Donaghy confirms anti-Cuban bias

[MapleLeaf]

From ESPN Dallas

Ex-con/ex-referee Tim Donaghy confirmed what folks in Dallas have long suspected: NBA executives and officials are biased against Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Donaghy, who made an appearance on ESPN 103.3’s Galloway and Co. to promote his book “Personal Foul,” said that bias cost the Mavericks games and played a significant role in their collapse after taking a 2-0 lead in the 2006 Finals.

“I think there was numerous games,” Donaghy said. “Obviously Mark was very outspoken in regard to the referees. Referees have personal vendettas that they take out on certain players, coaches and owners. Mark was certainly one of those people.”

Donaghy claimed that Danny Crawford bragged that the Mavericks rarely won playoff games that he officiated, information Donaghy used to place bets against the Mavs. The Mavs have lost 15 of their last 16 playoffs game that Crawford worked.

If Donaghy can be believed, there were two major officiating factors in the controversial Finals collapse that was fueled by Dwyane Wade free throws. He said referees are trained to favor teams that are down in playoff series. And then there’s the anti-Cuban bias.

“It had been told to me behind the scenes that they were actually happy in the NBA office when Dallas was knocked out from the playoffs,” Donaghy said, “because it was less complaints from Mark, it was less e-mails from Mark and it was less work that they had to do.”

Of course, Cuban surely fired off a few e-mails after the Finals.

Cuban’s e-mail response to Donaghy’s comments on Thursday: "My position hasn't changed. But I've already paid for stating it, so I'm not going to repeat it."

 

[Blake]

LOL

 

[MapleLeaf]

All Mavs fans knew it and we knew Crawford was the worst. Bennett Salvatore is the other one. Whatever.

I think it's obvious Crawford needs to be banned from doing Mavs games ever again. He BRAGGED that they barely won? Ya...I think he needs to go

 

[Mexi]

of course the NBA was happy Cuban was gone

it's like inviting a family member you hate to come for the holidays.
you only put up with them because they are family, but would LOVE if they couldnt make it.
doesnt mean you went to their house and slit the tires on their car so they couldnt drive.

i swear this donaghy thing is getting ridiculous. dude's just selling his damn book

and if he is right about teams down being favored, fine.
that means every team down has been favored and most of those teams lose.
Mavs lost

 

[The Young One]

and if he is right about teams down being favored, fine.
that means every team down has been favored and most of those teams lose.

Says the laker fan

 

[elcheato]

Tim Donaghy also said that Kobe Bryant would get fouls called if he was breathed on because the Lakers were complaining and saying that he got no calls..