Tim Donaghy

[castlecraver]

This NBA ref is under intense investigation for gambling on NBA games and providing information to mob-connected gambling partners. The league seems to be trying to play down the obvious suggestion that he must have called games with his gambling interests in mind. Rumors abound that there might have been red flags involving his behavior previously, as well as a possible plea deal in exchange for offering information on other connected gamblers, including other referees.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2943095
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2945224

What are your thoughts on this guy? The NBA? Sports in general? It seems that everywhere you turn, whether its game-fixing, steroids, Tour de France doping, or incidents like those involving Tank Johnson, Pacman Jones, and Michael Vick, the world of pro sports is getting unbelievably shady and criminal.

[TimmyBoston]

I think it's disgusting. Personally I'm not a basketball fan, it's been years since I watched an NBA game, so this doesn't actively involve me. But to me it's representive of the corruption in sports today. I've been very vocal in my criticism of steriods in sports and to me it's nothing more than cheating.

Now Michael Vick, though that's my real sore spot. Dog fighting, just thinking about it makes my blood boil. If it were up to me, I'd feed him to his dogs.

[ouch]

I want my money back for every ticket I ever purchased.

[TimmyBoston]

I want my money back for every ticket I ever purchased.

I want my money back for every bet I lost.

[sullivanpm]

I quit watching pro sports after the last baseball strike.
I only watch college now.

[castlecraver]

I quit watching pro sports after the last baseball strike.
I only watch college now.

Sadly, I get the feeling (call it a hunch) that college sports are maybe only a shade less criminal than pro right now.

[Groundhog]

Overall, the Vick situation is probably the most troubling due to it's particularly heinous nature, especially to those of us in the ATL. Even folks who are not really "dog" people find these allegations vile. But all in all, it has nothing to do with the game of professional football. As a sports fan, I find the Donaghy thing and the baseball/steroids problem are really the most troubling because they are tarnishing the integrity of the game.

BTW, there was an ad in the AJC's sports section the other day for "HANK DID IT ON STEAK & EGGS" t-shirts.