May 27, 2025 • 36 mins
Fomer NBA referee, Tim Donaghy joins the show! Tim shares why he thinks oficiating is getting worse, was he the only one doing it, his ongoing beef w/ Rasheed Wallace, and much more. Travis Hunter is married, but did he make a mistake by not getting a prenup? Stand up comedian Aries Spears had some interesting things to say about Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark, plus we end up getting back to sports gambling regarding Jontay Porter who's been banned from the NBA!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Is this Why is officiating?
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Like There's so many thing that I'll get to about
your life, but let's just start with the current product.
Every time I watch the NBA, especially in the playoffs,
I see inconsistency. Why is the officiating at an all
time low and continuing to get worse?
Speaker 3 (00:19):
You know, I think it's a situation where, you know,
the referees are referring the names from the front and
the back of the jerseys rather than the fauts and
violations out as they occur in the court. And when
you do that, you know, you're you're worried about who
you're calling the sal on and at what time of
the game, and instead of just officiating you know what's
(00:40):
taking place out on the floor, and it causes a
lot of you know, difficult situations for the officials, and
it just causes a lot of inconsistencies, and it's what
makes the fans and the coaches and the players really, uh,
you know, frustrated, because you know, it's one thing that
have a call go against but it's another thing when
(01:01):
you go down the other end of the floor and
it goes against you again. Because there's no consistency in
how they're calling the game. So h it's one of
the most frustrating things for the fans and the players
and the coaches when the officiating goes that way.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
So, Tim, let's get to your career and what year
were you in as a referee when you started to
bet on sports.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I think it was pretty much from two thousand and seven,
two thousand and six, two thousand and five, you know
time frame. My last three years in the league. I
got into a situation where I was just gambling, you know,
each and every day, whether it was on the golf course,
at the casinos or uh, you know, betting on sports,
and you know, it spilled over in no situation where
(01:48):
I had inside information on what was going on with
the officiating and the relationships that existed between the referees
and players, referees and coaches and even owners, and how
those positive and negative relationships spilled out onto the floor
and affected the point spread. And I took that information
and I, you know, guessed along the people that were
(02:08):
associated with the organized crime and you know, made millions
of dollars for you know people, and got caught over
at Gambino wire tap, and you know, I spent fifteen
months in a federal person.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Fascinating.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Phil Scallaw, the FBI special agent who worked the Gambino case,
did the forward in your book and it is a
must read. But why, I guess the question is, you're
making good money. Okay, you're making really good money. You're
getting flown around the country. Uld imagine that the referee
stay in posh five star hotels.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Why did you let that?
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Cause you were like, I mean, listen, I remember you
won them prominent referees along with Steve Javi. What what
led you to go down that path?
Speaker 3 (02:53):
You know, weakness? Basically, you know, I had a flaw
in my character that allowed me to cross the line
that I shouldn't have been near. And you know, I
wish I could turn back time and not have done it,
But you know, I got caught up in the whole
facet of gambling and the excitement that and high that
it gave me that I, you know, started to do
things that you, you know, wouldn't really think that you
(03:14):
would do being a person that had a terrific job
making hundreds of thousands of dollars, running up and down
the floor with the greatest athletes in the world. So
you know, I wish I had the answer to the
question of you know, why did you do it? But
you know, unfortunately it was just a flaw that I had,
and I wish I had not done it. But you know,
I can't turn back time, and if I could, I'd
(03:34):
be still running up and down the court with you know,
the greatest athletes in the world during the playoffs right now.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
And you'd probably be doing a lot better job than
most of the referees that are doing it right now.
Tim Donnay right here on MJ in the Midday Sports
Radio ninety three to three kJ R F M No I.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
You know, we laugh, but I'm not joking. I mean,
I literally mean that.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
I mean, you know, don't even get me started, because
I'm a gambler too, and you know, and I'm and
I'm one of those people that you know, I mean,
it's just it bothers me when I see inconsistency. But
with that being said, you how many games if you
could equate Remember, I'm sure you you might have a
rough estimate. How many games did you ref that you
(04:15):
personally bet on?
Speaker 3 (04:19):
You know, this was going back fifteen years. Uh, you know,
there was you know, over one hundred games. You know,
I had information that uh, you know, I passed along
to people that you know, from meetings that I was in,
and you know, basically cross that line that you wouldn't
think somebody would with the job that I had. So,
(04:40):
you know, more than you could ever imagine, more than
I'd like to admit. So yeah, you know, it's a
situation where you know, I did it and hopefully you know,
other people can learn from the poor choices that I
made and making sure that you stay on the straight
and arrow and go down that right road.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Yeah, I mean, you've been nothing but transparent.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
So let me let's just say, like hypothetically, you're you're
referring you know, I don't know the Nixon Bulls back
then in the you know, the mid to late two thousands,
neither team was good, or maybe you were referring you know,
who knows the Celtics at the time, regardless if you
you know, let's just say took the Celtics minus five
(05:20):
and a half over the Knicks, and the Knicks were
you know, playing above and beyond their talent, which certainly
at that time was tough to do. They were one
of the worst teams in the NBA, Would you make
calls on purpose that would just sort of make it
to make sure that you and the guys that you
gave information to would be on the right side to
(05:42):
win their bets.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
You know, And that's a great question, and that's what
was you know, hard for the FBI to understand at first,
how I wasn't going after and making calls to make
sure that these bets won. But the bottom line was
is that when we had a meeting in the morning,
I knew what the league wanted us to call on
any given situation out on that floor that night, and
I knew who was that was going to affect and
(06:06):
who it was going to hurt. And I knew that
the three officials were going to go out and do that.
And you know, was I out on the floor making
calls up to send star players to the bench so
a bet would win, No, And you know, I was
so lucky that with the information I had, we were
winning at eighty percent of the time. So when you
know a loss or two ever, you know, came into effect,
(06:29):
you know, it wasn't something that you know, bothered me
or bothered anyone that was involved in this, because we
were winning at such a high rate.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
That's unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Now, the plot line was for you know, the NBA
wanted to paint you in David Stern is some rogue
gambling addicted of Rafu who made bets on some of
his own games. But after they conducted their own investigation,
they conclude They concluded the NBA you did not fix games.
They concluded that, but around the league, you know, the
(07:00):
suspicions out there, so and so where you admit that, Hey, yeah,
I might have made some calls out there for you
and your partners. Now, can I just one of the
things that's the most unbelievable thing that I just don't believe.
I don't believe that you were the only one at
that time. I just don't believe it. I believe there
were other officials. But the NBA said, Okay, we're gonna
(07:22):
isolate him. He's the one guy and we're gonna go
after him. Were you the only one that you knew
of doing it?
Speaker 3 (07:31):
I'm the only one that I knew of. But I
will tell you this, The FBI told me that there
were seven or eight other officials that they wanted to indict,
and it got shut down at the highest level. So
with that being said, I wasn't privy to everything that
cooked Blake. And they also said that they wanted to
indict David Stern for obstruction of justice for leaking the
story out to the press so that all the other
(07:53):
referees knew not to speak to me, so that they
couldn't run any more wire taps or anything on anybody.
So I think, you know, the investigation got shut down
at the highest level. And David Stern was always one
step ahead of everybody when it came to two different things,
and he was smart enough to leak the story to
the press so that nobody would speak to me.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Unbelievable, this is I'm just learning of this now. I
maybe I knew it back then, but it doesn't surprise.
