Personal Foul A FirstPerson Account of the Scandal that Rocked the NBA (Audible Audio Edition) Tim Donaghy Chris Della Penna ACX Books
Download As PDF : Personal Foul A FirstPerson Account of the Scandal that Rocked the NBA (Audible Audio Edition) Tim Donaghy Chris Della Penna ACX Books
The media has often speculated and sports fans have debated, but until now no one has known the real story. Personal Foul takes an in-depth look at former NBA referee Tim Donaghy and the betting scandal that rocked professional basketball. This is the decisive book that reveals exactly what was done and how it all happened. Which games were affected and how? Did referees target particular players or teams? Just how much did the NBA know and when? How did the mafia get involved? The book answers all of these questions and more.
Thrilling and poignant, Personal Foul takes readers on the journey of one man wrestling his own demons and shines a light on a culture of gambling and "directive" officiating in the NBA that promises to change the way sports fans view the game forever. The book also includes a foreword by Phil Scala, the FBI Special Agent who worked the Gambino case.
Personal Foul A FirstPerson Account of the Scandal that Rocked the NBA (Audible Audio Edition) Tim Donaghy Chris Della Penna ACX Books
I feel this is an interesting and important book. I still enjoy the NBA but watched most avidly between 88 to the early 2000's. In that time there were some play off series where I felt the officiating was abysmal and I guess I felt at times the fix could be in but maybe didn't want to see it. Some series though always stood out to me, top of the list being a Sacramento-LA series Donaghy refers to in the book. Now, I'm convinced it happened. That Commissioner Stern felt ratings took precedence over fairness. I want to believe the present regime operates with integrity and haven't yet seen anything egregious enough to make me doubt. This book is an eye opener and a worthwhile read for those of us who invest time and passion viewing and cheering. I care about the contest of talent and wills that sports provides. I'll stop caring if it's ultimately true that bloated executives already know the outcome before the game starts. It's the height of arrogance that THEY'RE "giving" the people what they want, at the expense of the players who've worked at this their whole lives just to be cheated because they're in a small market or don't have the marquee names.Product details
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Personal Foul A FirstPerson Account of the Scandal that Rocked the NBA (Audible Audio Edition) Tim Donaghy Chris Della Penna ACX Books Reviews
I'll never forget game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference finals and watching Sacramento's lead crumble to the will of a referee crew bent on seeing the Lakers advance. This was painfully obvious to even the most casual basketball fan. Anybody who's watched the NBA extensively or bet NBA games can tell you the refereeing is at best wildy inconsistent. Donaghy exposes what most fans were already thinking or already instinctively knew - NBA refereeing is corrupt. Donaghy takes the reader on a wild ride starting with his budding career as an NBA referee supported by a loving family and everything a man could ask for to ending up an emotionally bankrupt compulsive gambler working for the mob and eventually an inmate in federal prison. Along the way he fingers numerous NBA referees for unethical refereeing practices and unearths a culture of corruption the league turns a blind eye to and in some cases encourages. Donaghy comes off as mostly credible but at times you wonder if you're really getting the full story or how much of this is hyped up to sell copy. The book is entertaining and a quick, breezy read. I laughed out loud several times at some of the antidotes involving referees, players, and coaches. I would recommend this book to NBA fans, sports bettors, or anyone interested in gambling addiction.
Tim Donaghy is worth reading. Forget about what he did. He admits his mistake. What is important is what he has to say about the integrity of NBA officiating. If you watch as many games as I do, then you know that refs are not merely incompetent. They are willfully changing the outcomes of games on a regular basis. Sure, Tim Donaghy bet on NBA games, but that does not mean that he is lying when he tells us that refs make sure that games are kept close and that certain teams are all but guaranteed a win. There were no surprises in Donaghy's book, just justification for what we have long suspected. Donaghy named a few names, but he could have named many more. I suspect that many of you who read this could add to Donaghy's list, too...and provide examples! Most of what Donaghy writes about has the ring of truth because we have seen honest officiating compromised over and over again! Buy this book! You won't be disappointed.
I usually don't read this type of autobiographical book, but this turned out to be a great read and a very important one for NBA fans in general. This book was written by Tim Donaghy, a veteran NBA referee whose gambling habits took the best of him in a wild roller-coaster that eventually led him to bet on NBA games which he himself worked in (he strongly claims that he didn't fixed these game, but only had a good idea which team has the edge).
This book is so important and mind opening experience, at least for me, as you read a genuine story about how a man who had it all one of the best jobs in the world, over $250K salary and a great family. Still, having to much free time in his off-season led from harmless gambling with his country club bodies, through once in a while visits to casinos, gambling on other sports events and eventually to gambling on the NBA. This guy did not need the money, as he says the motivation for gambling was the rush and adrenalin, which apparently was lacking from his daily lives.
I guess that he has some bad personality traits that allowed him to be sucked into that rabbit hole, but this book should serve as a warning sign to everyone. Even the rational, educated, well paid guy can under some circumstances be sucked to the dark side of gambling. The book takes us from the start of his gambling habits, though the investigation and up to the jail time.
For the NBA fans I can say that you get allot of information about huge problems in the fairness of the competition. Nothing that cannot be fixed, or that caused me to stop watching and attending games, but still lots of information that is kept in the back of my mind when I follow games. For example, I was amazed to discover how Michael Jordan influenced the new referees in the games by bribing them fair and straight with free signed memorabilia. I was also amazed to discover the amount of nepotism that is widespread in the referee community. Another interesting stuff for NBA rats can be found in chapter 5 where he talks about different players and their personalities for example, it was surprising to find Gary Payton in the top 5 list of the most "hated" players in the NBA.
The only down point that I can find is that NBA fans who are looking for more beef about fixed games and wrong relationships will not get allot more than what was already published in Tim's TV interviews (which all can be found on his personal website).
To sum up, a highly recommended book which is both very informative to sports fans, and at the same time tells an interesting story that teaches the reader some important lessons about life in general. I world strongly recommend getting this books to teenagers who follow the NBA (and are reading books) for the same reasons presented above.
great book, read it cover to cover. I loved reading about the game they played where the first ref to call a foul in a game has to buy dinner. LOL. I loved the break down of notable refs, and their tendencies, who they loved, who they hated. As an NBA fan, this is a must read because we see these refs every game, and we've always made note of their reputations, but this makes it all make sense.
I feel this is an interesting and important book. I still enjoy the NBA but watched most avidly between 88 to the early 2000's. In that time there were some play off series where I felt the officiating was abysmal and I guess I felt at times the fix could be in but maybe didn't want to see it. Some series though always stood out to me, top of the list being a Sacramento-LA series Donaghy refers to in the book. Now, I'm convinced it happened. That Commissioner Stern felt ratings took precedence over fairness. I want to believe the present regime operates with integrity and haven't yet seen anything egregious enough to make me doubt. This book is an eye opener and a worthwhile read for those of us who invest time and passion viewing and cheering. I care about the contest of talent and wills that sports provides. I'll stop caring if it's ultimately true that bloated executives already know the outcome before the game starts. It's the height of arrogance that THEY'RE "giving" the people what they want, at the expense of the players who've worked at this their whole lives just to be cheated because they're in a small market or don't have the marquee names.
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