OT: Donaghy Attorney: Players/Coaches Altered Games, Too

Kerb Hohl · Post #1 » by **Kerb Hohl** » Tue May 20, 2008 7:02 pm

Merge this one with the Donaghy bet on 100+ games if you'd like MD.

I just thought that this one might deserve a thread in itself.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3404607

Personally, I'm not going to believe it yet because Donaghy is somewhat of a fish out of water fighting for a minimum sentence right now.

However, I am very intrigued because I believed Canseco and any other bombshell rumors like this from day one and most of them have been correct.

BigSmooth_31 · Post #2 » by **BigSmooth_31** » Tue May 20, 2008 7:09 pm

so who would be the under payed players who would fix games?

obviously over payed guys like michael redd dont have to fix games for more money...

scratch michael redd if you want and put Gadzurich or Bobby Simmons

MajorDad · Post #3 » by **MajorDad** » Tue May 20, 2008 7:44 pm

I find it interesting that his testimony and hearing have been closed door and that his testimony has been kept secret. I haven't been to court in a while and am not really that knowledgeable about court procedings and testimony. it does appear ( conspiracy theory) that the NBA is using it's influence and money to keep this case quiet.

What is preventing Donahue from giving his testimony to the public or writing a book or leaking his testimony to those two San Francisco reporters? The entire world knows about OJ, but we can't find out about sports betting? Who doesn't want us to know? the NBA? or the people he was making wagers with?

i know there are laws against businesses selling liquer and cigarettes to minors. Isn't there a law against Casinos allowing athletes and refs to place bets? if not, there should be. Casinos should be held accountable as well.

I have to believe he is telling the truth about certain officials having vendettas against certain teams, players and coaches. I've heard other players. coaches and owners also make similar remarks.

jerrod · Post #4 » by **jerrod** » Tue May 20, 2008 7:55 pm

first off, it's not court testimony.

it's what he told investigators he was cooperating with, maybe it wasn't made public because no other proof could be found and they don't necessarily believe him

Post #5 » by **MickeyDavis** » Tue May 20, 2008 8:00 pm

I wouldn't be surprised if this were true but you always have to be careful believing someone who is trying to cut a deal.

BobbyLight · Post #6 » by **BobbyLight** » Tue May 20, 2008 8:09 pm

MickeyDavis wrote:I wouldn't be surprised if this were true but you always have to be careful believing someone who is trying to cut a deal.

Exactly.

I have a hard time thinking players/coaches would do stuff like this. Most pro athletes and coaches are so competitive they will take the win over cash any day. I am sure there are those out there who are the other way around, but I would think they would be in the minority.

raferfenix · Post #7 » by **raferfenix** » Tue May 20, 2008 8:17 pm

If Donaghy were to lie to try to give himself a more favorable deal, why would he swing for the fences like this and say 100? For me, I have to believe that if he had no evidence of others being involved then he wouldn't make a claim like this.

Maybe he'd lie to get a better deal, but to tell a lie as big as this would be incredibly bold, one which I doubt a competent lawyer would let fly.

Post #8 » by **MickeyDavis** » Tue May 20, 2008 8:23 pm

I agree with that but who knows what someone might say while being questioned. He was probably crapping his pants, they offer him a deal if he rats on others and he blurts out 100. But yeah I would think if you were going to lie about it you would say 5 or maybe 10.

MajorDad · Post #9 » by **MajorDad** » Tue May 20, 2008 8:24 pm

I don't believe coaches and players are on the take, although several college players have been caught.

i do believe game outcomes are somewhat fixed by personality conflicts between certain officials and players. We all saw that last year between Duncan and a certain official who was suspended, and then mysteriously rehired after the season.

While that ref may not have been on the take, he was doing everything n his power to ensure Duncan was not playing and thus did alter and affect the score and outcome of that game.

at my son's soccer game last night, with 15 seconds left , the ref blew a whistle because a child was on the ground. it's an injury official time-out - or so everybody thought. Everybody looked at the kid on the ground except one player who shot the ball in our goal. the ref counted the goal and said he had not blown his whistle. yeah right. it was the first game of the tournament and we were playing the first place team who has won for about 6 years in a row. the drafts for this league are held privately each year. I'd like to know how much that ref received from the other team's coach.

it's stuff like this that goes on in the amature world that makes me believe it's no different in the pros. Why would pro refs be any different than those who ref junior high, high school, or college games? Why would refs all of a sudden start calling traveling for those 5 step highlight reel lay-up dunks? if they did, the NBA wouldn't have any highlights.