How deep is the corruption? - Detroit Pistons Fan Community

detteam · #1 (**permalink**) 07-21-2007, 06:15 PM

Please direct any replies to this poll to the Refs Betting on Games? thread to keep the commentary on this issue in one place.

Disclaimer:
At this point, the accusations against Donaghy are only allegations and not yet proven in court. The poll choices are from my personal conjecture and have no basis in fact.

This poll is private.

Mad Hatter · #2 (**permalink**) 07-21-2007, 06:30 PM

The league office!

Can there be any question? The buck stops there...don't it?

The "league office" has been more concerned about what types of clothes inactive players are wearing than they have to maintaining the integrity of the game.

Don't even try to tell me that Stern didn't know about this issue before now. The "almighty" Stern? He knew. So let the cover-up begin.

Darth Tater · #3 (**permalink**) 07-21-2007, 08:44 PM

Do you mean others are involved in this incident, or others are involved although not necessarily in this particular case?

16 Mile · #4 (**permalink**) 07-21-2007, 09:11 PM

The NBA has the most intensive after game referee analysis of any sport. Yet they couldn't notice this guy throwing games? They don't notice Shaq's chargesor DWades ticky tack fouls?

NBA is corrupt, from top to bottom. Especially top, Mr. D. Sterns.

detteam · #5 (**permalink**) 07-21-2007, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Tater

Do you mean others are involved in this incident, or others are involved although not necessarily in this particular case?

Take your pick...I'm open to both scenarios.

roscoe36 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-21-2007, 10:31 PM

The NBA was so busy "over officiating" games, a guy trying to tweak the system would be free to operate a points shaving operation based on late game free throws and technicals.

Either the system is so broken a guy can hide within it or it is part of a much larger conspiracy.

It's easy to hide a thief in the Thieves Guild.

buddahfan · #7 (**permalink**) 07-22-2007, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

The league office!

Can there be any question? The buck stops there...don't it?

The "league office" has been more concerned about what types of clothes inactive players are wearing than they have to maintaining the integrity of the game.

Don't even try to tell me that Stern didn't know about this issue before now. The "almighty" Stern? He knew. So let the cover-up begin.

Do you think that the Pope and the Vatican know about all of these problematic priests and their carrying ons before it became public?

And if the Vatican knew about it, did they condone it by their inaction on the matter, before they were forced to do something by the public pressure exerted on them?

I don't know in either case, which may be a bit naive, but that is where I am at with it.

TaShawn · #8 (**permalink**) 07-22-2007, 02:30 AM

Here is how I see it...

There were fixed NBA games and nobody could tell them apart from the non-fixed games.

It is a game with so much leeway given to the officials that you can't even tell when they are mob pawns.

buddahfan · #9 (**permalink**) 07-22-2007, 09:40 AM

Stern starts his damage control!!

Everyone can bet their morning Starbucks and more that Stern has already started to call in some favors on this, Mark Cuban being among those lending a helping hand in damage control.

Notice the nature of the wording here.

Quote:

NBA referees dealing with questions of credibility
By BRIAN MAHONEY, AP Basketball Writer
July 21, 2007
Suddenly, the occasional bad call doesn't seem like such a big deal.

NBA referees' competency has always been criticized.

(No big deal here this is just the same old criticism of NBA officals)

After three high-profile negative stories in the last three months, the questions have shifted to their credibility.

Quote:

cred·i·bil·i·ty (krĕd'ə-bĭl'ĭ-tē)

n.

The quality, capability, or power to elicit belief: “America's credibility must not be squandered, especially by its leaders” (Henry A. Kissinger).
A capacity for belief: a story that strained our credibility.

Notice that the definition of credibility does not mention that anything was done wrong. Credibility goes only toward perception of what was done, not what was actually done.

Quote:

With the FBI investigating Tim Donaghy for allegedly betting on games that he officiated, confidence in the guys blowing the whistles may never have been lower.

Lamell McMorris, leader of the referees' union, said he recognizes the perception of officials has been damaged.

"We are going to work hard to restore the public's trust in the integrity of the officials in the NBA," he said. "We're going to do our part to gain and regain the public trust and confidence and to make sure that this is not the final word regarding how referees are defined in the public eye."

Quote:

in·teg·ri·ty (ĭn-tĕg'rĭ-tē)

n.

Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.
The state of being unimpaired; soundness.
The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.

