Pro sports commissioners have their hands full with scandals

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 08/01/2007

   The commissioners of Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, and the National Football League — Bud Selig, David Stern, and Roger Goodell respectively — have had their hands full of late with problems. It’s amazing how trouble seems to run in threes.

 MLB and Selig have been dealing with the issue of steroids, following the BALCO investigation, and other illegal drugs right in the middle of seven-time MVP slugger Barry Bonds’ pursuit of Henry Aaron’s homerun record of 755. We can’t forget that two years ago, MLB was called before Congress for hearings.

 The NFL and Goodell have had to confront the major issue of player conduct and now the Michael Vick indictment by a grand jury for running a dog-fighting operation.

 The NBA and Stern may have the biggest problem of them all: Tim Donaghy, a 13-year veteran NBA official investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for betting or aiding bookies on NBA games he worked.

 WOW! Who has the biggest problem on their hands the NBA, MLB or the NFL? I would say all of the above. They are all serious, but for my money the NBA with Donaghy the ex-official is the biggest. Steroids in MLB and misconduct by NFL players including Vick are big emotional problems that grab the headlines and are hot-button items with fans and media. But when the very integrity of your league is jeopardized and the outcome of games is questioned — that is huge.

 Last year, the NBA made a big mistake by taking their midseason classic, the All-Star Game, to Sin City — Las Vegas — where anything goes, just promise not to tell anyone. It was a nightmare; I was there. Hundreds were arrested, many were assaulted, and three people were killed, while several others were shot.

 Last year, veteran NBA official Joey Crawford was suspended by Stern and not allowed to work the NBA playoffs for ejecting San Antonio Spurs superstar Tim Duncan, who is a four-time NBA champion and a model citizen. Crawford just happens to be one of five NBA officials who are all from the same area in Pennsylvania. Four of these officials, who are from a place just outside Philadelphia — including Donaghy — attended the same school: Cardinal O’Hara, a Catholic high school. Imagine that!

 While the FBI is investigating Donaghy, the NBA should start checking up on Crawford and the other officials from the same area. You have heard the old saying, “Birds of a feather flock together.”

 Donaghy last year called the most technical fouls, ejected the most players, and called the most fouls of any NBA official. The best way to affect the outcome of a game is to get a player in foul trouble. Say with Duncan, or Shaquille O’Neal or any impact star: That player has to come out of the game. The perception has always been there that some NBA players get star treatment from some officials. When the very integrity of the league is at stake, that is a major problem.

 I don’t think the odds are good that Donaghy acted alone; usually these are networks. The NBA needs to list the top five NBA officials and rank them based on who called the most fouls, ejections, technicals, etc. Put it out in the open and let everybody see if there are any patterns. But above all, check into all the officials; unfortunately, they all have been associated with corruption by profession because of Donaghy. The image and integrity of the NBA game is at stake.

 I covered the NBA Finals in June, and the Spurs won in a sweep. But in game three, decided by two points, a major no-call was missed on Cleveland star LeBron James. With the ball in his possession, he was fouled outside the three-point arc while attempting to take a shot by Bruce Bowen. With just two seconds left, Bowen clearly grabbed James’ jersey. No foul was called; Spurs won by two.

 If a foul would have been called, as it could and should have been, James would have gotten three free throws to maybe win or tie the game. You see, now we will never know. If or what if!