David Stern Faces the Media
Highlights.
The press conference concluded a few minutes ago…here are some of the highlights.
-Stern walks into the room wearing black suit and a navy blue tie, and says that the League has a representative in Vegas who informs them about odd betting patterns.
-In 2005, the NBA learned that Tim Donaghy got into disputes with his neighbors in Pennsylvania. The League hired an investigator to look into that. Donaghy denied everything, and said that it was his neighbor who was the bad guy.
-The Arcan Group, the security company that the NBA hired to monitor these things, sucks. Just thought I’d throw that out there.
-At some point in the last two years, someone alleged that Donaghy was betting heavily in Atlantic City, which the ref denied. The NBA’s investigation came up negative.
-The dispute with his neighbor, according to David Stern, made “us unhappy.”
-Having made the NBA “unhappy”, the League told Donaghy he couldn’t work the 2nd round of the 2005 playoffs. Well, that’s harsh.
-Donaghy then moved to Florida, where he was a good little boy.
-On June 20th (of this year), the NBA got a call from the FBI about a ref alleged to be gambling on NBA games. The league met with the Feds the very next day.
-Stern thanked the FBI, US Attorney’s Office, and the Justice Dept. profusely for allowing the League to work with them on this investigation.
-Stern, naturally, cannot comment on the investigation too much…he doesn’t know the number of games nor which games Donaghy allegedly bet on.
-Donaghy resigned on July 9th. He sent a letter. Stern wished to “terminate” him earlier, but the FBI asked him not to.
-As far as Stern knows, Donaghy is the only ref under investigation.
-The Commish says that, despite being only able to say very little about the investigation, this is an isolated incident.
-Stern said that Donaghy did not bet on games through Las Vegas.
-According to the Commish, the NBA hasn’t begun to comb through the games that Donaghy worked.
-Stern says that the NBA did not know that Donaghy was under investigation until June 20th. If you’re a fan of the game, this has to make you happy.
-Stern says he’s not sure how this scandal affects the possibility of Vegas getting an NBA team.
-Lowlight: Rachel Nichols of ESPN asking Stern to describe the “range of emotions” he went through after the news broke. The other reporters in the room then proceeded to leap off the top of the Empire State Building.
-David Stern put on yet another brilliant show when the Q&A session with media members began: Cracking jokes about going to an NBA family picnic to inform everyone that the sun will shine again; comparing himself to the director of the CIA; saying he only needed one day to prep for the press conference (and that he scheduled it at 11 so that people watching on the West Coast wouldn’t have to get up too early); uttering a strange joke about when he stopped beating his wife; and finally, calling Donaghy a “rogue, isolated criminal”. He’s really the best.
The important thing to note here is that Tim Donaghy is the only ref under investigation and that the League didn’t find out about any of this until about a month ago. Of course, all of this could change if Donaghy decides to sing to the Feds and rats others out…
47 Responses to “David Stern Faces the Media”
Jul.24 at 12:36 pm
foshizzle says:
furst
Jul.24 at 12:40 pm
Slick Nick Da Ruler says:
this story is not over
Jul.24 at 12:41 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
Thanks Marcel
Jul.24 at 12:44 pm
Gerard Himself says:
let’s really, really hope Dirty Donaghy is the only one.
Jul.24 at 12:44 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
Nice recap. I assume “terminate” means “execute” or “kill.”
Jul.24 at 12:53 pm
hoopshypeisbetterthanslam says:
This is going to be huge. I think this is the tip of the iceberg. I think there are more refs involved and some very important games and series were rigged by these guys. (06′ Finals anyone?) Wade shooting 24 FT in a game never seen anything like it.
Jul.24 at 12:54 pm
Adrian says:
So tell me again why Stern isn’t the US president?
Jul.24 at 12:55 pm
BETCATS says:
well alleast now i know what happened
Jul.24 at 12:57 pm
Adrian says:
OK, everyone keeps bringing up conspiracy theories about the ‘06 Finals…what, Stern hates Cuban/Dallas that much? Or Nowitzki? Or loves Shaq/Wade/Riley? What’s to be gained by rigging that series? Or is it a ref/betting scandal that everyone is alluding to?
Jul.24 at 1:07 pm
Steve O says:
I personally cannot stand Rachel Nichols… I didn’t get to watch the press conference but I read that Stern didn’t appear much like his usual self. I would imagine it is because he’s so shook from this, at the same time I can’t help but think that because the FBI is keeping so much from him, that Stern may not know the full extent of the damage. Could that be true? I hope it isn’t.