So they said they had seven or eight more refs
that they were about to investigate or indict that.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
They were investigating, and that they had done stuff that
you know, they thought, could you know, warrant and arrest,
And for some reason everything got shut down at the
highest level. And I will tell you this. There was
a guy by the name of Greg Andres who was
in charge of the Eastern District of New York and
the prosecution Department, and two months after I went to jail,
(08:48):
he left that job took a job doing all the
outside legal counsel work for the NBA. So he went
from making probably two hundred grand a year to over
a million. So it's just a lot of shady stuff
went on. And you know a lot of that stuff,
you know, was known by you know, Netflix and you
know different people that you know did documentaries on the story,
(09:10):
and for some reason it was always left out of
the story.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Fascinating, unbelievable. Now, one of the guys that is in
question is still currently reffing in the NBA and there
apparently they had trace phone calls of you and him
at halftime of games. Is Scott Foster. Do you know
that Scott Foster bet on games when you were an official?
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Not that I'm aware of. He was a very good
friend of mine. We talked on the phone all the time,
and you know, unfortunately his name was dragged through the
mud because of his association with me. And you know,
I will say that he liked the gamble, We liked
the gamble, But for me to say he was gambling
on NBA games is something that you know, I'm not
going to say because it's not something that I know interesting.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Who were when you look at the guys out there,
that's and you don't have to name names of the
former officials. But when the FBI told you that there
was about seven guys they were investigating and they were
possibly about to indict, did they tell you the names?
Speaker 3 (10:13):
They did? They showed me pictures of them and they
would ask me what else I knew about them? And
you know, Dick Bavetta was one of those guys. Divetta
went around his go to guy. He was put on
Game sixes to make sure they went to a Game seven.
But the way that you know, the FBI explained to
me at the end of each NBA telecast, it says
(10:34):
at the bottom, NBA a form of entertainment, uh, you know,
produced by NBA Entertainment. So with that, they could put
those games on and do whatever they want in those
games and they're not, you know, liable. It's just like
pro wrestling. They can do whatever they.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Want fair enough, fair enough. Which anybody else besides Dick
Bavetta that you remember.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Uh, there were yeah, there were other few, but not
none that I really want to throw out there. Other
than him, because it was very obvious that, you know,
he did that, and how he got away with doing
what he did for all those years and actually ended
up in the Basketball Hall of Fame is actually comical
to me.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Oh my my lord, you gotta be kidding me. We're
talking to Tim Donnie. You got to read if you
ever want to read a sports book, that's just jaw dropping.
Personal foully first person account of the scandal that rocked
the NBA became a Netflix documentary in the Untold series
as well, So you need to check that out. He
got inducted into the Hall of Fame. Yeah, go figure.
(11:35):
So that being said, who were I know you hated
you had this thing against Rashid Wallace, you and him?
Speaker 1 (11:42):
What was the issue there? Was?
Speaker 2 (11:44):
He just this guy that I mean, he gave a
lot of reps a hard time, but you and him
seriously got into it all the time. What was it
about Rashid Wallas that drew your ire?
Speaker 3 (11:54):
I think it was just a situation where every referee
had a personality conflict with a player, and he ended
up being one that I always had a problem with.
And you know, it was actually funny every time I
refereed one of his games. We'd sit in the locker
room before the game and we all bet twenty five
dollars to see who the first person was that could
give him a technical foul. So, you know, he was
(12:16):
just somebody that was extremely difficult, you know, to get
along with out on the floor. He had a competitive nature.
I think that just you know, went above and beyond
when he stepped in between those lines. But you know,
I've since talked to him several times, you know, after
we both retired, and you know, he's definitely, you know,
(12:37):
somebody that has a cooler head outside of the game
than when he was on the floor.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Unbelievable. What about coaches?
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Was there a coach that you just had a disdain
for and he didn't like you as well.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Yeah, George Carr was a guy that was just impossible
to get along with. And you know, I never forget
I had him in Philadelphia when he was a coach
of the Milwaukee BUCKSI believe it was, and you know,
it was a double overtime game and he was just
on me from the beginning of the game to the end.
And it was a close game. So it was never
the opportunity to give him that technical foul near the
(13:12):
end because you didn't want to decide the game based
on a technical foul. And I'll never forget walking into
the locker room after that game in Philadelphia, I Saud
I have him in two weeks, and the minute he opened.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
His mouth, you know, I'm going to throw him out
of the game.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
And the game was in Indiana, and I think right
near the end of the first quarter he started giving
me some grief and I immediately threw him out of
the game. So you know, he even made a comment
in the newspaper that you know that wasn't anything that
took place tonight, that was paid back for something that
happened in a previous game. So you know he knew
what I did, and you know it was a situation
(13:46):
where I have to do it. I have to draw
a line in the sand because you would never leave
me alone. But from that point forward, he never gave
me a hard time again.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Tim Donnie on m Jane The Midday, and I'm quoting
here an article from ESPN and just says there are
many misconceptions about the Tim Donahey scandal. Perhaps the greatest
is this that donahe was the ref who colluded with
gamblers on NBA games for one disgraceful season. That is incorrect.
According to a Core document, Donahe and uh mister Kuncannon
(14:16):
placed their first bet on a game. Donahee was referring
in March two thousand and three, more than four years
and four NBA seasons before you were caught. It said
you started small, and that first March you bet on
two or three games. But the next season the volume
rose sharply. You made between thirty and forty wages on
games that you worked, and you the same with the
(14:38):
season after that and the one after that.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Is that true?
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Absolutely? Yes, for sure. You know, started out small, and
gradually we got a little bit deeper and deeper until
you know, I just didn't feel comfortable doing it anymore. Yeah.
I don't know what the exact numbers are, but that
seems very reasonable.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
And do was there ever a game that you and
you know, the guys that you told that, hey, you
want to go this way but it didn't cover.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Yeah? I mean we well, like I said, we want
eighty percent of the time, but there were times where
you know, we would lose and uh, you know, uh yeah,
it was a situation where from time to time we
would lose a game. You know, you get somebody on
the other team that just gets hot from behind a
three point line and you think that it's going to
go one way and it just goes totally the opposite way.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
What was it like to ref Michael Jordan? How what
was your relationship like with him?
Speaker 3 (15:30):
You know, good relationship with him. He was, you know,
a top athlete in the league, always professional, and if
he had a situation where he needed to talk to you,
it was never in an embarrassing manner. He would always,
you know, just wait and talk to you doing a
free throw or walking out during a time out. So
it was a situation where he was, you know, true
professional most of the time and just very competitive.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
And when you look at the league today, do you
believe now with the legalized gambling, do you think that
I mean, I think you approved. I'm just saying, do
you would you be shocked if you found out that
referees in the NBA are placing bets?
Speaker 3 (16:08):
You know, I think it's a situation where gambling has
become so relevant. Uh you know, you know, are they
placing bets? I'm sure they're placing bets because you know,
when I was there, it was fifty eight out of
sixty referees gambled. You know, are they placing bets on
NBA games? You know, I would hope not. I hope
that they have learned from my situation, but you know,
I'm not there and I don't know, so I think
(16:30):
that that is something that maybe we'll find out in
the future.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Wow, you said fifty is sixty. That's crazy. So obviously
you've learned your lesson and you served your time. When
you were in federal prison, though, did anyone come after you?
Did anyone you know, because you know, did anyone you know,
because you're sitting here and you obviously telling here's what
I did. And some people might have viewed you as
a quote rat, But did anyone try to get at
(16:55):
you in federal prison?
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Yeah? For sure. You know it was difficult because you know,
everyone's in jail on a lot of people are in
jail because of somebody that cooperated against them, and you know,
I was labeled a rat. And you know, there was
one guy that claimed to be associated with crime families
in New York and took a paint rolling poll, and
you know, whacked me on my knee a couple of times.
I've had, you know, two operations to try to alleviate
(17:19):
the paint from that attack. And you know, it was
just you know, another instance where you know, unfortunately I
made my bed and I had to lie in it
and that was a situation that took place because of
the poor choices I made.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Wow, that's horrible, man, did it? Whatever happened to that guy?
