http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3445391
LOS ANGELES -- Dick Bavetta, the referee who worked one of the games Tim Donaghy alleged was rigged, was scheduled to officiate Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night.
[+] EnlargeD. Lippitt/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images
Dick Bavetta was a part of the crew that worked a game former ref Tim Donaghy alleged was rigged.
Bavetta worked Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference finals, when the Los Angeles Lakers used a huge free-throw advantage in the fourth quarter to beat the Sacramento Kings and even a series they eventually won.
Donaghy, who has pleaded guilty to betting on games he officiated and taking cash payments from gamblers, alleged in a court filing this week that the NBA had two "company men" work that game and make calls that would help the Lakers win and set up a Game 7.
NBA commissioner David Stern later confirmed that the federal investigation into Donaghy included questions about Bavetta.
Scott Foster and Ken Mauer were scheduled to work with Bavetta on Sunday, when the Boston Celtics hoped to clinch the series. Bavetta and Foster also were part of the Game 1 crew in Boston.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES -- Dick Bavetta, the referee who worked one of the games Tim Donaghy alleged was rigged, was scheduled to officiate Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night.
[+] EnlargeD. Lippitt/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images
Dick Bavetta was a part of the crew that worked a game former ref Tim Donaghy alleged was rigged.
Bavetta worked Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference finals, when the Los Angeles Lakers used a huge free-throw advantage in the fourth quarter to beat the Sacramento Kings and even a series they eventually won.
Donaghy, who has pleaded guilty to betting on games he officiated and taking cash payments from gamblers, alleged in a court filing this week that the NBA had two "company men" work that game and make calls that would help the Lakers win and set up a Game 7.
NBA commissioner David Stern later confirmed that the federal investigation into Donaghy included questions about Bavetta.
Scott Foster and Ken Mauer were scheduled to work with Bavetta on Sunday, when the Boston Celtics hoped to clinch the series. Bavetta and Foster also were part of the Game 1 crew in Boston.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
