The Utah Jazz | as seen by Basketball John

This is too big of a story not to at least make a quick comment on.  ESPN is reporting via the NY Post that the FBI is investigating an NBA referee for betting on games. I can’t even imagine yet all the implications this has for the NBA.  First, the refs name hasn’t been revealed yet.  But you can guarantee when it is, all hell will break loose.  As mentioned on the ESPN message boards for this article, Mark Cuban is going to have a field day with this.  Because now every game that the ref was involved in will be scrutinized.  And if they were playoff games, Cuban is going to demand a replay or forfeiture or something. 

This will tarnish the league for a long time.  Fans have always suspected that the refs have a hand in who wins games.  And of course not all refs are like this, but it will always be on the minds of fans when calls go against them.  And think of the chants and signs that will be held up at games this year.  I don’t even think we’ve seen the tip of what the fallout from this will be.

And of course as Jazz fans, it would be interesting to see if the ref was involved in any of the 97 or 98 finals games.

UPDATE (9:50): Truehoop has some good insight.  And apparently, it’s only happened in the past couple years.  But it will still put into everyone’s mind, if one guy did it…

UPDATE (9:55): Is Mark Cuban still on the phone with Stern?

UPDATE (13:27):  Well it looks like it’s Tim Donaghy.  And according to Marc Stein, Donaghy was the time keeping official for the Lakers/Spurs series where Derek Fisher hit the game winning shot with .4 left.  He apparently started the clock .2 late to allow for the shot as he had $20k riding on the game.  Maybe that’s why the Spurs are getting all the calls lately?  To make up for it?    Ouch.  I’m sure his every call is being scrutinized right now.