Did you get in trouble for doing that? And you know,
basically whacking you on your knee.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
He got additional time. He was shackled and handcuffed, thrown
in a van and sent to a more secure prison
and you know, added more time onto a sentence. So
it was something I'm sure he probably regretted after he
did it.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Unbelievable before he let you go, Tim Donnahey and check
out the book on Amazon dot com Personal Foul at
first person account of the scandal that rocked the NBA.
What's the biggest thing that you learned from the totality
of your experience after serving time in prison, being completely
(18:13):
banned by the NBA and everything, Like one guy, I
would believe that did you ever cross paths with would
be the late great Pete Rose.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Did you ever come across him?
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Actually I didn't. But you know, if I learned anything
from this whole experience is that choices are so important life,
you know, and those choices that you make, you have
to realize don't just affect you, they affect the people
you love the most, and that's your family. And I
had four daughters, so it was it was a difficult
thing that I did, and it changed their lives forever.
But I've been very fortunate that I've been able to
(18:46):
rebuild my life and they're all successful and well. And
I'm a guy that was able to, you know, you know,
do better and learn from my mistakes. And you know,
it's tough because a lot of people aren't given that
opportun me.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
But I'm pretty fortunate, all right, Tim, listen, I appreciate
your honesty, transparency. Thank you for your time, and again
it's the story is just fascinating and we'll continue to
monitor the officiating in these NBA playoffs. But Tim, again,
we'll have to do it again sometime sooner or later.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Thank you, got.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Buddy, all right, Tim Donahey right here on MJ in
the mid day, you can tell I mean, listen, the
guy's gone through everything and someone tried to, you know,
to beat the crap and whack them in federal prison.
At this point, there's no reason to lie there. You have,
you know, no course and and and any motivation to lie.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
But he emits that he made mistakes.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
I believe there are more refs though that beside him
and Dick Bavetta, who he mentioned that that gambled on sports.
I don't know who they are or who they were,
but I believe that there certainly are more. But that
is just one of those fascinating stories to me that
you just never think because those guys make great money.
But uh man crazy all right? Coming up next a
(20:09):
marriage and no prenup. Find out what this star is risking.
He's risky at all. Next on MJ in the Midday
Sports Radio ninety three to three KJR FM. Free Agent
unrestricted free agent text line four nine four five to one.
You can always leave us a voice text as well
if you want. You know where to do it. iHeartRadio
(20:31):
app New and Improved and to go to ninety three
to three kjar hit the microphone icon button. Just it's
amazing that something like that could have happened on the
highest level. So wedding bells were in the air over
the weekend for the newest draft pick, Travis Hunter of
(20:52):
the Jacksonville Jaguars. So he married a woman named Leanna
Leney and they had this huge wedding in Tennessee. Unbelievable.
He gifted her a two hundred thousand dollars Mercedes, like
(21:16):
absolutely beautiful suv, but it's an actual AMG G sixty
three Brabus eight hundred unbelievable, Like this thing is worth,
you know, a lot of money. What a lot of
people are having issues with is the fact that the
(21:40):
reigning Heisman Trophy winner decided to get married without a prenup. Now,
there are also some things on social media that showed
that last year that were there was some alleged infidelity
on behalf of his new bride, and Travishunter just didn't care.
(22:02):
He did it and didn't go with the with the
prenup to protect himself financially. I figure that true love
has got to be about just that true love, right,
It's got to be about something that has nothing to
do with money. Even though he gave her an over
two hundred thousand dollars Mercedes Benz AMGG sixty three. All
(22:25):
that being said, I wish them nothing but the best.
I hope it works out. But man, Travis, everyone's trying
to look out for you. You are you are worth
a lot of money. You're gonna make even more money.
And if things don't work out in this marriage, man,
you want to be protected. That's what lawyers are for.
(22:48):
This is what lawyers do. But I wonder why he
did not go want to go through with the prenup.
I wonder why, Like most athletes are gonna put that
in there, they're gonna do it, he didn't, especially with
allegedly that I guess her name is Leanna Dela Fuente,
(23:11):
that she you know he didn't want to do it.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
I'm a little concerned, just to say the least.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
When you're worth that much money and you're gonna make
that much money, I mean, I'm a little concerned for him.
He'll be okay, No, he'll be fine. He's gonna make
his money and even.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
If it does end, it won't be the end all
be all. You lose some, you win some, you lose money.
He's gonna make it hand over fist if he does
he needs to do on the field. Yeah, he's looking
at it because he's in love. And I'm sure maybe
his family was thinking, hey, man, get a prenup. Maybe
they didn't, maybe they agree with the decision.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Oh I can guarantee you the family did not agree
with the decision.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
Well we won't know, but what that's the agreement that
they have established. All you can do is, like you mentioned,
wish him.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
I know, I know, and uh, you know, it's just
there's a lot going on there.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
And I mean, listen, man, I wish the best. He
is in love.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
But when you've got that, you know, you know the rapper, Uh,
you know the rapper Cameron, right, he said quote to
try to hit you with that, ish, why get a prenup?
If you really love me, do what you want, Travis.
This is what he said. That's up to you. I'm
(24:36):
signing a prenup unless Shorty getting as much money as
I get or more than me. If you're not getting
more than me, you have to sign a prenup. It
just works that way for me.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
And Cam is one hundred percent and tied to that.
We know how Cam gets down, so it don't surprise
me one bit.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Yep, Yeah, I wish him luck.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
I mean, it's you know, it's something that it sparked
a lot of controversy, and hey, man, you love.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
What you think he does now is gonna, oh yeah,
spark something. I know Unfortunately for him.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
We're just trying to protect that money, man, That's all
we're trying to do. Protect that money. And like he said,
I mean, you know, it's interesting when Tom Brady. A
lot of people talked about when Tom Brady married Gizelle. Oh,
Gizelle's you know, she went after Tom Brady for his money.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
She actually had more money in the bank than he did. Yeah,
I don't.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
I don't know what this young lady does or how
much money she makes. Well, she ain't Gazelle.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
She wasn't Victoria's secret supermodel who made more money than Gizelle.
Gazelle's like you want to compare assets and bank accounts.
I got more money than you do.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
So you know that. Do you understand that? You you know,
that's fine.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
She might not. She might be a girl that leaves
and takes nothing. I don't know how often that is.
I don't have the stat to say.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
I would highly doubt that. I would you know, it's
a weird that when Kim Kardashian married Kanye, she she
did it where she was, she got everything, like she
knew that this thing's probably gonna end. You're gonna go, Craig, Hey,
I'm out of here. She got paid on that. I'm like, Kim, man,
how much more money can you make? But it's interesting.
(26:08):
I wish him the best, But fellas out there, when
you're making a lot of money, man, hmm, protect that money.
You gotta do it some way, somehow. It doesn't mean
that you love your significant other any less. Just protect
your money long term. Just do what We've seen these
stories time and time again, Paul McCartney, and it's happened
(26:31):
so many times, you know. But oh well, I wish
him luck. It is what it is. But Cameron, you know,
I mean, you know, that's what he had to say,
all right. Coming up next, Caitlyn Clark Angel Reese the
hottest rivalry in sports, and somebody praises Caitlyn Clark and somebody,
(26:55):
let's just say, might be surprised. You completely absolutely throws
Angel Reese under the bus.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Who is it.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
We'll get to that next on MJ and The Midday
Sports Radio ninety three to three KJR FM. I know, everybody,
you just you better brace for it. The Oklahoma City
are going to the NBA Finals. It's not a matter
of if, it's a matter of when. They'll probably close
it out in Okay c on tomorrow. They'll probably close
it out. It's over.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
So they're gonna go to the NBA Finals.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
They're gonna have They're gonna be the prohibitive favorite no
matter who they face, either the Pacers or the nixt
they will be the favorite to win it all.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
So I know this is not a good time for
Sonics fans. It sucks.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
But do you notice in the sports update did you
notice one thing what I said? I said, this is
the Thud. This could be the thunder second appearance in
the NBA Finals. I don't count them as being part
of Seattle. I don't count that the Sonics went to
three NBA Finals twice against the Bullets in the late
(28:01):
seventies and then of course against the Bulls in nineteen
ninety six, so I'm not counting that towards Oklahoma City.
