Excerpts From The Book The NBA Doesn't Want You To Read

[barefacedmonk]

I came across this website that has a few excerpts from Tim Donaghy's book Blowing the Whistle. I'm not sure if everything he says in the book is true because some of it might be his way of getting back at the league. Anyway, read it and interpret the way you want.

On gambling refs:
To have a little fun at the expense of the worst troublemakers, the referees working the game would sometimes make a modest friendly wager amongst themselves: first ref to give one of the bad boys a technical foul wouldn't have to tip the ball boy that night. In the NBA, ball boys set up the referees' locker room and keep it stocked with food and beer for the postgame meal. We usually ran the kid ragged with a variety of personal requests and then slipped him a $20 bill. Technically, the winner of the bet won twice — he didn't have to pay the kid and he got to call a T on Mr. Foul-Mouthed Big-Shot Du Jour. After the opening tip, it was hilarious as the three of us immediately focused our full attention on the intended victim, waiting for something, anything, to justify a technical foul. If the guy so much as looked at one of us and mumbled, we rang him up.

On star treatment:
Relationships between NBA players and referees were generally all over the board — love, hate, and everything in-between. Some players, even very good ones, were targeted by referees and the league because they were too talented for their own good. Raja Bell, formerly of the Phoenix Suns and now a member of the Charlotte Bobcats, was one of those players. A defensive specialist throughout his career, Bell had a reputation for being a "star stopper." Kobe Bryant was often frustrated by Bell's tenacity on defense. Let's face it, no one completely shuts down a player of Kobe's caliber, but Bell could frustrate Kobe, take him out of his game, and interrupt his rhythm. You would think that the NBA would love a guy who plays such great defense. Think again! Star stoppers hurt the promotion of marquee players. Fans don't pay high prices to see players like Raja Bell — they pay to see superstars like Kobe Bryant score 40 points. Basketball purists like to see good defense, but the NBA wants the big names to score big points. If a player of Kobe's stature collides with the likes of Raja Bell, the call will almost always go for Kobe and against Bell.

On makeup calls:
I remember one nightmarish game I worked with Joe Crawford and Phil Robinson. Minnesota and New Orleans were in a tight game going into the last minute, and Crawford told us to make sure that we were 100 percent sure of the call every time we blew the whistle. When play resumed, Minnesota coach Flip Saunders started yelling at us to make a call. Robinson got intimidated and blew the whistle on New Orleans. The only problem was it wasn't the right call.[....] Later that week, Ronnie Nunn told me that we could have made something up at the other end against Minnesota to even things out. He even got specific — maybe we should have considered calling a traveling violation on Kevin Garnett.

He also talks about fellow referees and their "contribution" to a game(click the link below).

http://deadspin.com/5392067/excerpts-from-the-book-the-nba-doesnt-want-you-to-read

[Overrated]

Hmm, intriguing. But do I wanna read 268 pages of this? Not sure. I feel like I'd have an entirely different perspective on the game and that could ruin it or something 

[FLCeltsFan]

I just finished reading the book and highly recommend it.  After their investigation, the FBI felt he told the truth about everything.  It isn't all trashing the NBA, though.  Very fascinating read.   

[Kiorrik]

I just finished reading the book and highly recommend it.  After their investigation, the FBI felt he told the truth about everything.  It isn't all trashing the NBA, though.  Very fascinating read.   

Will definitely try to get my hand on a copy now. Was aching for someone to tell me if the book was worth it.

Thanks, and TP.

[liam]

Wow, this was not news to me. Just watch the games. Lakers vs Kings game 6. You can see the favoritism and make up calls. After a bad call on the defensive end PP always drives the ball at the other end and throws up his arms and gets a makeup call. All savvy vets do the same thing.  If I really want to see bad calls clearly without green glasses I watch a game were I don't care which team wins. Say Bobcats vs Clippers, I could care less. But sometimes I see a fairly called game, with mistakes and some bad calls. Sometimes you can tell the refs have decided the game in advance or are just fouling out a player. Sometimes it's like pro basketball and sometimes it's like Pro wrestling.  I think it gets a lot better during the playoffs. That's why some teams with great regular season records don't win in the playoffs. ( See the Cavs...) I still watch the NBA for the nights when the calls are fairly even and the players decide the game. On those nights the NBA is FANTASTIC. I wish all the games were like that, but I still enjoy watching, mostly.

I wouldn't buy a copy of that book just so I wouldn't be putting any money in that crooks pocket. Sheed got in a big beef off court with that guy and was fined. I wonder if he can get any of that cash back? Sheed was right, they were out to get him.

[kozlodoev]

I just finished reading the book and highly recommend it.  After their investigation, the FBI felt he told the truth about everything.  It isn't all trashing the NBA, though.  Very fascinating read.   

W
Told what he claims is the truth. I don't see him even attempting to meet any reasonable standard of proof in these excerpts.

[Overrated]

I just finished reading the book and highly recommend it.  After their investigation, the FBI felt he told the truth about everything.  It isn't all trashing the NBA, though.  Very fascinating read.   

TP to you, thanks for your insight.