Timothy Francis Donaghy is a former professional basketball referee who worked in the National Basketball Association for 13 seasons from 1994 to 2007 until he was caught in a gambling scandal.
35 Facts About Tim Donaghy
2.
Tim Donaghy resigned from the league on July 9,2007, after reports of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for allegations that he bet on games that he officiated during his last two seasons and that he made calls that affected the point spread in those games.
3.
Tim Donaghy was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison on July 29,2008.
4.
Tim Donaghy's father, Gerry Donaghy, was a referee at the highest levels of NCAA men's basketball association for a long time.
5.
In 1989, Tim Donaghy graduated from Villanova University with a degree in sales and marketing.
6.
Tim Donaghy was a participant in the NBA's Read to Achieve program, for which he participated in an event at the Universal Charter school during the 2002 NBA Finals.
7.
Mike Missanelli of The Stephen A Smith Show suggested that Donaghy had gotten himself into debt and tried to make it up by betting on games.
8.
The Daily News learned that the bookies in the scandal were two high school classmates of Tim Donaghy's who embellished their mob ties.
9.
The Daily News reported that at his friends' request, Tim Donaghy had passed word about the crews working the games on which they planned to bet.
10.
At his home in Bradenton, Tim Donaghy did not initially comment on his situation.
11.
Tim Donaghy reportedly claimed to be "the butler" to visiting reporters and turned his sprinklers on a freelance photographer for the New York Times when he got too close.
12.
In doing so, Tim Donaghy disclosed classified information that he obtained as an NBA referee.
13.
Tim Donaghy initially received $2,000 per correct pick, but his calls were so accurate that Battista increased his take to $5,000.
14.
Tim Donaghy admitted that he had a severe gambling addiction for which he was taking antidepressants.
15.
Tim Donaghy was fined $500,000 and ordered to pay at least $30,000 in restitution.
16.
Tim Donaghy was released on a $250,000 bond and awaited sentencing on January 25,2008.
17.
On June 19,2008, the NBA filed a demand that Tim Donaghy reimburse the league for the costs of his airfare and meals, complimentary game tickets, and other expenses, including $750 in shoes.
18.
Tim Donaghy's lawyer said this was the league trying to retaliate against Tim Donaghy for his misconduct.
19.
The NBA claimed Tim Donaghy owed it $1.4 million, including $577,000 of his pay and benefits over four seasons, plus hefty legal fees and other expenses related to an internal investigation.
20.
Tim Donaghy's lawyer argued that the punishment should apply to only one season, a position supported by the government in court papers.
21.
On June 10,2008, Tim Donaghy's attorney filed a court document alleging, among other things, that Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings had been fixed by two referees.
22.
Stern denied the accusations, calling Tim Donaghy a "singing, cooperating witness".
23.
On July 29,2008, Tim Donaghy was sentenced in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York to 15 months in prison for his participation in the gambling scandal.
24.
Tim Donaghy could have faced up to 33 months, but Judge Carol Amon reduced his sentence to 15 months in exchange for his cooperation.
25.
Tim Donaghy found a new publisher, VTi-Group, willing to release the book, which was renamed Personal Foul: A First-Person Account of the Scandal That Rocked the NBA.
26.
Tim Donaghy was released from prison after serving 11 months and was due to finish his sentence in a recovery house near Tampa, Florida, where he was to be treated for his gambling addiction, as mandated by the court.
27.
On November 4,2009, Tim Donaghy was released from prison in Hernando County after serving out the remainder of his sentence.
28.
Tim Donaghy sued VTi-Group, the publisher of his memoir, for not paying him.
29.
Tim Donaghy was featured in the 2016 released documentary film Dirty Games - The dark side of sports.
30.
Tim Donaghy was arrested on December 22,2017, for aggravated assault.
31.
Tim Donaghy was released on $5,000 bond and given an arraignment, scheduled for January 19,2018.
32.
Tim Donaghy had been looking for his 19-year-old daughter, who he believed was doing drugs at a friend's house.
33.
The official film description focuses on Tim Donaghy's take on the NBA betting scandal.
34.
On January 27,2021, Tim Donaghy made his debut as a professional wrestling referee for Major League Wrestling, helping Richard Holliday defeat Savio Vega in a title match for the IWA Caribbean Heavyweight Championship.
35.
Tim Donaghy has a "heel referee" gimmick with numerous references to the gambling scandal intertwined in storyline.