This would be their second NBA Finals. But they're going.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
They're going.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
I mean, last night, Minnesota out like they And here's
the amazing thing about it, to a Minnesota the two
probably best players of Minnesota, Anthony Edwards and Julius Randall,
had twenty one points combined, and.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
They should have won. They should have won.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
They outscored like they outplayed him in every fats of
the game. But they couldn't stop as she A and
Jalen Williams and chet Holmgren.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Is a beast man.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
That dude is like, oh my lord, this guy is
just next level. So I hate to say it, but
it looks like it's going to happen.
Speaker 5 (28:50):
You know.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
The rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese sparked another
rivalry that actually became very uncomfortable for so many people,
between Ryan Clark and RG three well. Ari Spears, one
(29:12):
of the eric to be Airy Spears funny comedian, does
a great jay Z impression.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
Airy Spears comes out and.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
Let's just say, probably surprisingly a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
I'll let him take it away.
Speaker 5 (29:32):
Your boy A Spears right here, Hey man, listen, I
want to address this whole Caitlin Clark Angela ree S thing.
Black people, I love you, but for the love of God,
knock it off. Stop making this about race or it
be your own people while you're going after the sister, Hey,
this is not about race. Let's play the race card
(29:53):
and save it from when we really need it to
say it about race.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
This is about ball. Who's good and who's not.
Speaker 5 (30:00):
It's about run is good and the other one is
hot garbage.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
All right.
Speaker 5 (30:04):
Caitlyn Clark is bananas. Angel Reese is gobbage. And maybe
if she cared more about putting time in the gym
instead of trying to be a runway model and be cute,
we wouldn't have this conversation.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
Wow, saying let's save the race thing for another time
when we need it. That's what he said.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
I'm not gonna call Angel Reese garbage. He's got a
lot to improve, There's no question about it. I saw
a statistic about her this year. She's it's having a
horrific shooting season and she's nowhere near the player that
Caitlin Clark is in the NBA.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
Let's just let's just call it for what it is.
She's not.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
But it's amazing how this rivalry and the emotions that
it stirred up with people, and how people want to
go out there and then it becomes very personal. And
she's shooting thirty six percent. Shear from the field, Angel Reese,
and there's a meme that's out there. It's kind of funny,
(31:07):
says Angel Reese, thirty five point seven percent from the field.
She's trying to actually make shots. John day Porter thirty
eight point five percent from the field. He was trying
to purposely misshots. He's shooting higher than she did, and
(31:27):
he wanted to miss on purpose because of the gambling situation.
Oh boy, when I read that, you know what, it
hits me. There's always a question that you leave on
the table. There's always one question. And the question that
for me that I'm thinking of right now is the
(31:48):
interview I just had with Tim Donnahey, why didn't I
ask him about John Tay Porter? Oh?
Speaker 1 (31:54):
I had everything that I.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
And oh man, because I was you know what, you
never think of an athlete that can be compromised, right.
You used to think of like a college athlete, like, okay,
we can get to those guys. But I never think
of a pro athlete because these guys are making so
much money, why would you risk everything? But John day
Porter got into it, man, he got into it.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
And I I m oh, why did not ask HI
about John day Porter?
Speaker 2 (32:24):
That dude threw his career away for real, he's done,
Like he's never gonna They're never gonna let him back
in the league.
Speaker 4 (32:29):
You think his kid's a good chance. If he has
a kid, you think they'd banned the kid too.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
No, Michael Porter Junior, his brother. You know, I'm surprised.
But then again, Michael Porter had none to do with it.
So you know, you know, everybody, everybody's different. Michael Porter
was that's crazy. You get that greedy.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
But I mean kids you're making you're making like.
Speaker 4 (32:49):
In four hundred thousand, maybe more than that. Yeah, I'm
making half a mill That's what I'm saying, like all
the way because you wanted to make more.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
I I just it doesn't make sense.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
You always got to look at the risk versus reward, right,
That's how we measure things risk reward, And for John
day Porter, it's like, man, the like the reward was
so much lower than the risk. Yeah, in twenty twenty one,
he actually so over three seasons, he made two point
three million dollars, So he was baking, you know, like
(33:23):
seven and a half, seven hundred and fifty grand a year.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
That's good money, it's great money.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
And man, Jesus, dude, like, what are you doing two
point three million over three seasons?
Speaker 1 (33:37):
That'll you know?
Speaker 2 (33:38):
And he had with the Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors
and now it's all on. So I don't get it.
And you never would think that a professional athlete can
be compromised because they're making so much money. You would
never think that all we can get to those guys. Listen, man,
I believe there's an element that they can get to anybody.
(34:01):
And remember Pete Rose, I mean he was, you know,
a player manager and he was betting on baseball as
a player manager in nineteen eighty five for the Cincinnati Reads.
So you never think it can happen. But you never
know what's going on behind closed doors. That's what somebody said.
Somebody once said to me one time, kid, They said,
(34:22):
you never know what's going on behind someone's closed doors.
And you never truly know what's going on in someone's
world unless you walk in their shoes. You don't know.
You don't know what they're going through. So sometimes it's like,
you know, you just gotta all kids out there not
to be a PSA. Don't bully anybody because you never
know what that person's going through, and you never know
(34:44):
when that person can't take it any more, and they're
just gonna don't bully anybody.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
No bullying, none, zero.
Speaker 4 (34:50):
I like Chris Rock what he said, What do you
say in some scenarios, we do need more bullies because
some of the stuff these kids get away with. It's like,
if you're a bully, you wouldn't do that. Are you
just wouldn't do that? But because to your point, bullies
have now created a whole other monster. People are afraid
of that. But back in the day, you needed bullies
(35:11):
because you knew how to act.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
Well, I see what he's saying. It's different, it's different
from that different.
Speaker 4 (35:16):
Yeah, it's a different climate.
Speaker 1 (35:17):
But he was like, bring back bullies exactly. He could
get away with that. I not say that. I don't
want any bullies.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
I don't want and especially now with social media, man,
you don't want they don't want kids going through that.
It's it's it's so much worse when I was a kid. Man,
I don't you know. I don't want kids going through that.
And social media. You've seen Netflix I've seen Netflix documentaries.
These kids they you know, it's it's led to ultimately,
like I've seen girls. I saw Netflix documentaries that they
got bullied so bad by mean girls in high school
(35:45):
and they ended up, you know, taking their lives.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
You don't want that.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
Nobody wants that. We don't want bullies in the society.
We don't need it. But yeah, and and the one
more thing too. On sports, Gilbert Rius admits and and
Lisa emits it now he's like he was a bully
towards Javaris Crittinton. That's where Javar's Crtinton's nap, like, you
don't mess with someone from the you know, the a
especially from South Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
And Javar's Critin's like, yo, this guy doesn't know. And
I couldn't believe. And I watched a documentary.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
Spoiler alert here, but uh, Gilbertarinez brought two guns in
and put them in Javar's Critinton's locker. That's when I said, okay, man,
like come on, man, enough's enough.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
All right?
Speaker 2 (36:25):
Coming up next to Mariners, how much do we glean
from this series loss against Houston?
