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NCAA News Archive - 2007
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Officials prepared for integrity challenge
NBA incident spurs greater oversight
NBA incident spurs greater oversight
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By Greg Johnson
The NCAA News
The NCAA News
DENVER — In the wake of an FBI investigation involving allegations that former NBA referee Tim Donaghy may have bet on basketball games, the Board of Directors of the National Association of Sports Officials is researching a compliance program to facilitate more in-depth background checks of officials.
The goal would be to create a model that entities such as collegiate athletics conferences, state high school athletics associations and professional leagues could adopt to prevent recurrence of an event that has shaken the officiating community.
NASO President and founder Barry Mano said while the organization does not have the authority to impose the program on anyone, since NASO is an education resource more than a governing board, he would hope people adopt it. But even if they don’t, Mano said NASO would pursue its availability anyway.
“What we would learn from the program is so important that we would make the investment and go ahead and do it,” he said.
Background checks weren’t supposed to be a major topic of discussion at the 25th annual NASO Summit July 29-31. But the aftermath of the developing Donaghy situation consistently confronted the hundreds of youth, high school, collegiate, international and professional league officials who gathered for their annual meetings.
They didn’t see the investigation of a referee betting on games as just an NBA problem, either. For this group, it cut at the credibility of all sports officials and gnawed at one of the cardinal rules all sports officials adhere to: impartiality.
“We can’t blame some administrator, some coach or the media,” Mano said. “One of our own laid us low. We are going to have to deal with it.”
Educational prevention
Mano, who refereed Division I men’s basketball games for more than two decades, said the compliance program would feature an anonymous hotline. “Virtually all productive compliance programs have a component like that,” he said. “It would have to be administered by an outside agency to protect confidentiality.”
Mano said he already has contacted a firm specializing in such cases.
For example, if a referee is working with someone who clearly displays unethical behavior, the referee could call the hotline to file a report that would trigger an investigation.
“It can be precursory or in-depth,” Mano said. “Hopefully, we vet it and get it solved privately. We can do preventive maintenance in that way.”
Mano also said such outside firms are highly trained to spot an outlier who may have an ulterior motive for filing a grievance against a fellow official.
“The thought of someone having sour grapes could emerge, but these compliance companies are experts. They ferret that stuff out,” he said.
The NCAA reacted sharply to the Donaghy situation when it broke. NCAA President Myles Brand said in a July 24 statement that “Sports wagering is a serious matter and unfortunately, there are rogue individuals who may put games at risk. We’re reviewing our officiating and gambling education programs to ensure integrity is paramount.”
The NCAA currently conducts officiating clinics for both men’s and women’s basketball and gambling is specifically covered as part of the curriculum. The Association requires all officials to provide extensive background information, and random background checks are performed before the start of each championship.
As a result of an extensive study conducted several years ago, the NCAA also works closely with the gaming industry and local, state, and federal agencies to monitor potential illegal gambling activities.
“This recent development is a reminder of how dangerous sports wagering can be,” Brand said. “We will continue to work diligently to ensure all involved — student-athletes, fans, coaches and officials — have confidence in the integrity and fairness of the game.”
Defending their integrity
Officials from every sport are bracing themselves for the heckling and criticism the Donaghy scandal is sure to generate this year.
During an educational session on game management, NCAA Division I men’s basketball official Verne Harris acknowledged that he and his peers should be prepared to have their integrity questioned. But he said it is important to not let the score dictate how calls are made on the court or field.
In other words, just because a game may have a lopsided margin, it is up to the official to call the game consistently until the contest is over.
“In light of the things going on right now, all across the board we are in for a tough year,” said Harris, who has worked three Men’s Final Fours, including championship games in 2004 and 2005. “Let’s be honest. I don’t care if it is a 20-point, 30-point or 40-point game, someone cares. We may not think they do, but they can accuse us of all kinds of stuff if we don’t take care of our business.”
Mary Struckhoff, the NCAA national coordinator of women’s basketball officiating, said she tries to instill a simple rule from her supervisory position.
“We say ‘obvious’ trumps everything,” Struckhoff said. “It doesn’t matter the score or the time of game. I can always defend you if you are adhering to the rules in the book.”
According to Mano, the only other time anyone in NASO can remember a gambling situation like this was in 1951 when NBA official Sol Levy was convicted of point shaving. The conviction was later overturned on appeal.
Mano reiterated to summit participants the need to be wary of gambling influences. He cited reports of the current scandal being fueled by debts Donaghy incurred by gambling.
“I don’t care who approaches you, the only answer has to be, ‘Get out of my face,’ ” Mano said. “That’s what it takes. You shut it down right there. For years, people in the gambling business knew we were untouchable. It was, ‘Don’t even mess with these guys.’ Now, the Donaghy thing happens, and maybe people are thinking officials are approachable.”
Mano said he hasn’t felt this concerned since refereeing an international game in the 1970s that involved a team from the former Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War. Mano said he would often be on the verge of whistling a foul on a defensive player, but the other official would intervene with a traveling call that wiped away the foul.
“It took me awhile, because I’m programmed to be impartial,” Mano said. “But it finally dawned on me that this guy was protecting the Russian players. It was a jolt to my system.”
He felt a similar shock July 20 when the Donaghy story broke.
