Pro official disgraces our profession.

[matt colvin]

"FBI investigating whether NBA ref bet on games
By PAT MILTON,

-- The FBI is investigating allegations that veteran NBA referee Tim Donaghy bet on basketball games over the past two seasons, including ones in which he officiated.
Defense attorney John Lauro confirmed Donaghy is under investigation but refused to comment on the allegations or the case.

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.

The law enforcement official, who spoke to the AP on Friday on condition of anonymity, said the referee was aware of the investigation and had made arrangements to surrender as early as next week to face charges. The official, who did not identify the referee, is familiar with the investigation but was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation.

The law enforcement official said the bets involved thousands of dollars and were made on games during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons."


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=ApNjVoG_MWpCg3srFTZG0Ls5nYcB?slug=ap-bettingprobe&prov=ap&type=lgns

[lighthouse]

As most of you read in today's CJ, a professional official supposedly bet on games that he called. This is an embarassment to anyone who has or still wears the stripes. If he's guilty, I hope they punish him hard. He has brought shame on a most sacred avocation that relies on the integrity of it's participants. Although I've been retired several years now, I feel let down and ashamed. :icon_redface: :icon_redface: :mad:

[matt colvin]

http://www.wildcatnation.net/forum/showthread.php?t=25968


I should have posted this here. Can someone merge my thread to here?

[BowlingGreenUKGrad]

a most sacred avocation

I have a lot of respect for for sports officials, especially at the high school and lower levels... but sacred is a little much, don't ya think?

sa·cred /[sey-krid] Pronunciation Key –adjective
1.devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose; consecrated.
2.entitled to veneration or religious respect by association with divinity or divine things; holy.
3.pertaining to or connected with religion (opposed to secular (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=secular) or profane (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=profane)): sacred music; sacred books.
4.reverently dedicated to some person, purpose, or object: a morning hour sacred to study.
5.regarded with reverence: the sacred memory of a dead hero.
6.secured against violation, infringement, etc., as by reverence or sense of right: sacred oaths; sacred rights.

[Littlemeyer]

I have a lot of respect for for sports officials, especially at the high school and lower levels... but sacred is a little much, don't ya think?

sa·cred /[sey-krid] Pronunciation Key –adjective
1.devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose; consecrated.
2.entitled to veneration or religious respect by association with divinity or divine things; holy.
3.pertaining to or connected with religion (opposed to secular (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=secular) or profane (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=profane)): sacred music; sacred books.
4.reverently dedicated to some person, purpose, or object: a morning hour sacred to study.
5.regarded with reverence: the sacred memory of a dead hero.
6.secured against violation, infringement, etc., as by reverence or sense of right: sacred oaths; sacred rights.

IMO, Nos. 4 and 6 apply. Perhaps even No. 5.

(Must be a slow day on the boards? :icon_lol:)

[lighthouse]

I have a lot of respect for for sports officials, especially at the high school and lower levels... but sacred is a little much, don't ya think?

sa·cred /[sey-krid] Pronunciation Key –adjective
1.devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose; consecrated.
2.entitled to veneration or religious respect by association with divinity or divine things; holy.
3.pertaining to or connected with religion (opposed to secular (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=secular) or profane (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=profane)): sacred music; sacred books.
4.reverently dedicated to some person, purpose, or object: a morning hour sacred to study.
5.regarded with reverence: the sacred memory of a dead hero.
6.secured against violation, infringement, etc., as by reverence or sense of right: sacred oaths; sacred rights.

You have the opportunity to look at officiating any way you like. But to me it's a sacred avocation. It's an avocation because most officials have other full time jobs. It's sacred because of the trust bestowed on each official by fellow officials, and whether you realize it or not, by coaches and administrators. When anyone breaches that trust, it affects everyone in the profession no matter what level you work or if your retired.

Certainly one's personal relationship with God is sacred and the most important relationship one can have. All the descriptions above may not apply to officiating, but some do.

[boomdaddy]

After watching some of the lousy calls that Kentucky has received during their football games with Tennessee, the terms sacred and officiating just don't mix.

[FCFS82]

I have a lot of respect for for sports officials, especially at the high school and lower levels... but sacred is a little much, don't ya think?

sa·cred /[sey-krid] Pronunciation Key –adjective
1.devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose; consecrated.
2.entitled to veneration or religious respect by association with divinity or divine things; holy.
3.pertaining to or connected with religion (opposed to secular (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=secular) or profane (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=profane)): sacred music; sacred books.
4.reverently dedicated to some person, purpose, or object: a morning hour sacred to study.
5.regarded with reverence: the sacred memory of a dead hero.
6.secured against violation, infringement, etc., as by reverence or sense of right: sacred oaths; sacred rights.

Bingo. I don't think sacred when my refs coming rolling up to the soccer field and basketball court about 10 minutes before game time. And this is college I am speaking of here...

[lighthouse]

Good Grief, did I make a wrong call? :icon_rolleyes: :)

[Brian McCat]

Sad but not surprising. The $EC football officials have been taking bribes for years.

The NBA sucks, anyway.