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Is it still the team that blew a ten game lead?
A year ago. Is that team still there right now?
Speaker 2 (36:38):
Chelsea James, national baseball reporter, will join us next on
MJ in the midday
Is this Why is officiating?
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Like There's so many thing that I'll get to about
your life, but let's just start with the current product.
Every time I watch the NBA, especially in the playoffs,
I see inconsistency. Why is the officiating at an all
time low and continuing to get worse?
Speaker 3 (00:19):
You know, I think it's a situation where, you know,
the referees are referring the names from the front and
the back of the jerseys rather than the fauts and
violations out as they occur in the court. And when
you do that, you know, you're you're worried about who
you're calling the sal on and at what time of
the game, and instead of just officiating you know what's
(00:40):
taking place out on the floor, and it causes a
lot of you know, difficult situations for the officials, and
it just causes a lot of inconsistencies, and it's what
makes the fans and the coaches and the players really, uh,
you know, frustrated, because you know, it's one thing that
have a call go against but it's another thing when
(01:01):
you go down the other end of the floor and
it goes against you again. Because there's no consistency in
how they're calling the game. So h it's one of
the most frustrating things for the fans and the players
and the coaches when the officiating goes that way.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
So, Tim, let's get to your career and what year
were you in as a referee when you started to
bet on sports.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I think it was pretty much from two thousand and seven,
two thousand and six, two thousand and five, you know
time frame. My last three years in the league. I
got into a situation where I was just gambling, you know,
each and every day, whether it was on the golf course,
at the casinos or uh, you know, betting on sports,
and you know, it spilled over in no situation where
(01:48):
I had inside information on what was going on with
the officiating and the relationships that existed between the referees
and players, referees and coaches and even owners, and how
those positive and negative relationships spilled out onto the floor
and affected the point spread. And I took that information
and I, you know, guessed along the people that were
(02:08):
associated with the organized crime and you know, made millions
of dollars for you know people, and got caught over
at Gambino wire tap, and you know, I spent fifteen
months in a federal person.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Fascinating.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Phil Scallaw, the FBI special agent who worked the Gambino case,
did the forward in your book and it is a
must read. But why, I guess the question is, you're
making good money. Okay, you're making really good money. You're
getting flown around the country. Uld imagine that the referee
stay in posh five star hotels.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Why did you let that?
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Cause you were like, I mean, listen, I remember you
won them prominent referees along with Steve Javi. What what
led you to go down that path?
Speaker 3 (02:53):
You know, weakness? Basically, you know, I had a flaw
in my character that allowed me to cross the line
that I shouldn't have been near. And you know, I
wish I could turn back time and not have done it,
But you know, I got caught up in the whole
facet of gambling and the excitement that and high that
it gave me that I, you know, started to do
things that you, you know, wouldn't really think that you
(03:14):
would do being a person that had a terrific job
making hundreds of thousands of dollars, running up and down
the floor with the greatest athletes in the world. So
you know, I wish I had the answer to the
question of you know, why did you do it? But
you know, unfortunately it was just a flaw that I had,
and I wish I had not done it. But you know,
I can't turn back time, and if I could, I'd
(03:34):
be still running up and down the court with you know,
the greatest athletes in the world during the playoffs right now.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
And you'd probably be doing a lot better job than
most of the referees that are doing it right now.
Tim Donnay right here on MJ in the Midday Sports
Radio ninety three to three kJ R F M No I.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
You know, we laugh, but I'm not joking. I mean,
I literally mean that.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
I mean, you know, don't even get me started, because
I'm a gambler too, and you know, and I'm and
I'm one of those people that you know, I mean,
it's just it bothers me when I see inconsistency. But
with that being said, you how many games if you
could equate Remember, I'm sure you you might have a
rough estimate. How many games did you ref that you
(04:15):
personally bet on?
Speaker 3 (04:19):
You know, this was going back fifteen years. Uh, you know,
there was you know, over one hundred games. You know,
I had information that uh, you know, I passed along
to people that you know, from meetings that I was in,
and you know, basically cross that line that you wouldn't
think somebody would with the job that I had. So,
(04:40):
you know, more than you could ever imagine, more than
I'd like to admit. So yeah, you know, it's a
situation where you know, I did it and hopefully you know,
other people can learn from the poor choices that I
made and making sure that you stay on the straight
and arrow and go down that right road.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Yeah, I mean, you've been nothing but transparent.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
So let me let's just say, like hypothetically, you're you're
referring you know, I don't know the Nixon Bulls back
then in the you know, the mid to late two thousands,
neither team was good, or maybe you were referring you know,
who knows the Celtics at the time, regardless if you
you know, let's just say took the Celtics minus five
(05:20):
and a half over the Knicks, and the Knicks were
you know, playing above and beyond their talent, which certainly
at that time was tough to do. They were one
of the worst teams in the NBA, Would you make
calls on purpose that would just sort of make it
to make sure that you and the guys that you
gave information to would be on the right side to
(05:42):
win their bets.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
You know, And that's a great question, and that's what
was you know, hard for the FBI to understand at first,
how I wasn't going after and making calls to make
sure that these bets won. But the bottom line was
is that when we had a meeting in the morning,
I knew what the league wanted us to call on
any given situation out on that floor that night, and
I knew who was that was going to affect and
(06:06):
who it was going to hurt. And I knew that
the three officials were going to go out and do that.
And you know, was I out on the floor making
calls up to send star players to the bench so
a bet would win, No, And you know, I was
so lucky that with the information I had, we were
winning at eighty percent of the time. So when you
know a loss or two ever, you know, came into effect,
(06:29):
you know, it wasn't something that you know, bothered me
or bothered anyone that was involved in this, because we
were winning at such a high rate.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
That's unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Now, the plot line was for you know, the NBA
wanted to paint you in David Stern is some rogue
gambling addicted of Rafu who made bets on some of
his own games. But after they conducted their own investigation,
they conclude They concluded the NBA you did not fix games.
They concluded that, but around the league, you know, the
(07:00):
suspicions out there, so and so where you admit that, Hey, yeah,
I might have made some calls out there for you
and your partners. Now, can I just one of the
things that's the most unbelievable thing that I just don't believe.
I don't believe that you were the only one at
that time. I just don't believe it. I believe there
were other officials. But the NBA said, Okay, we're gonna
(07:22):
isolate him. He's the one guy and we're gonna go
after him. Were you the only one that you knew
of doing it?
Speaker 3 (07:31):
I'm the only one that I knew of. But I
will tell you this, The FBI told me that there
were seven or eight other officials that they wanted to indict,
and it got shut down at the highest level. So
with that being said, I wasn't privy to everything that
cooked Blake. And they also said that they wanted to
indict David Stern for obstruction of justice for leaking the
story out to the press so that all the other
(07:53):
referees knew not to speak to me, so that they
couldn't run any more wire taps or anything on anybody.
So I think, you know, the investigation got shut down
at the highest level. And David Stern was always one
step ahead of everybody when it came to two different things,
and he was smart enough to leak the story to
the press so that nobody would speak to me.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Unbelievable, this is I'm just learning of this now. I
maybe I knew it back then, but it doesn't surprise.
So they said they had seven or eight more refs
that they were about to investigate or indict that.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
They were investigating, and that they had done stuff that
you know, they thought, could you know, warrant and arrest,
And for some reason everything got shut down at the
highest level. And I will tell you this. There was
a guy by the name of Greg Andres who was
in charge of the Eastern District of New York and
the prosecution Department, and two months after I went to jail,
(08:48):
he left that job took a job doing all the
outside legal counsel work for the NBA. So he went
from making probably two hundred grand a year to over
a million. So it's just a lot of shady stuff
went on. And you know a lot of that stuff,
you know, was known by you know, Netflix and you
know different people that you know did documentaries on the story,
(09:10):
and for some reason it was always left out of
the story.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Fascinating, unbelievable. Now, one of the guys that is in
question is still currently reffing in the NBA and there
apparently they had trace phone calls of you and him
at halftime of games. Is Scott Foster. Do you know
that Scott Foster bet on games when you were an official?