“I have received all kinds of calls and e-mails (from NASO members),” Mano said. “Our impartiality is being questioned. Our honesty is being questioned. Those things were always questioned by rote, but now they are given a little fodder. It has opened the door to be lumped in with the guys at Enron. This is a horror story.”
The goal would be to create a model that entities such as collegiate athletics conferences, state high school athletics associations and professional leagues could adopt to prevent recurrence of an event that has shaken the officiating community.NASO President and founder Barry Mano said while the organization does not have the authority to impose the program on anyone, since NASO is an education resource more than a governing board, he would hope people adopt it. But even if they don’t, Mano said NASO would pursue its availability anyway.
“What we would learn from the program is so important that we would make the investment and go ahead and do it,” he said.
Background checks weren’t supposed to be a major topic of discussion at the 25th annual NASO Summit July 29-31. But the aftermath of the developing Donaghy situation consistently confronted the hundreds of youth, high school, collegiate, international and professional league officials who gathered for their annual meetings.
They didn’t see the investigation of a referee betting on games as just an NBA problem, either. For this group, it cut at the credibility of all sports officials and gnawed at one of the cardinal rules all sports officials adhere to: impartiality.
“We can’t blame some administrator, some coach or the media,” Mano said. “One of our own laid us low. We are going to have to deal with it.”
Educational prevention
Mano, who refereed Division I men’s basketball games for more than two decades, said the compliance program would feature an anonymous hotline. “Virtually all productive compliance programs have a component like that,” he said. “It would have to be administered by an outside agency to protect confidentiality.”
Mano said he already has contacted a firm specializing in such cases.
For example, if a referee is working with someone who clearly displays unethical behavior, the referee could call the hotline to file a report that would trigger an investigation.
“It can be precursory or in-depth,” Mano said. “Hopefully, we vet it and get it solved privately. We can do preventive maintenance in that way.”
Mano also said such outside firms are highly trained to spot an outlier who may have an ulterior motive for filing a grievance against a fellow official.
“The thought of someone having sour grapes could emerge, but these compliance companies are experts. They ferret that stuff out,” he said.
The NCAA reacted sharply to the Donaghy situation when it broke. NCAA President Myles Brand said in a July 24 statement that “Sports wagering is a serious matter and unfortunately, there are rogue individuals who may put games at risk. We’re reviewing our officiating and gambling education programs to ensure integrity is paramount.”
The NCAA currently conducts officiating clinics for both men’s and women’s basketball and gambling is specifically covered as part of the curriculum. The Association requires all officials to provide extensive background information, and random background checks are performed before the start of each championship.
As a result of an extensive study conducted several years ago, the NCAA also works closely with the gaming industry and local, state, and federal agencies to monitor potential illegal gambling activities.
“This recent development is a reminder of how dangerous sports wagering can be,” Brand said. “We will continue to work diligently to ensure all involved — student-athletes, fans, coaches and officials — have confidence in the integrity and fairness of the game.”
Defending their integrity
Officials from every sport are bracing themselves for the heckling and criticism the Donaghy scandal is sure to generate this year.
During an educational session on game management, NCAA Division I men’s basketball official Verne Harris acknowledged that he and his peers should be prepared to have their integrity questioned. But he said it is important to not let the score dictate how calls are made on the court or field.
In other words, just because a game may have a lopsided margin, it is up to the official to call the game consistently until the contest is over.
“In light of the things going on right now, all across the board we are in for a tough year,” said Harris, who has worked three Men’s Final Fours, including championship games in 2004 and 2005. “Let’s be honest. I don’t care if it is a 20-point, 30-point or 40-point game, someone cares. We may not think they do, but they can accuse us of all kinds of stuff if we don’t take care of our business.”
Mary Struckhoff, the NCAA national coordinator of women’s basketball officiating, said she tries to instill a simple rule from her supervisory position.
“We say ‘obvious’ trumps everything,” Struckhoff said. “It doesn’t matter the score or the time of game. I can always defend you if you are adhering to the rules in the book.”
According to Mano, the only other time anyone in NASO can remember a gambling situation like this was in 1951 when NBA official Sol Levy was convicted of point shaving. The conviction was later overturned on appeal.
Mano reiterated to summit participants the need to be wary of gambling influences. He cited reports of the current scandal being fueled by debts Donaghy incurred by gambling.
“I don’t care who approaches you, the only answer has to be, ‘Get out of my face,’ ” Mano said. “That’s what it takes. You shut it down right there. For years, people in the gambling business knew we were untouchable. It was, ‘Don’t even mess with these guys.’ Now, the Donaghy thing happens, and maybe people are thinking officials are approachable.”
Mano said he hasn’t felt this concerned since refereeing an international game in the 1970s that involved a team from the former Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War. Mano said he would often be on the verge of whistling a foul on a defensive player, but the other official would intervene with a traveling call that wiped away the foul.
“It took me awhile, because I’m programmed to be impartial,” Mano said. “But it finally dawned on me that this guy was protecting the Russian players. It was a jolt to my system.”
He felt a similar shock July 20 when the Donaghy story broke.
“I have received all kinds of calls and e-mails (from NASO members),” Mano said. “Our impartiality is being questioned. Our honesty is being questioned. Those things were always questioned by rote, but now they are given a little fodder. It has opened the door to be lumped in with the guys at Enron. This is a horror story.”
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