Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The scandal of disgraced NBA referee Tim Donaghy created a ripple effect on the sports world that has reached the Big 12. The conference announced plans this summer to increase background checks on football and basketball officials.
At the Big 12 media day in San Antonio, coordinator of football officials Walt Anderson said background checks could be uncomfortable for officials. “But that’s the nature of the game,” he said. “You almost give up the Bill of Rights when you become an official. But it’s a choice. You work in a fishbowl, a fishbowl that gets replayed every play.”
The conference also runs random background checks on members of the replay booth and clock operators.
Anderson, who is also an NFL referee, said the conference had hired a company to monitor point spreads of games. The conference would be notified if there were any suspicious point spread movements that could indicate game fixing. The Big 12 evaluates the performance of its referees on every play of every game to monitor malfeasance.
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Donaghy resigned from the NBA on July 9 after 13 years with the league. Soon thereafter an FBI investigation began, alleging he bet on games he officiated, made calls affecting the point spread in those games, and received cash payouts from gamblers in return for inside information.
Members of the Kansas Athletic Department agree with the increased scrutiny.
“I think it is a wise thing to do in this day and age,” Associate Athletic Director Jim Marchiony said. “I think that the recent developments speak for themselves and it’s also a deterrent for anyone who would be tempted by any kind of impropriety.”
Donaghy resigned from the NBA on July 9 after 13 years with the league. Soon thereafter an FBI investigation began, alleging he bet on games he officiated, made calls affecting the point spread in those games, and received cash payouts from gamblers in return for inside information.
He pled guilty to two felony charges on Aug. 15: conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate commerce.
Donaghy was immediately denounced by NBA commissioner David Stern as a “rogue, isolated criminal” in a national news conference.
Donaghy will now reportedly disclose the gambling activity and names of as many as 20 other NBA officials to prosecutors.
Could a similar scandal break in college athletics?
“It certainly could become an issue in college sports,” Marchiony said. “You could ask that question about 100 issues. Is it possible? Yes. There’s nothing that can take down organized sports quicker than a gambling scandal. That is why the conference has taken measures to eliminate potential wrong doing.”
—edited by Kyle Carter
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