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Not that I'm aware of. He was a very good
friend of mine. We talked on the phone all the time,
and you know, unfortunately his name was dragged through the
mud because of his association with me. And you know,
I will say that he liked the gamble, We liked
the gamble, But for me to say he was gambling
on NBA games is something that you know, I'm not
going to say because it's not something that I know interesting.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Who were when you look at the guys out there,
that's and you don't have to name names of the
former officials. But when the FBI told you that there
was about seven guys they were investigating and they were
possibly about to indict, did they tell you the names?
Speaker 3 (10:13):
They did? They showed me pictures of them and they
would ask me what else I knew about them? And
you know, Dick Bavetta was one of those guys. Divetta
went around his go to guy. He was put on
Game sixes to make sure they went to a Game seven.
But the way that you know, the FBI explained to
me at the end of each NBA telecast, it says
(10:34):
at the bottom, NBA a form of entertainment, uh, you know,
produced by NBA Entertainment. So with that, they could put
those games on and do whatever they want in those
games and they're not, you know, liable. It's just like
pro wrestling. They can do whatever they.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Want fair enough, fair enough. Which anybody else besides Dick
Bavetta that you remember.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Uh, there were yeah, there were other few, but not
none that I really want to throw out there. Other
than him, because it was very obvious that, you know,
he did that, and how he got away with doing
what he did for all those years and actually ended
up in the Basketball Hall of Fame is actually comical
to me.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Oh my my lord, you gotta be kidding me. We're
talking to Tim Donnie. You got to read if you
ever want to read a sports book, that's just jaw dropping.
Personal foully first person account of the scandal that rocked
the NBA became a Netflix documentary in the Untold series
as well, So you need to check that out. He
got inducted into the Hall of Fame. Yeah, go figure.
(11:35):
So that being said, who were I know you hated
you had this thing against Rashid Wallace, you and him?
Speaker 1 (11:42):
What was the issue there? Was?
Speaker 2 (11:44):
He just this guy that I mean, he gave a
lot of reps a hard time, but you and him
seriously got into it all the time. What was it
about Rashid Wallas that drew your ire?
Speaker 3 (11:54):
I think it was just a situation where every referee
had a personality conflict with a player, and he ended
up being one that I always had a problem with.
And you know, it was actually funny every time I
refereed one of his games. We'd sit in the locker
room before the game and we all bet twenty five
dollars to see who the first person was that could
give him a technical foul. So, you know, he was
(12:16):
just somebody that was extremely difficult, you know, to get
along with out on the floor. He had a competitive nature.
I think that just you know, went above and beyond
when he stepped in between those lines. But you know,
I've since talked to him several times, you know, after
we both retired, and you know, he's definitely, you know,
(12:37):
somebody that has a cooler head outside of the game
than when he was on the floor.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Unbelievable. What about coaches?
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Was there a coach that you just had a disdain
for and he didn't like you as well.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Yeah, George Carr was a guy that was just impossible
to get along with. And you know, I never forget
I had him in Philadelphia when he was a coach
of the Milwaukee BUCKSI believe it was, and you know,
it was a double overtime game and he was just
on me from the beginning of the game to the end.
And it was a close game. So it was never
the opportunity to give him that technical foul near the
(13:12):
end because you didn't want to decide the game based
on a technical foul. And I'll never forget walking into
the locker room after that game in Philadelphia, I Saud
I have him in two weeks, and the minute he opened.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
His mouth, you know, I'm going to throw him out
of the game.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
And the game was in Indiana, and I think right
near the end of the first quarter he started giving
me some grief and I immediately threw him out of
the game. So you know, he even made a comment
in the newspaper that you know that wasn't anything that
took place tonight, that was paid back for something that
happened in a previous game. So you know he knew
what I did, and you know it was a situation
(13:46):
where I have to do it. I have to draw
a line in the sand because you would never leave
me alone. But from that point forward, he never gave
me a hard time again.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Tim Donnie on m Jane The Midday, and I'm quoting
here an article from ESPN and just says there are
many misconceptions about the Tim Donahey scandal. Perhaps the greatest
is this that donahe was the ref who colluded with
gamblers on NBA games for one disgraceful season. That is incorrect.
According to a Core document, Donahe and uh mister Kuncannon
(14:16):
placed their first bet on a game. Donahee was referring
in March two thousand and three, more than four years
and four NBA seasons before you were caught. It said
you started small, and that first March you bet on
two or three games. But the next season the volume
rose sharply. You made between thirty and forty wages on
games that you worked, and you the same with the
(14:38):
season after that and the one after that.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Is that true?
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Absolutely? Yes, for sure. You know, started out small, and
gradually we got a little bit deeper and deeper until
you know, I just didn't feel comfortable doing it anymore. Yeah.
I don't know what the exact numbers are, but that
seems very reasonable.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
And do was there ever a game that you and
you know, the guys that you told that, hey, you
want to go this way but it didn't cover.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Yeah? I mean we well, like I said, we want
eighty percent of the time, but there were times where
you know, we would lose and uh, you know, uh yeah,
it was a situation where from time to time we
would lose a game. You know, you get somebody on
the other team that just gets hot from behind a
three point line and you think that it's going to
go one way and it just goes totally the opposite way.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
What was it like to ref Michael Jordan? How what
was your relationship like with him?
Speaker 3 (15:30):
You know, good relationship with him. He was, you know,
a top athlete in the league, always professional, and if
he had a situation where he needed to talk to you,
it was never in an embarrassing manner. He would always,
you know, just wait and talk to you doing a
free throw or walking out during a time out. So
it was a situation where he was, you know, true
professional most of the time and just very competitive.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
And when you look at the league today, do you
believe now with the legalized gambling, do you think that
I mean, I think you approved. I'm just saying, do
you would you be shocked if you found out that
referees in the NBA are placing bets?
Speaker 3 (16:08):
You know, I think it's a situation where gambling has
become so relevant. Uh you know, you know, are they
placing bets? I'm sure they're placing bets because you know,
when I was there, it was fifty eight out of
sixty referees gambled. You know, are they placing bets on
NBA games? You know, I would hope not. I hope
that they have learned from my situation, but you know,
I'm not there and I don't know, so I think
(16:30):
that that is something that maybe we'll find out in
the future.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Wow, you said fifty is sixty. That's crazy. So obviously
you've learned your lesson and you served your time. When
you were in federal prison, though, did anyone come after you?
Did anyone you know, because you know, did anyone you know,
because you're sitting here and you obviously telling here's what
I did. And some people might have viewed you as
a quote rat, But did anyone try to get at
(16:55):
you in federal prison?
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Yeah? For sure. You know it was difficult because you know,
everyone's in jail on a lot of people are in
jail because of somebody that cooperated against them, and you know,
I was labeled a rat. And you know, there was
one guy that claimed to be associated with crime families
in New York and took a paint rolling poll, and
you know, whacked me on my knee a couple of times.
I've had, you know, two operations to try to alleviate
(17:19):
the paint from that attack. And you know, it was
just you know, another instance where you know, unfortunately I
made my bed and I had to lie in it
and that was a situation that took place because of
the poor choices I made.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Wow, that's horrible, man, did it? Whatever happened to that guy?
