Former NBA referee Donaghy sentenced to 15 months in prison

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jul 29, 2008 | by Wire services

Disgraced ex-NBA official Tim Donaghy admitted that he'd brought shame on his profession Tuesday as a federal judge sentenced him to 15 months behind bars for a gambling scandal that still has the league on the defensive.

U.S. District Judge Carol Amon sentenced Donaghy to prison time plus three years of supervised release, saying he'd let the sport down by taking thousands of dollars from a professional gambler in exchange for inside tips on games -- including ones he refereed.

"The NBA, the players and the fans relied on him to perform his job in an honest manner," Amon said. Donaghy listened with his arms folded but showed no emotion.

He told the judge that "I've brought shame on myself, my family and the profession."

Defense attorney John Lauro asked Amon to give his 41-year-old client probation, saying the ex-official was a gambling addict who destroyed "the career he loved" and needed treatment, not incarceration. Donaghy also had sought to make amends by revealing "the good, the bad and the ugly" about the league's officiating, the attorney added.

In the end, Amon refused Donaghy's plea to stay out of prison, though she imposed a penalty that was not as tough as the 33 months he could have received. Donaghy must surrender to prison on Sept. 23.

Rockets-Kings trade: Houston is close to acquiring mercurial forward Ron Artest in a trade with Sacramento, according to a report in the Houston Chronicle.

Citing an NBA executive with knowledge of the deal, the newspaper reported that the teams reached an agreement that would send Artest to the Rockets for guard Bobby Jackson, a first-round pick next season and "another player that the individual with knowledge of the trade could not name."

The Chronicle also said that because of contract considerations, the trade would not be announced until Aug. 14, causing the newspaper to speculate that the deal could include Houston's No. 1 pick, Donte Greene, who cannot be traded until then -- one month after he inked a deal with the Rockets.

Hawks: Atlanta completed its deal with Maurice Evans, locking up a replacement for sixth-man Josh Childress.

The 6-foot-5 Evans started 47 times for the Orlando Magic last season and averaged a career-high 9.3 points. He was quickly targeted by Atlanta after Childress, a restricted free agent, stunned Atlanta last week by signing with Greek powerhouse Olympiakos.

Evans reportedly received a three-year deal for about $7.5 million -- much less than Childress would have commanded.

Bobcats: Charlotte is paying big money to keep top rebounder and shot blocker Emeka Okafor. The Bobcats have come to terms with the restricted free agent on a six-year, $72 million deal. Okafor averaged 13.7 points and 10.7 rebounds a game last season.

76ers: Philadelphia signed free-agent guard Kareem Rush to help bolster the team's 3-point shooting. Terms of the deal were not released. Last season with the Indiana Pacers, he averaged 8.3 points, a career-best 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

Exhibition: Yao Ming scored 21 points in 28 minutes to lead China past Angola 83-74 in Nanjing, China, another step in his return from injury with less than two weeks until the Olympics.

-- Defending Olympic champion Argentina beat Iran 81-71. Iran is making its first Olympic basketball appearance since 1948. Rockets forward Luis Scola scored 23 points for Argentina and San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili added 15.

Knicks: New York waived Taurean Green and Bobby Jones, one day after acquiring the pair of seldom-used players in a trade with the Denver Nuggets.