Comments on: The NBA’s Great Gambling Gaffe http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/ The season's over. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:07:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Will aka the degenerate gambler http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/comment-page-1/#comment-1496 Will aka the degenerate gambler Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:26:53 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/#comment-1496 I wonder if my bookie will refund me my money. I wonder if my bookie will refund me my money.

]]> By: Geoff http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/comment-page-1/#comment-1495 Geoff Wed, 25 Jul 2007 22:32:52 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/#comment-1495 I like the stuff you said in the article, but I would like to have seen some sources other than Chris Sheridan and Bill Simmons -- both ESPN writers. ESPN is the evil-empire and there are other writers who had some good insight into specific games that Donaghy worked. Other than that, noble effort. I like the stuff you said in the article, but I would like to have seen some sources other than Chris Sheridan and Bill Simmons — both ESPN writers. ESPN is the evil-empire and there are other writers who had some good insight into specific games that Donaghy worked.

Other than that, noble effort.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/comment-page-1/#comment-1494 Andrew Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:39:00 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/#comment-1494 aaron babb: Great point. I had read speculation that it was someone with mafia ties who actually spilled the beans on Donaghy, and that it was a major mistake becuase now the hot-headed ref is going to cooperate with the Feds against them. You put another spin on it though: With Stern so quick to distance himself from Donaghy, does this mean that he'll turn on the NBA and reveal any dirty secrets Stern might have? Obviously not related to gambling, but on potentially influencing playoff matchups, extending playoff series, treatment of 'star' players, promoting home-court advantage, etc? Very interesting. aaron babb: Great point. I had read speculation that it was someone with mafia ties who actually spilled the beans on Donaghy, and that it was a major mistake becuase now the hot-headed ref is going to cooperate with the Feds against them.

You put another spin on it though: With Stern so quick to distance himself from Donaghy, does this mean that he’ll turn on the NBA and reveal any dirty secrets Stern might have? Obviously not related to gambling, but on potentially influencing playoff matchups, extending playoff series, treatment of ‘star’ players, promoting home-court advantage, etc? Very interesting.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/comment-page-1/#comment-1493 Andrew Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:34:26 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/#comment-1493 Mr. Liston: I just added an addendum to the Joey Crawford speculation based on a couple of juicy nuggets I read today. I have no idea if Crawford was involved in any wrongdoing, maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part, but the coincidences are starting to pile up. By the way, Mark Knopfler led me to believe you had passed on some time ago. Glad to hear that wasn't the case. Mr. Liston: I just added an addendum to the Joey Crawford speculation based on a couple of juicy nuggets I read today. I have no idea if Crawford was involved in any wrongdoing, maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part, but the coincidences are starting to pile up.

By the way, Mark Knopfler led me to believe you had passed on some time ago. Glad to hear that wasn’t the case.

]]> By: William K. Wolfrum » Blog Archive » NBA using referee betting scandal as “bogus reason” to stay out of mobbed-up Las Vegas http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/comment-page-1/#comment-1492 William K. Wolfrum » Blog Archive » NBA using referee betting scandal as “bogus reason” to stay out of mobbed-up Las Vegas Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:27:20 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/#comment-1492 [...] Here’s what former Las Vegas Councilman and current gadfly Steve Miller has to say about the NBA’s Tim Donaghy problem: According to INSIDE VEGAS contributor and former Chicago Crime Commission member John J. Flood, [...] [...] Here’s what former Las Vegas Councilman and current gadfly Steve Miller has to say about the NBA’s Tim Donaghy problem: According to INSIDE VEGAS contributor and former Chicago Crime Commission member John J. Flood, [...]

]]> By: Blog Roundup for 7-25-07 >> Sportable, Where Sports are a Lifestyle http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/comment-page-1/#comment-1491 Blog Roundup for 7-25-07 >> Sportable, Where Sports are a Lifestyle Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:00:38 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/#comment-1491 [...] NBA’s Gambling Gaffe [Empty Bench]: A lengthy, but well thought out discussion of the NBA’s newest scandal. Will we be able to [...] [...] NBA’s Gambling Gaffe [Empty Bench]: A lengthy, but well thought out discussion of the NBA’s newest scandal. Will we be able to [...]

]]> By: aaron babb http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/comment-page-1/#comment-1490 aaron babb Wed, 25 Jul 2007 19:13:23 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/#comment-1490 The conspiracy theorist in me wonders one thing. I have long suspected that Stern mandated his referees to "sway" games toward teams to set up favorable playoff matchups. Especially as a Pacers fan during the 90's. When the Feds put the screws to Donaghy. What are the chances that he protects Stern? Does that have something to do with the swift condemnation of Donaghy from Stern? This could be interesting. The conspiracy theorist in me wonders one thing. I have long suspected that Stern mandated his referees to “sway” games toward teams to set up favorable playoff matchups. Especially as a Pacers fan during the 90′s. When the Feds put the screws to Donaghy. What are the chances that he protects Stern? Does that have something to do with the swift condemnation of Donaghy from Stern? This could be interesting.

]]> By: stopmikelupica http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/comment-page-1/#comment-1488 stopmikelupica Wed, 25 Jul 2007 18:49:03 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/#comment-1488 Great post, though I disagree with you. I don't think Joey Crawford or any other referee was involved. I don't think that Game 3 was fixed, and, aside from the Ginobili late whistle, none of the calls in that video are even directly attributable to Donaghy. And I don't think it'll change how I watch the game. I'll get upset when a bad call goes against my team. Am I then going to assume that it's because the ref is shaving points or something? No. If I did so, then I might as well stop watching the NBA.... Great post, though I disagree with you. I don’t think Joey Crawford or any other referee was involved. I don’t think that Game 3 was fixed, and, aside from the Ginobili late whistle, none of the calls in that video are even directly attributable to Donaghy.

And I don’t think it’ll change how I watch the game. I’ll get upset when a bad call goes against my team. Am I then going to assume that it’s because the ref is shaving points or something? No. If I did so, then I might as well stop watching the NBA….

]]> By: gurf morlix http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/comment-page-1/#comment-1481 gurf morlix Wed, 25 Jul 2007 06:45:36 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/#comment-1481 GREAT ARTICLE! Best article I have seen in any forum. I think David Stern knew more than he is letting on, and he knew it well before this story broke. (Perhaps Joey Crawford was more than just a hothead when he was suspended.) If Stern knew Donaghy was (even) possibly shaving points and let him keep working, including the Spurs and Suns series, then Stern will have a lot of explaining to do. GREAT ARTICLE! Best article I have seen in any forum.

I think David Stern knew more than he is letting on, and he knew it well before this story broke. (Perhaps Joey Crawford was more than just a hothead when he was suspended.) If Stern knew Donaghy was (even) possibly shaving points and let him keep working, including the Spurs and Suns series, then Stern will have a lot of explaining to do.

]]> By: Sonny Liston http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/comment-page-1/#comment-1475 Sonny Liston Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:14:42 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/07/23/the-nbas-great-gambling-gaffe/#comment-1475 Kudos, a pretty good summary of what happened and how it's going to affect us fans. To be honest it's more embarassing than anything, because I think anybody who watches enough knows the foibles of NBA refereeing and decides to love the sport anyways. One thing though: So you really think Chris Sheridan was calling out Joey Crawford et al? Kudos, a pretty good summary of what happened and how it’s going to affect us fans. To be honest it’s more embarassing than anything, because I think anybody who watches enough knows the foibles of NBA refereeing and decides to love the sport anyways. One thing though: So you really think Chris Sheridan was calling out Joey Crawford et al?

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