Jul.24 at 1:23 pm
Mo Charlo says:
The Grizz just signed Casey Jocobsen. When does the FBI start investigating Chris Wallace betting against the teams he is managing? Oh, and Marcel, keep up the good work. Stern-Sheed ‘08 what a ticket!
Jul.24 at 1:25 pm
Mo Charlo says:
Adrian, people keep bringing up the ‘06 finals, because the last few seconds of the game 6 were extremely poorly officiated. Note: Wade getting to the foul line after not being touched by anyone, and Wade not getting called after grabbing a handful of Jason Terry’s jersey when the Jet was shooting.
Jul.24 at 1:33 pm
hoopshypeisbetterthanslam says:
What was to be gained is simple. The creation of the next league coverboy. The NBA has been clamoring to come up with the next Jordan since Jordan retired. They tried Iverson, Kobe, and this was the Wade attempt. You are going to tell me that, that was a well officiated finals and that the Heat were better than the Mavs? No way.
Jul.24 at 1:36 pm
BARF says:
The faster this story gets put to bed the better. I don’t watch the NBA to tune into the refs. They can suck a fat one. This guy wasn’t even one of the elite refs and hadn’t been passed the second round. As far as I’m concerned, its not a big deal. Free throws and point spreads have no affect on the Conference Final and the Finals(which he hadn’t reffed).
Jul.24 at 1:37 pm
H to the izzo says:
^If thats the case,why didn’t they fix it so that LeBron would win this year.Isn’t he the Ligs biggest star.He’s been the Ligs coverboy since he was in high school
Jul.24 at 1:37 pm
Ghost of Johnnie Cochran says:
uttering a strange joke about when he stopped beating his wife…………………what?!? the sternbot used to beat his wife?!!!!??
Jul.24 at 1:40 pm
Ghost of Johnnie Cochran says:
everyone acts like it was completely bizzare that wade shot 24 fts. it happens people, esp. if you go to the rim everytime. he also made alot of jumpshots too, o right magnets in the ball, i forgot.
Jul.24 at 1:42 pm
BARF says:
“You are going to tell me that, that was a well officiated finals and that the Heat were better than the Mavs? No way.” Of course the Heat was better than the Mavs. Wade went to the foul line because he penetrated at will and Dallas’ big guys are a bunch of slow-footed oafs. The Heat was better just like Golden State was better than the Mavs this year. Nowitzki’s softer than a smooth ice cream on a summer day. The Mavs were run out of that series cuz it was no fluke. To think that there is a huge scam in the NBA because of an idiot ref is silly. The guy’s a retard. If he’s sings to the feds…it just makes him a b|tch.
Jul.24 at 1:46 pm
Mo Charlo says:
Accountant: Let me get this straight, you bet against the Harlem Globetrotters?
Krusty the Klown: I thought the Generals were due!
Jul.24 at 1:51 pm
Jordi Scrubbings says:
Isn’t it just a matter of time before David Stern creates his own gulag so he can punish people himself and not have to go through minor things like the federal justice system?
Jul.24 at 1:55 pm
Allenp says:
Thank you for your comments Barf, they were right on point. Besides the obvious damage to the sport, I’m pissed about this whole ref scandal because it is just emboldening whiny Suns fans. I really want the next season to start so the Suns can lose again with no funny business so this will just stop.
Jul.24 at 2:08 pm
confused says:
i don’t get this…(asking Stern to describe the “range of emotions” he went through after the news broke. The other reporters in the room then proceeded to leap off the top of the Empire State Building)…i actually applaud this woman for askin the commish wat the heck he felt when the feds informed him.
Jul.24 at 2:11 pm
Mo Charlo says:
Considering this was supposed to be a forum for debate as to what is going on with Stern and Donaghy, shouldn’t we suspend conversation related to things that have nothing to do with the current situation (i.e. the ‘06 finals)? The officiating was not good in the final game, but it was more than adequate leading up to then. I’m sure there’s a SLAM blog from a year ago that would be perfectly suited for any further discussion of this. Anyways, is there any indication that some sort of changes could be made? Like instant replay/challenges? Finally, people are saying that Donaghy was responsible for the Malice at the Palace. Sure, getting Ron Ron out of there would have prevented everything, but who new that he would have scampered into the stands like a wild animal? That’s assault, brotha.
