Jul 23, 2007 3:05 pm US/Eastern
Police Protect Accused NBA Referee
NEW YORK (CBS News) ―
NBA referee Tim Donaghy, who's being investigated by the FBI for betting on games he worked, had local lawmen at his Florida home Sunday because of threatening phone calls he's received, according to The New York Post.
Three squad cars from the Manatee County Sheriff's Office arrived at Donaghy's home in Bradenton, Fla.
"Our concern is for his safety and his family's safety," Sheriff's Lt. Robert McNealy told the newspaper for a story in Monday's editions. "We are definitely going to share any information we get with the FBI."
A pivotal NBA playoff game this year between the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns was marked by controversial calls from start to finish, reports CBS News correspondent Armen Keteyian.
Sources say its just one of the games league and federal investigators continue to pour over in an effort to determine if NBA official Tim Donaghy made calls to change the outcome of games.
Authorities say the referee had a gambling problem and was approached by low-level mob associates through an acquaintance.
The Daily News reported Sunday, citing unidentified law enforcement sources, that Donaghy will cooperate with authorities and possibly name other officials and players involved in the betting scandal.
On Monday, the newspaper reported that former neighbors of Donaghy's in Pennsylvania say they were approached more than a year ago by a private investigator they believed was hired by the NBA to check into Donaghy's gambling habits.
Kit Antsey, a real estate agent in West Chester, Pa., who helped Donaghy buy a home, told The Daily News a private investigator contacted him 18 months ago and asked him whether Donaghy bet on sports and at an Atlantic City casino.
"I never thought at the time of what he's being accused of now. He had a wonderful life. Why would he throw it all away?" Antsey told the Daily News.
However, The New York Times reported Monday, citing two unidentified people briefed on the investigation, that the NBA didn't know about Donaghy's betting or whether he affected the outcome of games until after the season.
The Times and The Daily News also reported NBA commissioner David Stern plans to speak publicly about Donaghy this week, maybe as soon as Monday.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
