Author: John Paulsen (Page 707 of 937)

In light of Tim Donaghy’s recent accusations about the officiating in Game 6 of that 2002 Lakers/Kings series, “Refgate” is gaining some steam. Despite David Stern’s condescending attacks on the messenger, there is a growing perception around the league that there has, at least in the past, been something fishy going on with the officiating in the playoffs.

Michael Wilbon makes a couple of interesting points::

It needs to be addressed now. Stern needs to empower an independent panel to investigate referees and their relationship with the league in much the same way Major League Baseball conducted an independent investigation into steroid use. Stern told us the U.S. Attorney’s office and the FBI had thoroughly investigated all of Donaghy’s claims. Yet, Bob Delaney, one of the three officials who worked the infamous Lakers-Kings Game 6 in 2002, told ESPN he had not been questioned. So, how thorough could the investigation have been? Did somebody forget? Was it a whitewash? Was Dick Bavetta, who also worked that game, questioned? Was Ted Bernhardt, the third official, questioned?

I would generally trust Stern when he says that all of Donaghy’s accusations have been investigated, but how do you conduct an investigation when you don’t even question (at least) one of the referees (Bob Delaney) that worked that infamous game? This is really starting to smell like a cover up, and the league needs to do what Wilbon suggested and empower an independent, thorough investigation.

Oh, by the way… Game 4 of the Finals is tonight.

Ralph Nader is jumping on the-NBA-is-fixed bandwagon. Scratch that, he’s been driving the bandwagon since 2002, when he wrote David Stern a letter asking him to investigate the now-infamous Lakers/Kings Game 6, which Donaghy insists was fixed so that the Lakers would win.

The Lakers shot 40 free throws in that Game 6 – 27 in the fourth quarter – “won” the game 106-102, eliminated the Kings, and went on to beat the Nets for their third straight NBA Championship.

Ralph Nader saw injustice and on June 4, 2002, Ralph wrote to NBA Commissioner David Stern asking for an investigation.

Ralph personally spoke with Stern.

But Stern stiffed Ralph.

No action was taken.

Donaghy’s lawyer, John Lauro, says NBA executives directed referees “to manipulate games” in order to “boost ticket sales and television ratings.”

According to Lauro, in the crucial 2002 Lakers/Kings game that Ralph complained to Stern about – “Tim learned from Referee A that Referees A and F wanted to extend the series to seven games. Tim knew Referees A and F to be ‘company men,’ always acting in the interest of the NBA, and that night, it was in the NBA’s interest to add another game to the series.”

For his part, Stern says that this has been turned over to the investigators and nothing improper was found. So from his point of view, the conversation is over. Stern just wants Tim Donaghy to go away.

But Ralph Nader doesn’t want to let it happen.