NEW YORK — David Stern responded to a report on NBA referees Thursday by vowing to build the “most effective possible system” to monitor illegal gambling and preserve the game’s integrity.
The commissioner ordered the investigation last August after former referee Tim Donaghy was accused of betting on games he officiated and providing inside information to gambling associates to win their bets. Donaghy began serving a 15-month sentence on Sept. 23 at a federal prison in Pensacola, Fla.
Stern promised to implement all the recommendations included in former federal prosecutor Lawrence Pedowitz’s review of the NBA’s referees operations department, the result of a 14-month probe that cost the league several million dollars.
“We will be up there with the very best. No one will have a better system than we do,” Stern said on a conference call. “But all of that said, to the idea that, you know, criminal activity will exist every place else in the world except in sports is just something that we can’t guarantee. But we’re going to have the most effective possible system that’s ever been devised.”
The report recommended it include: a hot line to anonymously raise questions about gambling and game integrity issues; making available any complaints the league receives about refs — beginning in the 2008-09 playoffs — to both teams to avoid suspicions of bias; requiring officials to annually report their contacts among players and team personnel to the league so it can monitor fraternization.
The league already has made a number of changes, including restructuring its referees operations department and began posting officiating assignments the morning of games.
The report also suggests mandatory gambling education for players.
“We believe that gambling can expose the players and the league to significant risks, and therefore it is important that players be educated regarding those risks,” the report said.
The 116-page document disputed Donaghy’s allegations of specific misconduct and favoritism toward certain players and teams, but warned “because the potential for referee bias remains a threat to the integrity of the game, the league can do more.”
It agreed with the federal government that there was no evidence Donaghy made any calls to affect the outcome of games after studying his work in 17 of them, including 16 during the 2006-07 in which it was believed Donaghy made picks.
It also backed the government’s stance that referee Scott Foster wasn’t involved in any of Donaghy’s misconduct. Donaghy called Foster 134 times from October 2006-April 2007, but the FBI and Pedowitz were satisfied that Foster’s description of their relationship as longtime friends provided a reasonable explanation for the calls.
“The report speaks for itself,” said Lamell McMorris, spokesman for the referees’ union.
Boston Celtics players Paul Pierce and Ray Allen endorsed the recommended mandatory gambling education.
“Throughout the years we have a number of different meetings. … A gambling meeting wouldn’t hurt,” Allen said from training camp in Newport, R.I. “I think its just as important to educate the guys to make sure they don’t give money away that you’ve worked hard for and you want to continue to work hard for. The education would definitely help.”
Pedowitz said that if he owned a team, he wouldn’t even want his players taking part in card games on the team plane.
“The sickness of compulsive gambling can affect many people,” Pedowitz said. “We have a concern that the culture of the NBA ought to be a disciplined one. So we worry about players.”
New York Knicks guard Jamal Crawford said he didn’t think gambling was a problem in the league.
“No, I don’t think a lot of players gamble, if any,” Crawford said. “We’re pretty aware of it, but a class wouldn’t hurt at all.”
Stern wants to be sure players realize the dangers of being involved with people connected to gambling, as Donaghy was.
“It’s really about who they are with and what information they give, because gamblers are always looking for an edge,” Stern said. “And that’s the concern that we have begun to address in rookies and we’ll do more of with respect to players.”
KNICKS: Forward Jared Jeffries fractured his left fibula at practice and is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks. The 6-foot-11 seventh-year pro pulled up in the backcourt during a scrimmage and was immediately waved off the court by coach Mike D’Antoni. Jeffries’ lower leg was wrapped in an ice pack as he sat out the rest of practice until some light shooting at the end. Jeffries said he jumped and when he landed felt his muscle tighten up, describing it as “more than a cramp.”
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