Donaghy: 2002 NBA Playoffs series fixed

As I understand it, Donaghy's charges were made in court documents filed by his lawyer. This suggests that some part of the judicial system considers them relevant. It begs the question, who asked the questions? Good or even mediocre criminal defense attornies do not allow their clients to volunteer information unless they KNOW someone in authority is interested in hearing it.

 

David Stern, marketing genius that he is, should understand that perception = reality these days. While not World Wresting, the league does seem to be edging closer to say, figure skating, government in Mexico, and the Pulitzer Prizes.

 

The way I figure it--and feel free to call me a douche--is that this shit has indeed come from Stern and that no one wants to suffer the consequences of crossing the little man. But what does Donaghy have to lose now? He's broke, his family is shattered and he'll never work again. So what's the over/under on how long before he "commits suicide" just like the NFL steroids dealer?

Like with Brian McNamee and Jose Canseco: Just b/c he's a piece of shit liar doesn't mean he's not telling the truth here.

The NBA has been fixed as long as Stern has been around. The Spurs and Pistons championships are all part of the grand scheme. Allow a non-glamour team to win every other year or so and you have enough evidence to shush the conspiracy theorists. "How can it be fixed? The Spurs won four times!"

Fixed as the day is long. I hope this brings the entire fuckin empire down.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AtUEOGuQZk5bKzfFJEzXdVa8vLYF?slug=aw-sternref061108&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

Don't hold your breath waiting for ESPN Classic to show it.

 

Nothing douche-like about that opinion. Makes sense to me. I just really hope enough is made of this that it won't go away in the media the way the Donaghy gambling thing kinda did.

 

You're not a douche. But this opinion makes very little sense to me. What did the NBA have to gain by fixing games? What has it gained? Nothing.

I find it hard to believe this goes to the Comissioner's office. Very hard. I can believe refs in league with gamblers, because there's money in that. But I don't see what the reward here is.

 

Dude. Money. Lots of it from TV advertising.

The NBA makes a lot more money off having Games 6s and 7s then they do off Grey's Anatomy reruns.

 

There's not enough money in an extra game here or there to risk slaughtering the whole sacred cow.

Seriously.

 

Apparently, according to TD, someone high up in the NBA disagrees.
Not saying I do.

 

Mo' money, mo' money, mo' money. Stern has never come across as a guy who wants to do what's right. He's come across as a guy who wants to do what makes his league more money. A seventh game in that Kings-Lakers series meant more money, more excitement, more people paying attention to his league.

Is it that hard to believe -- or at least consider -- that the whole "teenagers thinking they're invincible" thing can carry over to a guy in charge of the NBA? Anybody who successfully gets away with any crime likely feels more comfortable doing it the next time and the next time and the time after that. Eventually you have a kid driving 120 in a 35 because he's never gotten caught doing it or a league rigging games for the same reason.

 

I think it's more like he takes his audience for fools. He's so arrogant, and he thinks the fanbase is so stupid, that he can actually BRING MORE ATTENTION to the ever-building minority that believes his sport is fixed by admitting refs made a mistake in Game Four of Lakers-Spurs and not suffer any repurcussions. If he was half as smart as he thinks he is, he would have not said word one about the Western Conference Finals officiating and let the rest of us yammer on about it.

Instead, he's like the teenager who sneaks into his girlfriend's house, bangs the ever-holy hell out of her and then goes upstairs to her dad and says, yeah, I probably shouldn't have been over so late watching TV. Sorry. Won't happen again.