Timothy Francis Donaghy is a disgraced former professional basketball referee who worked in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 13 seasons from 1994 to 2007. He officiated in 772 regular season games and 26 playoff games. Donaghy's career ended in scandal when he was caught in a gambling scandal.
January 7, 1967: Birth of Tim Donaghy
Timothy Francis Donaghy was born on January 7, 1967. This date marks the birth of a future professional basketball referee who would later become infamously known for his involvement in a gambling scandal.
1989: Graduation from Villanova University
In 1989, Tim Donaghy graduated from Villanova University with a degree in sales and marketing. During his time at the university, he played on the school's baseball team.
1993: Head Official for CBA All-Star Game
In 1993, