The NBA ref betting scandal - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

RockyBalboa · 07-22-2007, 10:58 PM

Is anyone really surprised by this? I mean honestly?

Anyone remember the name Jake O'Donnell?

I sat next to him on flight from PHX to SLC many years ago. He flat out told me that a lot of NBA refs gambled all the time.

This is the biggest non-surprise sports story to me to come along in a long time. The only surprise for me is that it actually took this long for something like this to be made public.

il Padrino Ute · 07-22-2007, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockyBalboa

Is anyone really surprised by this? I mean honestly?

Anyone remember the name Jake O'Donnell?

I sat next to him on flight from PHX to SLC many years ago. He flat out told me that a lot of NBA refs gambled all the time.

This is the biggest non-surprise sports story to me to come along in a long time. The only surprise for me is that it actually took this long for something like this to be made public.

Agreed.

I honestly believe that because gambling is legal in Vegas, we'll never see an NBA, NFL, NHL or MLB franchise there.

And I wouldn't be surprised if organized crime has fingerprints in this mess.

cougjunkie · 07-23-2007, 04:19 AM

Remember a few years ago all the NBA refs that were suspended for selling their first class tickets to people and then flying coach. Tim Donaghy was the main guy that started all of that, you would think that the NBA would have learned he was shady back then.

cougjunkie · 07-23-2007, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute

And I wouldn't be surprised if organized crime has fingerprints in this mess.

They said have already said he was linked to the Gambino crime family.

MikeWaters · 07-23-2007, 04:22 AM

Plus he coached game 3 of the Spurs - Suns series.

Yup, we know which way that one went.

YOhio · 07-23-2007, 04:22 AM

Simmons has a great article on the scandal.

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

As a Jazz fan I now feel completely vindicated for the many years I've spent complaining about how crooked the refs are.

YOhio · 07-23-2007, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Plus he coached game 3 of the Spurs - Suns series.

Yup, we know which way that one went.

Suns fans must be completely livid right now.

il Padrino Ute · 07-23-2007, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cougjunkie

They said have already said he was linked to the Gambino crime family.

Wow, I didn't know that.

It's a shame that the NBA doesn't do what the Palermo Soccer club does. The club plays in Italy's Serie A league and it handed out thousands of tee shirts with this on it:

Translated: The Mafia sucks. (there wasn't a website on it - I can't find a pic of the actual tee shirt).

There are also these signs all around the city of Palermo:

Translated: The Mafia sucks. Let's defend our freedom.

Good to see this happening. (Sorry if I've hijacked this thread now.)

Venkman · 07-23-2007, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YOhio

Simmons has a great article on the scandal.

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

As a Jazz fan I now feel completely vindicated for the many years I've spent complaining about how crooked the refs are.

Amen brother. I was actually thrilled when I heard the news. Finally, my paranoid ramblings about refs and the mob are about to be validated!! I'm praying Bavetta is in on it so I can die secure in the knowledge we won the 98 Finals after all.

All-American · 07-24-2007, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venkman

Amen brother. I was actually thrilled when I heard the news. Finally, my paranoid ramblings about refs and the mob are about to be validated!! I'm praying Bavetta is in on it so I can die secure in the knowledge we won the 98 Finals after all.

Mike Mathis, former NBA official, just referenced this very play as an example of a referee mistake that the public accepts on ESPN's Rome is Burning. He said that there was sentiment that Jordan pushed off, and that there was an offensive foul, and that he agreed with this assessment.

Congratulations, Utah. You are the 1998 NBA champions.

07-22-2007, 10:58 PM	#1
RockyBalboa Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 7,297	The NBA ref betting scandal Is anyone really surprised by this? I mean honestly? Anyone remember the name Jake O'Donnell? I sat next to him on flight from PHX to SLC many years ago. He flat out told me that a lot of NBA refs gambled all the time. This is the biggest non-surprise sports story to me to come along in a long time. The only surprise for me is that it actually took this long for something like this to be made public. __________________ Masquerading as Cougarguards very own genius dumbass since 05'.

07-23-2007, 04:19 AM	#3
cougjunkie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 5,741	Remember a few years ago all the NBA refs that were suspended for selling their first class tickets to people and then flying coach. Tim Donaghy was the main guy that started all of that, you would think that the NBA would have learned he was shady back then. __________________ LINCECUM!

07-23-2007, 04:22 AM	#5
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	Plus he coached game 3 of the Spurs - Suns series. Yup, we know which way that one went.

07-23-2007, 04:22 AM	#6
YOhio AKA SeattleNewt Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 7,055	Simmons has a great article on the scandal. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...simmons/070722 As a Jazz fan I now feel completely vindicated for the many years I've spent complaining about how crooked the refs are.