Did you get in trouble for doing that? And you know,
basically whacking you on your knee.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
He got additional time. He was shackled and handcuffed, thrown
in a van and sent to a more secure prison
and you know, added more time onto a sentence. So
it was something I'm sure he probably regretted after he
did it.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Unbelievable before he let you go, Tim Donnahey and check
out the book on Amazon dot com Personal Foul at
first person account of the scandal that rocked the NBA.
What's the biggest thing that you learned from the totality
of your experience after serving time in prison, being completely
(18:13):
banned by the NBA and everything, Like one guy, I
would believe that did you ever cross paths with would
be the late great Pete Rose.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Did you ever come across him?
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Actually I didn't. But you know, if I learned anything
from this whole experience is that choices are so important life,
you know, and those choices that you make, you have
to realize don't just affect you, they affect the people
you love the most, and that's your family. And I
had four daughters, so it was it was a difficult
thing that I did, and it changed their lives forever.
But I've been very fortunate that I've been able to
(18:46):
rebuild my life and they're all successful and well. And
I'm a guy that was able to, you know, you know,
do better and learn from my mistakes. And you know,
it's tough because a lot of people aren't given that
opportun me.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
But I'm pretty fortunate, all right, Tim, listen, I appreciate
your honesty, transparency. Thank you for your time, and again
it's the story is just fascinating and we'll continue to
monitor the officiating in these NBA playoffs. But Tim, again,
we'll have to do it again sometime sooner or later.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Thank you, got.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Buddy, all right, Tim Donahey right here on MJ in
the mid day, you can tell I mean, listen, the
guy's gone through everything and someone tried to, you know,
to beat the crap and whack them in federal prison.
At this point, there's no reason to lie there. You have,
you know, no course and and and any motivation to lie.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
But he emits that he made mistakes.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
I believe there are more refs though that beside him
and Dick Bavetta, who he mentioned that that gambled on sports.
I don't know who they are or who they were,
but I believe that there certainly are more. But that
is just one of those fascinating stories to me that
you just never think because those guys make great money.
But uh man crazy all right? Coming up next a
(20:09):
marriage and no prenup. Find out what this star is risking.
He's risky at all. Next on MJ in the Midday
Sports Radio ninety three to three KJR FM. Free Agent
unrestricted free agent text line four nine four five to one.
You can always leave us a voice text as well
if you want. You know where to do it. iHeartRadio
(20:31):
app New and Improved and to go to ninety three
to three kjar hit the microphone icon button. Just it's
amazing that something like that could have happened on the
highest level. So wedding bells were in the air over
the weekend for the newest draft pick, Travis Hunter of
(20:52):
the Jacksonville Jaguars. So he married a woman named Leanna
Leney and they had this huge wedding in Tennessee. Unbelievable.
He gifted her a two hundred thousand dollars Mercedes, like
(21:16):
absolutely beautiful suv, but it's an actual AMG G sixty
three Brabus eight hundred unbelievable, Like this thing is worth,
you know, a lot of money. What a lot of
people are having issues with is the fact that the
(21:40):
reigning Heisman Trophy winner decided to get married without a prenup. Now,
there are also some things on social media that showed
that last year that were there was some alleged infidelity
on behalf of his new bride, and Travishunter just didn't care.
(22:02):
He did it and didn't go with the with the
prenup to protect himself financially. I figure that true love
has got to be about just that true love, right,
It's got to be about something that has nothing to
do with money. Even though he gave her an over
two hundred thousand dollars Mercedes Benz AMGG sixty three. All
(22:25):
that being said, I wish them nothing but the best.
I hope it works out. But man, Travis, everyone's trying
to look out for you. You are you are worth
a lot of money. You're gonna make even more money.
And if things don't work out in this marriage, man,
you want to be protected. That's what lawyers are for.
(22:48):
This is what lawyers do. But I wonder why he
did not go want to go through with the prenup.
I wonder why, Like most athletes are gonna put that
in there, they're gonna do it, he didn't, especially with
allegedly that I guess her name is Leanna Dela Fuente,
(23:11):
that she you know he didn't want to do it.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
I'm a little concerned, just to say the least.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
When you're worth that much money and you're gonna make
that much money, I mean, I'm a little concerned for him.
He'll be okay, No, he'll be fine. He's gonna make
his money and even.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
If it does end, it won't be the end all
be all. You lose some, you win some, you lose money.
He's gonna make it hand over fist if he does
he needs to do on the field. Yeah, he's looking
at it because he's in love. And I'm sure maybe
his family was thinking, hey, man, get a prenup. Maybe
they didn't, maybe they agree with the decision.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Oh I can guarantee you the family did not agree
with the decision.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
Well we won't know, but what that's the agreement that
they have established. All you can do is, like you mentioned,
wish him.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
I know, I know, and uh, you know, it's just
there's a lot going on there.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
And I mean, listen, man, I wish the best. He
is in love.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
But when you've got that, you know, you know the rapper, Uh,
you know the rapper Cameron, right, he said quote to
try to hit you with that, ish, why get a prenup?
If you really love me, do what you want, Travis.
This is what he said. That's up to you. I'm
(24:36):
signing a prenup unless Shorty getting as much money as
I get or more than me. If you're not getting
more than me, you have to sign a prenup. It
just works that way for me.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
And Cam is one hundred percent and tied to that.
We know how Cam gets down, so it don't surprise
me one bit.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Yep, Yeah, I wish him luck.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
I mean, it's you know, it's something that it sparked
a lot of controversy, and hey, man, you love.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
What you think he does now is gonna, oh yeah,
spark something. I know Unfortunately for him.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
We're just trying to protect that money, man, That's all
we're trying to do. Protect that money. And like he said,
I mean, you know, it's interesting when Tom Brady. A
lot of people talked about when Tom Brady married Gizelle. Oh,
Gizelle's you know, she went after Tom Brady for his money.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
She actually had more money in the bank than he did. Yeah,
I don't.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
I don't know what this young lady does or how
much money she makes. Well, she ain't Gazelle.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
She wasn't Victoria's secret supermodel who made more money than Gizelle.
Gazelle's like you want to compare assets and bank accounts.
I got more money than you do.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
So you know that. Do you understand that? You you know,
that's fine.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
She might not. She might be a girl that leaves
and takes nothing. I don't know how often that is.
I don't have the stat to say.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
I would highly doubt that. I would you know, it's
a weird that when Kim Kardashian married Kanye, she she
did it where she was, she got everything, like she
knew that this thing's probably gonna end. You're gonna go, Craig, Hey,
I'm out of here. She got paid on that. I'm like, Kim, man,
how much more money can you make? But it's interesting.
(26:08):
I wish him the best, But fellas out there, when
you're making a lot of money, man, hmm, protect that money.
You gotta do it some way, somehow. It doesn't mean
that you love your significant other any less. Just protect
your money long term. Just do what We've seen these
stories time and time again, Paul McCartney, and it's happened
(26:31):
so many times, you know. But oh well, I wish
him luck. It is what it is. But Cameron, you know,
I mean, you know, that's what he had to say,
all right. Coming up next, Caitlyn Clark Angel Reese the
hottest rivalry in sports, and somebody praises Caitlyn Clark and somebody,
(26:55):
let's just say, might be surprised. You completely absolutely throws
Angel Reese under the bus.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Who is it.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
We'll get to that next on MJ and The Midday
Sports Radio ninety three to three KJR FM. I know, everybody,
you just you better brace for it. The Oklahoma City
are going to the NBA Finals. It's not a matter
of if, it's a matter of when. They'll probably close
it out in Okay c on tomorrow. They'll probably close
it out. It's over.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
So they're gonna go to the NBA Finals.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
They're gonna have They're gonna be the prohibitive favorite no
matter who they face, either the Pacers or the nixt
they will be the favorite to win it all.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
So I know this is not a good time for
Sonics fans. It sucks.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
But do you notice in the sports update did you
notice one thing what I said? I said, this is
the Thud. This could be the thunder second appearance in
the NBA Finals. I don't count them as being part
of Seattle. I don't count that the Sonics went to
three NBA Finals twice against the Bullets in the late
(28:01):
seventies and then of course against the Bulls in nineteen
ninety six, so I'm not counting that towards Oklahoma City.
