the investigation but was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation.

The law enforcement official said the bets involved thousands of dollars and were made on games during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons.

The NBA issued a brief statement Friday: "We have been asked by the FBI, with whom we are working closely, not to comment on this matter at this time."

The FBI probe, which began recently, also involves allegations that the referee had connections to organized crime associates. Other arrests are expected, the official said.

The referee had a gambling problem, according to the official, and was approached by low-level mob associates through an acquaintance.

The investigation first was reported Friday by the New York Post.

Veteran oddsmaker John Avello, at the Wynn resort on the Las Vegas Strip, said that without specific information it would be difficult to identify wagering irregularities over the last two seasons.

"At this point, it's too early to know if any games were affected," Avello said, adding that no regulators or investigators had contacted him about the case.

Jay Kornegay, executive director of the sports book at the Las Vegas Hilton, said he had never seen any unusual activity in NBA betting, and was surprised not to have heard about an investigation until Friday.

"Whispers would have happened on the street, and we would have heard something," Kornegay said. "Any type of suspicious or unusual movements, you usually hear in the industry. We're so regulated and policed, any kind of suspicion would be discussed.

"We haven't seen anything like that in the NBA that I can remember," he said, "and we haven't been contacted by anybody."

Kornegay said legal sports betting in Nevada represents a fraction of sports betting worldwide, with 98.5 percent of all action taken outside the state.

Gambling long has been a problem in sports, and leagues have made a point of educating players of the potential pitfalls. The NBA, for example, discusses gambling at rookie orientation, even bringing in former mobster Michael Franceze to speak.

This could be big. This isn't just screwing with the integrity of the game, but this is screwing with the game itself. Bad calls, missed calls, things could get ugly if they have to go back and figure out if his gambling had any impact on a team making (or failing to make) the playoffs, or the outcome of playoff games themselves.

jorgelito · 07-20-2007, 11:14 AM

Oh man, especially if it was the Suns-Spurs series. This could be very bad.

Ridge · 07-20-2007, 08:26 PM

I think he only refereed one game in the Suns-Spurs series. But this whole thing is really too bad. NBA players work their asses off and to have a ref cheat is a low blow to all. I sure hope nobody else is involved.

pan6467 · 07-20-2007, 10:53 PM

This will only lead to people talking about how evil gambling is and we'll get to see Pete Rose pictures and hear Pete Rose stories and Art Schlister stories.... meanwhile, there will still be no funding to help the compulsive gambler.... yawn.....

As a compulsive gambler and one who aspires to open a treatment center for them, I wish someday soon people take the addiction as seriously as drugs and alcohol and put forth some funding.

QuasiMondo · 07-22-2007, 08:34 PM

ESPN columnist Bill Simmons makes an interesting point that when this story broke, the reaction wasn't, "How could this happen?" but it was, "who was it?" That should tell you something about how fans viewed the officiating that there wasn't any surprise that a ref was possibly altering games.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...simmons/070722

Bear Cub · 07-23-2007, 02:25 PM

Sounds like EVERY referee that officiates a Big Ten football game

07-20-2007, 10:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
pan6467 Lennonite Priest Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA	This will only lead to people talking about how evil gambling is and we'll get to see Pete Rose pictures and hear Pete Rose stories and Art Schlister stories.... meanwhile, there will still be no funding to help the compulsive gambler.... yawn..... As a compulsive gambler and one who aspires to open a treatment center for them, I wish someday soon people take the addiction as seriously as drugs and alcohol and put forth some funding. __________________ I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

07-22-2007, 08:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
QuasiMondo Wise-ass Latino Location: Pretoria (Tshwane), RSA	ESPN columnist Bill Simmons makes an interesting point that when this story broke, the reaction wasn't, "How could this happen?" but it was, "who was it?" That should tell you something about how fans viewed the officiating that there wasn't any surprise that a ref was possibly altering games. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...simmons/070722 __________________ Cameron originally envisioned the Terminator as a small, unremarkable man, giving it the ability to blend in more easily. As a result, his first choice for the part was Lance Henriksen. O. J. Simpson was on the shortlist but Cameron did not think that such a nice guy could be a ruthless killer. -From the Collector's Edition DVD of The Terminator

07-20-2007, 11:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	Oh man, especially if it was the Suns-Spurs series. This could be very bad.

07-20-2007, 08:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ridge Upright	I think he only refereed one game in the Suns-Spurs series. But this whole thing is really too bad. NBA players work their asses off and to have a ref cheat is a low blow to all. I sure hope nobody else is involved.

07-23-2007, 02:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
Bear Cub The Reverend Side Boob Location: Nofe Curolina	Sounds like EVERY referee that officiates a Big Ten football game