The big news today in sports was the revelation that the FBI is investigating an NBA referee for gambling. Apparently this ref was betting on games and worse on games that he was working. The allegations include affecting the point spread in games in favor of the bets he made.
While there are obvious implications to these actions, the not as obvious is the possible implication of the NBA and its Commissioner David Stern in fixing games. For years there have been conspiracy theories linking officiating in the NBA to fixing games or series to favor television match-ups in the playoffs. If charges are filed against this referee, you can rest assured that any impropriety from the league office by way of directing referees to deviate from standard rules will be used as a defense.
One can easily imagine testimony about league personnel directing officials to keep games close or give special treatment to star players. The rumors and innuendo have existed for years. Broadcasters and media even joke about "star treatment" or "rookie calls" on a regular basis. The NBA leadership must be quaking in their boots, but maybe not for the reasons you would think.
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An Update: The referee in question has been named as Tim Donaghy a 12-year veteran. Mr. Donaghy has worked multiple NBA playoff games and some very dubious regular season games. Included in his body of work from the 2006 season was a game between the Knicks and Heat during which the Knicks shot 39 free throws to the Heat's 8.
The FBI apparently became aware of the compromised referee through wiretaps of the Gambino crime family.
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