The NBA in Damage Control Mode

It’s crisis time for the National Basketball Association. - The situation that unfolded on Friday possibly could be among NBA Commissioner David Stern’s worse nightmares. There are allegations and investigations that one of the league’s referees was involved with gambling:

“The NBA acknowledged Friday that the FBI is investigating Tim Donaghy for betting on games, including ones in which he officiated.

According to a law enforcement official, authorities are examining whether the referee made calls to affect the point spread in games on which he or associates had wagered over the past two seasons.”

link: FBI probes whether NBA ref bet on games

If the allegations are proven to be true, this would cast doubt on the integrity of the professional game itself. The results of the games involving this referee would be called into question. The quality of the product would be in doubt. It is difficult, if not impossible, to put a positive spin on this. The league offices and Commissioner Stern will be on damage control mode for the foreseeable future.

This week should have been a positive publicity week for the NBA. A select group of the league’s elite players are gathering at a mini-camp, as part of the U.S. national team program. In light of this gambling scandal, the irony of the mini-camp will not be lost upon Commissioner Stern nor the NBA fans. The gathering of seventeen of the league’s star players is in Las Vegas.

Catherine