Jul.24 at 2:24 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Adrian, if Stern was president he would’ve gone to the podium today wearing a flight suit and said, “My fellow Americans, the referee in question has re-signed. Mission accomplished.” And then he would’ve smiled all smugly and gone back to his ranch and put a cowboy hat on and pretended he wasn’t about to mire this country in five years of a pointless war.
Sorry, was that political?
Jul.24 at 2:40 pm
Reggie Evans says:
Bavetta and Salvatore top the lists, along with Donaghy, for most fouls called. So, either you are old, or you fix games.
Jul.24 at 2:57 pm
Young Chris #3 says:
hoopshypeisbetterthanslam, I saw something very similar Wade’s 24 free throws in a game actually. It was in the Mavericks-Spurs series where Dirk shot around 21 free throws in a game (and a few of those were clearly phantom fouls and fouls on his soft jumpers). How soon we forget when it’s not on the grand stage…
Jul.24 at 3:00 pm
slate says:
I wonder if Joey (Crack)Crawford is invovlved in any of this (don’t tell me any of y’all didn’t think about Joey before Tim Donaghy’s name surfaced).But once Timmy starts singing ooooooooweeeeeeee,thats when its gonna be ON!Gonna be like an NBA version of the Sopranos.Stay tuned and watch.
Jul.24 at 3:04 pm
Mo Charlo says:
Ryan, you slay me.
Jul.24 at 3:05 pm
Allenp says:
YOung Chris is right. Bowen was about to punch a ref that series for all those body falls they were calling on him when Dirk pulled up for jumpers. Mavs fans and Suns fans are whiners, seriously. New flash, nobody cheated you, your teams just lost. They didn’t play well enough to win. Sorry, move on with your lives.
Jul.24 at 3:05 pm
Mo Charlo says:
Young Chris, I remember that game. It was pretty weak. The NBA should realize that free throws are not why we watch games. They should eliminate foul calls when the offensive player creates the contact, let the boys play and run. That’s why we watch the game.
Jul.24 at 3:06 pm
Allenp says:
I read somewhere that Joey Crawford and Donaghy got into a fistfight over something at a ref’s meeting. I forgot where I read it though.
Jul.24 at 3:36 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Trying.
Jul.24 at 3:39 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Also, am I the only one sort of expecting the Feds to find Donaghy hanging in his closest in the next couple days? I mean, the BEST this guy can hope for at this point is to live out his days on the run in the Witness Protection Program, waiting to get capped by some low-level Gambino wannabe. A week ago, almost no one had heard of him; now everyone’s heard of him and thinks he’s an addict, a cheat and a pr*ck. Suicide—or a marginally successful reality show on Vh1—sort of seem like the only options.
Jul.24 at 5:06 pm
Mo Charlo says:
To “confused” above. What difference does it make Stern’s ‘range of emotions.’ What if he said he was happy because donaghy was a prick? What if he said nervous, because it’s only a matter of time until the feds connect the dots? My point being, the emotions of the Sternbot have no bearing on the case, and are not pertinent to the future of the NBA. Allenp needs to post more, I like reading his stuff. Jonesy, you have a sicker sense of humor than I do, or are just more in touch with reality than everyone else. I’ll figure it out soon enough.
Jul.24 at 5:56 pm
Ghost of Johnnie Cochran says:
what is the sterbots next move???? im taking bets. ill give you 1 to 5 he has cameras installed in the refs houses……. 1 to 37 he fires all the refs and hires the dudes outside home depot…………………and 1 to 500 that he goes out “man on fire” style and mercs the whole mob
Jul.24 at 6:31 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
What if he committed suicide WHILE on a VH1 reality show? Or if he went into the Witness Protection Program, was tracked down by Dog, then eaten by Bear?
Jul.24 at 6:45 pm
rade says:
I think Stern come up with a new rule where he makes the refs dress up in a suit and tie during the games, all because of the recent scandal.
“see our refs are dressed up all the time, lets love the nba” ju And another thing, i hate the nba fans that you see in the arenas. Stupid signs, stupid chants.. makes me sick
The nba needs some real fans, just like european fans.. Oh and Usa lost to Serbia in the finals of the Under 19 world championships. Seriously, does anyone really think that Usa basketball will ever win a world or olympic title in the next 10 years?
