By STEFANIE COHEN
Last updated: 7:31 am
June 26, 2008
Posted: 3:23 am
June 26, 2008
The money ball may be bouncing dirty NBA referee Tim Donaghy's way.
A Brooklyn federal judge indicated that she might give Donaghy a pass on a large portion of the cash the NBA wants him to fork over.
The league wants Donaghy - who admitted last summer he provided gamblers with winning picks on games he worked - to fork over $1.4 million.
The steep bill includes $600,000 in wages Donaghy earned during games he admitted to betting on since 2003; $250,000 paid to outside counsel that assisted the government's investigation, and another $500,000 to cover an internal investigation of the NBA's other referees.
"Mr. Donaghy should not have to pay for the NBA's internal investigation," Judge Carol Amon said.
She also had problems with the league trying to recover money for games that were not part of Donaghy's indictment. Although he admitted to gambling on his own games beginning in 2003, Donaghy only pleaded guilty to betting on games during the 2006-2007 season.
"I think there's a serious issue as to whether you're entitled to anything beyond the 2006 season," the judge told NBA attorney Paul Schechtman.
Schechtman argued that the league suffered through all four seasons, regardless of what Donaghy pleaded to.
"It's a scheme in which we have been victimized from beginning to end," he said.
Donaghy's lawyer, John Lauro, has said restitution only became an issue after his client admitted publicly that he'd given the feds information about alleged corruption within the NBA.
As part of his cooperation with the government, Donaghy claimed refs and officials colluded to boost ticket sales and TV ratings by extending playoff series and keeping star players from fouling out. The NBA has vehemently denied that.
Amon seemed to agree with Lauro's take on the money.
"This comes very late in the game," she said, referring to the restitution issue.
Amon said she would revisit the issue at a hearing next month.
The ref displayed his angry streak yesterday when he left the courtroom, muttering, "F- - - this," under his breath as he walked by a throng of reporters. "F- - - you," he mouthed to the group as he waited for the elevator.
