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)
Comments (6)Macho Man Randy Savage Sues Kobe Over ‘Elbow’
Former pro wrestler Macho Man Randy Savage is suing Kobe Bryant, claiming the NBA superstar has illegally adopted his trademark move — “the Savage elbow” — as his own.
The suit accuses Bryant of trademark and copyright infringement as well as misappropriation of the move. Savage is seeking an injunction, unspecified monetary damages and a lifetime supply of Slim Jims.
Savage’s lawyer, Jimmy Hart, said the Macho Man brought the legal action against the Los Angeles Lakers guard in order to protect his livelihood. He just doesn’t dig it.
“People would come up to Randy and ask him if he was letting Kobe use it or if he had taught it to him, Daddy-O,” Hart said of the move, which he claims his client created in the early 80’s and copyrighted years ago.
Over the past six weeks, Bryant has appeared to use slight variations of Savage’s go-to move. On Monday, Bryant was assessed a flagrant foul by the league for elbowing Sixers’ guard Kyle Korver. Earlier in the season he received one-game suspensions for elbowing Manu Ginobili and Mark Jaric in the face.
Hart said he first took the matter directly to Bryant’s lawyers, but they were not receptive, saying that the real issue was how Anderson Varejao was “running wild.”
Hart said he provided Bryant’s people with magazine covers, various merchandise and video footage dating back to Wrestlemania VII showing Savage landing five consecutive “elbow drops” on the Ultimate Warrior.
Ohhhhh yeahhhh… Bryant’s attorneys could not be reached for comment.
NBA Reportedly Investigating Another Kobe Elbow [NBA FanHouse]
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Comments (21)NBA Mascots Are Thugs
As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, Boomer, the Indiana Pacers’ mascot, is being sued for tackling a man during a free-throw shooting contest in March 2005.
The victim, Nathaniel Jackson, alleges he was still recovering from back surgery when Boomer laid him right the fuck out. Jackson seeks compensation for his medical bills, lost income, pain, suffering and “permanent injuries.” It’s a sad, sad story, and one that will probably just end with someone be spayed and neutered.
But here’s the truly depressing part: This incident is just the latest in a long series of felonies and misdemeanors involving current NBA mascots…
Offender: Clutch
Date Of Birth: 1995-11-03
Crime: Was summoned for indecent exposure after police received a report that he was walking in the area of Hunters Creek Village waving his shorts in the air, exposing his gray junk.
Offender: Harry the Hawk
Date Of Birth: 1985-10-25
Crime: Was charged with driving his mini-motorcycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) and failure to drive on the proper side of the sidewalk.
Offender: Moondog
Date Of Birth: 2003-11-05
Crime: Was charged with the 2004 murder of an Ohioan woman. Authorities believe Moondog became enraged with the woman after she refused to stop staring at him while he was dropping a park deuce.
Offender: Hugo
Date Of Birth: 1988-11-04
Crime: Was arrested for shoplifting from a 7-Eleven in Oklahoma. Security cameras mounted behind the cashier showed the NOOCH mascot pocketing two issues of SWANK.
Offender: Rocky
Date of Birth: 1990-12-15
Crime: Rape.
Offender: Burnie
Date Of Birth: 1992
Crime: Was sued in 1994 for dropping a woman during an exhibition game in Puerto Rico. Incredibly, he faced 20 years in jail after being charged with aggravated assault and battery, and was also sued for $1 million dollars for causing emotional distress. The case was settled for $50,000. (Note: I didn’t make this one up.)
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The Basketball Jones is a NBA blog and podcast, written and recorded five times a week by J.E. Skeets, Tas Melas and Jason Doyle. Comments, questions and cold hard cash are always welcome and much appreciated. Contact us.
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Latest Episodes
- Ep. 312: The Fix – Friday, May 16th
- Ep. 311: The Fix – Thursday, May 15th
- Ep. 310: The Fix – Wednesday, May 14th
- Ep. 309: The Fix – Tuesday, May 13th
- Ep. 308: The Fix – Friday, May 9th