Just got back from the Tim Donaghy sentencing. I have newspaper work to do, but here are a few quick thoughts before I start writing:
Judge Carol B. Amon seemed to be systematically burying Donaghy in her sentencing explanation, all but dismissing his attorney's claim that mental illness -- specifically, compulsive gambling disorder -- was grounds for lowering his sentence from the federal guidelines of 27-33 months.
She sniffed at attorney John Lauro's complaint that the co-conspirators -- James Battista and Thomas Martino -- faced lesser sentences than Donaghy, saying that it was clear Donaghy was the central figure in the scheme.
"Without Mr. Donaghy, there was no scheme," she said.
She made a point of saying that Donaghy had admitted betting on games for three seasons prior to any of the charged activities in the case. It seemed to be going quite badly for him, and then, voila! Amon announced that she was giving him a 15-month prison sentence -- about half what he was facing.
Donaghy's attorney then craftily tossed a few more hand grenades under David Stern's desk with vague, unsubstantiated assertions that the NBA has more bad apples in its referee ranks who have yet to be discovered.
"The story has not ended," Lauro said outside the Brooklyn courthouse. "... I think that the fans of this country will insist that the true story be told at some point. It's going to come out."
Stern put out a statement of his own, which is here in its entirety in case you haven't seen it:
NBA STATEMENT REGARDING THE SENTENCING OF FORMER NBA OFFICIAL TIM DONAGHY
NEW YORK, July 29, 2008 – The NBA has issued the following statement from
Commissioner David Stern regarding Federal Judge Carol Bagley Amon's
sentencing earlier today of former NBA official Tim Donaghy:
"We anticipate that the judge's sentencing decision, together with the
changes we have made to our referee operations staff, will enable us to
continue with the improvements we are making to our anti-gambling rules,
policies and procedures. With the conclusion of the government's
investigation into this matter, we also look forward to the timely issuance
of Larry Pedowitz's review of our officiating program. There is little
comfort to be gained from the mandatory prison sentence, especially as it
affects Mr. Donaghy's children and their mother, but hopefully the healing
process can begin in earnest for all."
So is it over? That's the question that remains unanswered, and the subject of my column for tomorrow's paper. Adios.