Donaghy's lawyer says old friends pressed him

Philadelphia Inquirer, The, May, 2008 by Frank Fitzpatrick Inquirer Staff Writer

The attorney for former NBA referee Tim Donaghy said in a court filing that former St. Joseph's University and Monsignor Bonner player Jack Concannon "pressured" Donaghy into providing information that would help win bets on NBA games. Donaghy and Concannon, who grew up in the basketball-rich area of Drexel Hill, had already been gambling together at casinos and on college and pro football, baseball and hockey, according to Donaghy's attorney, John Lauro.

"When Concannon lost money at casinos, he pressured Tim to use his knowledge to help select likely basketball teams that they could bet on," Lauro wrote in a letter to U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon. On July 14, Amon is scheduled to sentence Donaghy, who pleaded guilty to charges related to betting on games and...