Jul.24 at 7:00 pm
Ghost of Johnnie Cochran says:
well, russ. suicide in vh1 is 1 to 700. wpp, tracked by dog and eaten by bear will get you 1 to 10,000
Jul.24 at 7:53 pm
BBaller says:
I guess when the suns win it this upcoming season they will claim justice for past “wrongs”.Why is it that everyone says the Spurs are boring and predictable,(apart from TD)and less talented than other players,then why do always win?Because they are clinical and work wll as a team.Suns were just not good enough,unbalanced and weak minded,yes Nash is a great player (so was stockton)but dual, nearly triple MVPs step up and dominate! Nash didn’t,good bye Suns.I think the Mavs are the only team that could outmatch the spurs, as TD is a little unsettled by Dirk and the mavs once again ARE a balanced unit.This concept is lost on many NBA teams,seduced by the thought of having one superstar that dunks out of this world and looks good in a soda commercial.I love that my Spurs(in case you hadn’t guessed) and to quote a line out of WMCJ” win first, look good second”. As for this Referee scandal, i hope it disappears as this is the best game on the planet and we ALL don’t need this #*$@!
Jul.24 at 8:33 pm
BBaller says:
This summer Stern should of really been stamping out this flopping tactic,that has eaten it’s way into the sport.As a spurs fan i’ll be the first to admit we are giulty of this cheating tactic.Manu and Horry are disgraceful at it.It is a trend that is rife in european football and has all but destroyed that sports credibilty.They use it to fake injury and gain a time out as nba players are using it to falsely gain a offensive foul,and a change of possession.There is skill required to take and earn the charge,but flopping is just as cancerous,and unfair to the fans as crooked refs.There is also hand checking and its ever increasing reinforcement,we all want high scoring games but certain players are being gifted lanes to the basket just so they can showcase their dunks(talents)and the fouls are getting softer and softer.I mean Jordan had arms,legs,bodies wrapped around him and he managed to break through those hard lined defences(Detroit,Knicks).So what i’m saying is if Jordan had to earn it then today’s star can and should.My favourite memories of the NBA was back in the 88 to 95 era so i’m a little biased to those times, i am excited about G.Oden and K.Durrant but “king” James and his performance on the ESPY’s was an example of exploitation to the highest degree of an NBA rep and it wasn’t good.It is still yet to see if he has got what it takes to win a chip, and by that i mean obviously he has the skill but can he part with the spotlight and cash to have great players around him at Cleveland.The NBA’s reputation will take dip while this referee scandal circles but the future still looks bright.
Jul.24 at 9:15 pm
bootlace says:
You know what would bring closure to all this…An NBA advert with David Trump yelling out “Tim Donaghy, YOU’RE FIRED!”
Jul.24 at 9:16 pm
Shawn Kemp Jr says:
boot, that would do it, and if Donaghy isnt avilble Nickolas Cage or Steve Carrel could very easly predend to be Timmy D (no Mr. Duncan)
Jul.25 at 4:33 am
Jukai says:
I almost threw up when I read the crap Allenp wrote. I’m also sort of amazed how Mav fans can compare their loss to the Heat (which was more or less legit, Dirk was exausted from carrying his team and Wade sorta took over) to what happened to the Suns. I mean, not taking ANYTHING away from the Spurs, the Amare/Diaw suspension sort of made the game uneven… and now we learn a guy turning himself in for CHANGING THE OUTCOME OF NBA GAMES reffed Game 3, a game so badly officiated that the ESPN commentators, who are usually silent about calls, were verbally baffled? I’m not saying the Suns would have won, but Spurs fans gotta admit that the playing field wasn’t level at all.
Jul.25 at 4:34 am
Jukai says:
Whatever, I’m sure with Grant “Strong Ankle” Hill, we’ll clear it this year.
Jul.25 at 9:42 am
1hush D says:
Summer hiatus ends with confirmation of what we already knew. Love that Game 3 montage of Sours and Suns. How many times will “they” have to dig up Dum Dum Douchebag’s body and move it to another Jersey location? By the way, MM, Stern is not the best! The best would have had his eye on the business rather than micromanaging the horses (what they say, 1st amm, what they do and where they take their guns, 2nd amm). Perhaps if Stern were more plugged in to what is needed in the league the league would have caught this when it first came up. Seriously now, if somebody wants to start adding content to dumpdavidstern.com, email me….I want substance on that site!
Jul.25 at 11:54 am
JK45 says:
Will the NBA refs start a stop snitching campain? LOL
Jul.25 at 6:00 pm
Mattsta says:
He literally “Faces” the media. By showing his face he’s trying to insult them! Buuuuuuuurn!