Tim Donaghy Continues to Call Out Referees
The NBA isn't happy to hear that Tim Donaghy's picking games. So he keeps picking them...
If you hear that Tim Donaghy is going to be a guest on a sports talk radio show, you should probably listen. Make sure you're near a shower for when it's over, but definitely listen.
Donaghy tells WAXY-AM 790 in Miami that the NBA doesn't like his recent interviews:
"I got a call from a former FBI agent and I got a call from people associated with the parole department that the NBA was quite unhappy with the fact that I was picking games and, more importantly, I was picking them correctly. They (the NBA) was wondering if it was a violation of my parole. And I was told basically that they didn't feel it was a good idea that I was on the radio doing this."
He said he'd do his best to avoid making picks... and then made some picks.
When told the Magic were 9 and a half point favorites over the Hawks in Game 2?
"Atlanta is way overmatched."
He predicted Cleveland would "prevail" in their series with the Celtics. Not exactly a stretch even though Boston stole home court advantage.
He thinks the Spurs will win Game 3 but the Suns will take the series in 6 or 7. Again, not a stretch with Phoenix up 2-0.
He then picked the Jazz to win Game 3 against the Lakers but then put part of the outcome on the officiating crew.
"There's some officials that basically get intimidated by a strong crowd like they have in Utah. They shy away from making that tough call against the home team so it depends on who's refereeing that game as to whether somebody would bow down to the crowd or somebody would not be intimidated."
Who is "weak?"
"I don't necessarily think it's any secret there's somebody like a Bob Delaney I believe is a weak referee that bows down to crowds and coaches that are all over him. It's no secret that Jerry Sloan is a tough coach and he's all over the referees night in and night out, more so at home to get the crowd into it so it really all depends. Referees like Sean Corbin or Tony Brothers, I think they bow down to the coaches and to the home crowd."
The officials for each game aren't publicly released until gameday. There are websites that keep track of "homer stats" for referees, mostly for betting purposes. You can peruse the numbers and decide if any biases are exposed or not but it is interesting when you consider the referees' names Donaghy decides to point out.
According to at least one site, Delaney's games have played right down the middle this year against the spread. The home team's record being 31-31-3 ATS.
And no road team has won more times against the spread this year than when Tony Brothers is on the floor. The home team has managed just a 21-49-2 record when he's at the game.
While numbers may not always back up his claims and his motive may simply be to make more money off of his book, it's hard to stop listening to this historically unique voice in American sports. The "rogue official" who became a jailbird, served his time, and now won't stop singing.
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