LOS ANGELES (AP) -David Stern came to the defense of his beleaguered referees again Thursday, saying they don't manipulate games or engage in other criminal activity.
And just to make sure, the NBA will go back and re-interview every single referee about Tim Donaghy's latest allegations of rigged playoff series in 2002 and 2005.
Speaking to the media at an NBA finals that has been increasingly overshadowed by the Donaghy scandal, the commissioner said Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference finals might have been officiated poorly, but honestly and not illegally.
``On behalf of my officials, I'd like to tell you that they don't engage in the criminal conduct of which Mr. Donaghy has accused them of,'' Stern said.
Donaghy claimed this week in a court filing that two ``company men'' worked that game, in which the Los Angeles Lakers used a huge free-throw advantage in the fourth quarter to avoid elimination against Sacramento.
``The allegations about that are incorrect,'' Stern said. ``Not true.''
He said he felt bad for Boston and Los Angeles players in the finals, and especially the officials - usually prevented from speaking on their own behalf because of league rules - who have to ``defend themselves against allegations by one of their fallen brethren.''
So Stern took up the defense for them, calling a press conference that began a half hour before Game 4.
Stern acknowledged the FBI investigation into Donaghy's claims did include questions about Dick Bavetta, one of the officials who worked the '02 Game 6, but reiterated the message he has repeated for a year, saying, ``the only person now being sentenced for a crime is Mr. Donaghy.''
The 41-year-old Donaghy has admitted to betting on games he officiated, taking cash payments from associates and providing them information to win their bets.
Scheduled to be sentenced next month, Donaghy's making the league very uncomfortable in the meantime.
His latest accusations - that the league gave special treatment to star players and sought to extend series for better ratings, and that some officials enjoyed special relationships with players - have reignited suspicions of league conspiracies.
Because of that, Stern said referees, already interviewed as part of a separate investigation Stern had conducted by former federal prosecutor Lawrence Pedowitz, will be talked to again so their defense can be clear.
``In light of the media coverage here, we will go back and prospectively ask the questions of officials in effect again with respect to specific acts,'' Stern said, ``even though they've all been interviewed, so that I could sit here in front of you, really on behalf of our officials, who don't engage with you on a regular basis, to say, 'No, no, no, a thousand times no.'''
Though the Pedowitz interviews were completed months ago, the league won't release the report until Donaghy is sentenced, with hopes he would agree to meet with the investigators.
Stern also dismissed an idea Lakers coach Phil Jackson pushed this week, that a separate entity, rather than the league office, oversee the referees. Stern said officials in all major leagues report to their commissioner.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