Again above the issue is just one of perception by the public and perception in moral and ethical issues not legal issues. Moral and ethical issues are a matter of values. In some societies taking graft is a normal way of life. The President having a relationship with someone other than his wife, was not a legal question, but a question of integrity; i.e., in other words a moral and ethical question.

Here the article says that the issue is one of the publics' perception of a moral issue.

Quote:

But now it's their judgment, not their performance, that needs defending.

Judgment needs defending. Not that he did anything wrong. It is just that his judgment when making calls is being questioned.

Quote:

"Bad apples exist in every barrel," McMorris said. "I've never seen a barrel of apples, grapes, anything, and all of them were in the greatest shape and the most beautiful

Here the attempt was to cut off the publics' perception that one than one official could have bad judgment.

In the next quote Stern calls in a bunch of favors with his nemesis Mark Cuban. Of course if Cuban is going to defend the officials and the officiating than clearly this whole thing is over blown

Quote:

But a defense came Friday from, of all people, Dallas owner Mark Cuban.
Cuban long has been critical of referees, racking up more than $1.4 million in fines, mostly for comments about the officiating. That included a $250,000 hit after Game 5 of the 2006 NBA finals, when Miami had a 49-25 advantage in free throws attempted, with Dwyane Wade taking as many as the whole Dallas team.

But in a blog entry titled "Calamity as Catalyst - My Vote of Confidence in the NBA", Cuban wrote: "The NBA took a hit today. Behind that hit is a catalyst and opportunity for significant change that could make the NBA stronger than it ever has been. It's a chance to proactively put in place people, processes and transparency that will forever silence those who will question the NBA's integrity."

Cuban declined to discuss what any of those might be, simply saying: "The NBA is fine and will be fine. In fact it will continue to get better" in an e-mail.

Quote:

NBA players in Las Vegas at USA Basketball minicamp have been advised not to say much about the situation. Carmelo Anthony admitted Friday that the allegations "put thoughts in your head" and could make some "start thinking about things that you probably didn't think about before," but Milwaukee guard Michael Redd said Saturday he didn't believe there was a credibility issue.

"I support our league, I support our referees and I support our players," he said.

Here Stern got players to say that not wasn't anything done by the official that was illegal, but why as a player (and who would know better) that even the issue of perception of wrong doing is a bunch of baloney.

Finally

Quote:

Many officials are highly regarded among players because of their work on the floor. And McMorris expects it to remain that way.

"I think individuals and the public needs to understand that these individuals go out and work hard, they officiate the games to the highest standards and they are men and women of extreme integrity," McMorris said.

"This particular alleged incident is not indicative of the behavior and the demeanor and the personality of the officials in the National Basketball Association."

Not one word in the whole article that something illegal may have been done by one or more officials.

What a crock

buddahfan · #10 (**permalink**) 07-22-2007, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddahfan

Stern starts his damage control!!

Everyone can bet their morning Starbucks and more that Stern has already started to call in some favors on this, Mark Cuban being among those lending a helping hand in damage control.

Notice the nature of the wording here.

Notice that the definition of credibility does not mention that anything was done wrong. Credibility goes only toward perception of what was done, not what was actually done.

Again above the issue is just one of perception by the public and perception in moral and ethical issues not legal issues. Moral and ethical issues are a matter of values. In some societies taking graft is a normal way of life. The President having a relationship with someone other than his wife, was not a legal question, but a question of integrity; i.e., in other words a moral and ethical question.

Here the article says that the issue is one of the publics' perception of a moral issue.

Judgment needs defending. Not that he did anything wrong. It is just that his judgment when making calls is being questioned.

Here the attempt was to cut off the publics' perception that one than one official could have bad judgment.

In the next quote Stern calls in a bunch of favors with his nemesis Mark Cuban. Of course if Cuban is going to defend the officials and the officiating than clearly this whole thing is over blown

Here Stern got players to say that not wasn't anything done by the official that was illegal, but why as a player (and who would know better) that even the issue of perception of wrong doing is a bunch of baloney.

Finally

Not one word in the whole article that something illegal may have been done by one or more officials.

What a crock

Sorry about that. My bad. Here is the link

NBA referees dealing with questions of credibility - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

View Poll Results: What do you think?
Donaghy is the lone NBA official involved	9	29.03%
Other NBA officials are involved	17	54.84%
The league office is also involved	5	16.13%
None of the above	0	0%
Voters: 31. You may not vote on this poll