The Fix Is In: NBA Ref To Be Arrested For Gambling

Whoa boy! This is going to get ugly …

The New York Post is reporting that an NBA referee is being investigated by the FBI for his ties to the mob and betting on basketball games.

The investigation, which began more than a year ago, is zeroing in on blockbuster allegations that the referee was making calls that affected the point spread to guarantee that he - and the hoods who had their hooks in him - cashed in on large bets.

Federal agents are set to arrest the referee and a cadre of mobsters and their associates who lined their pockets, sources said.

The sources indicated the referee apparently had a gambling problem, slipped into debt and fell prey to mob thugs.

The official, whose name was withheld, allegedly wagered on games during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 NBA seasons.

One of the first names being thrown around is Joey Crawford. Darren Rovell reminds us that Joey was one of nine referees who pleaded guilty to downgrading their first class airline tickets, pocketing the money and not reporting it on their income tax returns way back in ‘91. Shifty, bastard.

Of course, it was also the Little Bald Bulldog, Joey, who notoriously ejected Tim Duncan back in April for laughing on the bench. A lot of people speculated that Joey’s odd action was a possible sign that he or someone he knew had a bet on Dallas. Again, very shifty.

But I don’t think its Joey. No. Something tells me it’s a much younger ref, which is why I’m arbitrarily guessing Zach Zarba. Two (stupid) reasons why: 1.) He’s from Brooklyn. The family ties are there. And 2.) His name. You just can’t ever trust a man with that many Z’s in his name.

Book him, boys!

Update: Tim Donaghy is under investigation! Unsilent Majority called it! (scroll down)

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By J.E. Skeets at 10:40 am on 07.20.2007 — Tags: Police Blotter, Referees

Comments

6 Responses to “The Fix Is In: NBA Ref To Be Arrested For Gambling”

  1. Sarge at 12:37 pm on 07.20.2007

    one “Z” is too many…

  2. NBA Refs betting on games? at sprignaturemoves.com at 1:39 pm on 07.20.2007

    […] This could be bad. […]

  3. Chris Clarke at 2:22 pm on 07.20.2007

    I wonder if anything is going to eclipse this for “Story of the Summer” in the NBA? This is one of those stories that reaches beyond sports and bleeds into the real news. Should get the NBA a ton of really bad press. I love this game!

  4. J.E. Skeets at 2:29 pm on 07.20.2007

    I wonder if anything is going to eclipse this for “Story of the Summer” in the NBA?

    Kurt Thomas was just traded to the Sonics.

    So… yes. Eclipsed.

  5. The Spin at 3:49 pm on 07.20.2007

    So it is Tim Donaghy! This guy is going down! If you think he is the only one, your wrong. I’m sure a lot of the refs are doing the same, because they can! I wrote up on this too. Check it out at www.clutch3.com

  6. Matt D at 1:25 pm on 07.26.2007

    Q. Why did the chicken get cross with Tim Donaghy?

    A. Because he was blowing the wrong fowls.

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