New York City
The National Basketball Association was rocked last week by allegations that a referee had bet on games, including some at which he’d officiated. The FBI confirmed that it was investigating whether Tim Donaghy, 40, bet on games and possibly made calls to influence their outcomes. They also wanted to know if he was colluding with organized crime figures. NBA Commissioner David Stern called the case “the most serious and worst situation” in his tenure, but insisted that Donaghy was a “rogue, isolated criminal.” Officials said Donaghy has “a gambling problem” and was approached by “low-level” mob associates. Donaghy, a 13-year veteran referee, is expected to turn himself in to authorities, accept a plea bargain on gambling charges, and cooperate with investigators.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
‘Care fractures after birth’instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Shots fired in the US-EU war over digital censorshipIN THE SPOTLIGHT The Trump administration risks opening a dangerous new front in the battle of real-world consequences for online action
-
What will the US economy look like in 2026?Today’s Big Question Wall Street is bullish, but uncertain
