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2 sentenced to prison in NBA betting scandal
LATEST ON THIS STORYRelated Topics: NEW YORK
NEW YORK (Map, News) - Two former high school classmates of disgraced NBA referee Tim Donaghy were both sentenced to more than a year in prison Thursday for their roles in a betting scandal that embarrassed the league.
A federal judge in Brooklyn gave James Battista, a professional gambler and admitted drug addict, 15 months in prison for making bets based on inside tips. Thomas Martino, the scheme's middleman, was sentenced to a year and one day for paying the referee thousands of dollars for the tips.
The men, both 42 and former classmates of Donaghy in Springfield, Pa., apologized before being sentenced.
"I'm not blaming either one of my co-defendants," Battista said. "I made bad choices."
Martino assured U.S. District Judge Carol Amon that once released from prison, "I will do everything in my power to restore my reputation."
The judge rejected arguments by defense attorneys that their clients deserved probation. The gambling plot, she said, had serious repercussions because anytime a referee's "integrity is compromised in any way, the entire sport is compromised."
Donaghy, 41, pleaded guilty last year to felony charges he took the cash payoffs from gamblers for picks on games, including ones he officiated, based on his behind-the-scenes knowledge. He faces up to 33 months in prison at sentencing Tuesday.
In a decision filed Wednesday, the judge said the three defendants must jointly pay the NBA $217,266 in restitution. The league had sought nearly $1.4 million covering hefty legal bills and a portion of Donaghy's salary dating to 2003 - a claim the judge found excessive.
"It is undisputed that Donaghy dishonestly refereed 16 games during the 2006-2007 season, and a corresponding portion of his compensation for these games is an appropriate measure of the NBA's loss," she wrote.
In June, Donaghy cast a cloud over the NBA finals by making fresh accusations that the league routinely encouraged refs to ring up bogus fouls to manipulate results but discouraged them from calling technical fouls on star players to keep them in games and protect ticket sales and television ratings.
The allegations - contained in court papers arguing that Donaghy deserved leniency for voluntarily disclosing the alleged corruption - included one instance claiming referees rigged a 2002 playoff series to force it to a revenue-boosting seven games.
Though the papers didn't name the teams involved, only the Los Angeles Lakers-Sacramento Kings series went to seven games during those playoffs. The Lakers went on to win the championship.
NBA commissioner David Stern has called the allegations baseless, saying Donaghy was only "singing" to get a lighter sentence.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Comments from Examiner Readers
4:27 PM MST on Fri., Aug. 17, 2007 re: "NBA ref in betting probe: 'I'm very sorry'"
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8:36 PM MST on Wed., Aug. 15, 2007
re: "NBA Betting Scandal Leads to Guilty Plea"
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4:08 PM MST on Wed., Aug. 15, 2007
re: "Ex-NBA Referee Pleads Guilty to Charges"
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5:14 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 25, 2007
re: "Stern Feels Betrayed by Betting Scandal"
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11:43 AM MST on Mon., Jul. 23, 2007
re: "FBI Probes Whether NBA Ref Bet on Games"
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4:13 PM MST on Fri., Jul. 20, 2007
re: "FBI Probes Whether NBA Ref Bet on Games"
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1:58 PM MST on Fri., Jul. 20, 2007
re: "FBI Probes Whether NBA Ref Bet on Games"
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I can't say said:
"This is an ongoing case - I can't say anything else," Tim Donaghy added. What? Of course he can say whatever he likes, He can say he did it, didn't do it, what he had for breakfast, anything! The ongoing case is the case against him. Jeez.
93 agree | 67 disagree
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But he's a victim said:
He's a victim. He is now claiming he is a gambling addict and depressed. A real stand-up guy.
88 agree | 102 disagree
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Choice said:
Look, here's your choice: Want to see your wife/child/mother/whoever again? Or would you like to see them AND make some money too?
119 agree | 107 disagree
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Con Artists said:
Anyone who thinks ANY pro sports league are not far away from pro wrestling are absolutely nuts. The NBA is a billion dollar industry that is driven by betting and blind consumers. That ref might be toast, but those who still spend money on it are fools. Leave the gun, take the canoles.
151 agree | 133 disagree
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Examiner Reader J. Horton said:
NBA/NFL/MLB needs more diversity and sinsitivity training this have been ongoing for years. they also should be drug tested.
148 agree | 140 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
this story is ten times bigger than Vick
147 agree | 145 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
this has been going on for years, the time for this crime should be 25 years in prison
148 agree | 147 disagree
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