This would be their second NBA Finals. But they're going.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
They're going.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
I mean, last night, Minnesota out like they And here's
the amazing thing about it, to a Minnesota the two
probably best players of Minnesota, Anthony Edwards and Julius Randall,
had twenty one points combined, and.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
They should have won. They should have won.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
They outscored like they outplayed him in every fats of
the game. But they couldn't stop as she A and
Jalen Williams and chet Holmgren.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Is a beast man.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
That dude is like, oh my lord, this guy is
just next level. So I hate to say it, but
it looks like it's going to happen.
Speaker 5 (28:50):
You know.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
The rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese sparked another
rivalry that actually became very uncomfortable for so many people,
between Ryan Clark and RG three well. Ari Spears, one
(29:12):
of the eric to be Airy Spears funny comedian, does
a great jay Z impression.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
Airy Spears comes out and.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
Let's just say, probably surprisingly a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
I'll let him take it away.
Speaker 5 (29:32):
Your boy A Spears right here, Hey man, listen, I
want to address this whole Caitlin Clark Angela ree S thing.
Black people, I love you, but for the love of God,
knock it off. Stop making this about race or it
be your own people while you're going after the sister, Hey,
this is not about race. Let's play the race card
(29:53):
and save it from when we really need it to
say it about race.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
This is about ball. Who's good and who's not.
Speaker 5 (30:00):
It's about run is good and the other one is
hot garbage.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
All right.
Speaker 5 (30:04):
Caitlyn Clark is bananas. Angel Reese is gobbage. And maybe
if she cared more about putting time in the gym
instead of trying to be a runway model and be cute,
we wouldn't have this conversation.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
Wow, saying let's save the race thing for another time
when we need it. That's what he said.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
I'm not gonna call Angel Reese garbage. He's got a
lot to improve, There's no question about it. I saw
a statistic about her this year. She's it's having a
horrific shooting season and she's nowhere near the player that
Caitlin Clark is in the NBA.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
Let's just let's just call it for what it is.
She's not.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
But it's amazing how this rivalry and the emotions that
it stirred up with people, and how people want to
go out there and then it becomes very personal. And
she's shooting thirty six percent. Shear from the field, Angel Reese,
and there's a meme that's out there. It's kind of funny,
(31:07):
says Angel Reese, thirty five point seven percent from the field.
She's trying to actually make shots. John day Porter thirty
eight point five percent from the field. He was trying
to purposely misshots. He's shooting higher than she did, and
(31:27):
he wanted to miss on purpose because of the gambling situation.
Oh boy, when I read that, you know what, it
hits me. There's always a question that you leave on
the table. There's always one question. And the question that
for me that I'm thinking of right now is the
(31:48):
interview I just had with Tim Donnahey, why didn't I
ask him about John Tay Porter? Oh?
Speaker 1 (31:54):
I had everything that I.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
And oh man, because I was you know what, you
never think of an athlete that can be compromised, right.
You used to think of like a college athlete, like, okay,
we can get to those guys. But I never think
of a pro athlete because these guys are making so
much money, why would you risk everything? But John day
Porter got into it, man, he got into it.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
And I I m oh, why did not ask HI
about John day Porter?
Speaker 2 (32:24):
That dude threw his career away for real, he's done,
Like he's never gonna They're never gonna let him back
in the league.
Speaker 4 (32:29):
You think his kid's a good chance. If he has
a kid, you think they'd banned the kid too.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
No, Michael Porter Junior, his brother. You know, I'm surprised.
But then again, Michael Porter had none to do with it.
So you know, you know, everybody, everybody's different. Michael Porter
was that's crazy. You get that greedy.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
But I mean kids you're making you're making like.
Speaker 4 (32:49):
In four hundred thousand, maybe more than that. Yeah, I'm
making half a mill That's what I'm saying, like all
the way because you wanted to make more.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
I I just it doesn't make sense.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
You always got to look at the risk versus reward, right,
That's how we measure things risk reward, And for John
day Porter, it's like, man, the like the reward was
so much lower than the risk. Yeah, in twenty twenty one,
he actually so over three seasons, he made two point
three million dollars, So he was baking, you know, like
(33:23):
seven and a half, seven hundred and fifty grand a year.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
That's good money, it's great money.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
And man, Jesus, dude, like, what are you doing two
point three million over three seasons?
Speaker 1 (33:37):
That'll you know?
Speaker 2 (33:38):
And he had with the Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors
and now it's all on. So I don't get it.
And you never would think that a professional athlete can
be compromised because they're making so much money. You would
never think that all we can get to those guys. Listen, man,
I believe there's an element that they can get to anybody.
(34:01):
And remember Pete Rose, I mean he was, you know,
a player manager and he was betting on baseball as
a player manager in nineteen eighty five for the Cincinnati Reads.
So you never think it can happen. But you never
know what's going on behind closed doors. That's what somebody said.
Somebody once said to me one time, kid, They said,
(34:22):
you never know what's going on behind someone's closed doors.
And you never truly know what's going on in someone's
world unless you walk in their shoes. You don't know.
You don't know what they're going through. So sometimes it's like,
you know, you just gotta all kids out there not
to be a PSA. Don't bully anybody because you never
know what that person's going through, and you never know
(34:44):
when that person can't take it any more, and they're
just gonna don't bully anybody.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
No bullying, none, zero.
Speaker 4 (34:50):
I like Chris Rock what he said, What do you
say in some scenarios, we do need more bullies because
some of the stuff these kids get away with. It's like,
if you're a bully, you wouldn't do that. Are you
just wouldn't do that? But because to your point, bullies
have now created a whole other monster. People are afraid
of that. But back in the day, you needed bullies
(35:11):
because you knew how to act.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
Well, I see what he's saying. It's different, it's different
from that different.
Speaker 4 (35:16):
Yeah, it's a different climate.
Speaker 1 (35:17):
But he was like, bring back bullies exactly. He could
get away with that. I not say that. I don't
want any bullies.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
I don't want and especially now with social media, man,
you don't want they don't want kids going through that.
It's it's it's so much worse when I was a kid. Man,
I don't you know. I don't want kids going through that.
And social media. You've seen Netflix I've seen Netflix documentaries.
These kids they you know, it's it's led to ultimately,
like I've seen girls. I saw Netflix documentaries that they
got bullied so bad by mean girls in high school
(35:45):
and they ended up, you know, taking their lives.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
You don't want that.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
Nobody wants that. We don't want bullies in the society.
We don't need it. But yeah, and and the one
more thing too. On sports, Gilbert Rius admits and and
Lisa emits it now he's like he was a bully
towards Javaris Crittinton. That's where Javar's Crtinton's nap, like, you
don't mess with someone from the you know, the a
especially from South Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
And Javar's Critin's like, yo, this guy doesn't know. And
I couldn't believe. And I watched a documentary.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
Spoiler alert here, but uh, Gilbertarinez brought two guns in
and put them in Javar's Critinton's locker. That's when I said, okay, man,
like come on, man, enough's enough.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
All right?
Speaker 2 (36:25):
Coming up next to Mariners, how much do we glean
from this series loss against Houston?
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Is it still the team that blew a ten game lead?
A year ago. Is that team still there right now?
Speaker 2 (36:38):
Chelsea James, national baseball reporter, will join us next on
MJ in the midday
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