Donaghy: 2002 NBA Playoffs series fixed

Just hard, some years, to overcome what has been the best defense in the sport (for extended periods, in recent years) . . .

 

But who has more to lose?

 

It doesn't take much . . . just a feel for the agenda and a rational sense of timing.

It it any wonder that under-the-radar second-tier college basketball is the easiest sport in the world for wayward officials to manipulate?

 

Getting fired from multibillion dollar enterprise and being disgraced for life, or being thrown in jail for several more years on top of your prison sentence and getting pounded up the ass by Bubba?

At least Stern would still have his freedom, and some nice houses to live in.

 

I guarantee you it's true and I'd bet serious cash Stern has been in on most of it, if not all of it.

 

This is exactly why I didn't understand the NBA coming out and saying that there should have been a foul called in Game 4 of the Lakers-Spurs series this year. Why make your officials look worse than they already do? They already had the Donaghy thing going on, then they weigh in that a controversial non-call should have been a foul call.

There are definitely controversial calls in almost every playoff game, but why wouldn't the NBA try to make many of its series -- especially in the Finals when you have a player like LeBron sure to get some ratings -- last longer than 4 or 5 games. What made the Lakers-Kings such an important series to go 7 as opposed to a Suns-Spurs series from last year with Amare ready to come back for Game 7 and set up a fantastic story line? Or any of the Bulls series where MJ would pull in massive ratings for a Game 7 with the title on the line?

Yes, I'm a Lakers fan, but I don't understand why there would only be these two series (Dallas-Houston?) that would be focused on and no others that Donaghy could tell about.

 

I felt bad for the Kings and their fans years ago (Scot Pollard made me a big fan of those teams). And now, even more so. That was their chance. Even if this gets shot down, the doubt will still be there.

 

Guys learned, long ago: Never make series bets AGAINST the obvious NBA agenda teams.

Why?

Because there hasn't been a professional sports league in the history of this country that feels the need to pander for each and every ratings point, as the NBA does.

 

Through the Spurs, Sternco was seeking an international audience?

 

That wouldn't prove anything either. You'd just be getting someone's opinion on a call. And each someone would have a vested interest in making the league look good.

 

Repeating ...
The allegations do not say the refs were trying to fix the outcome of the series, just to extend the series to a seventh game.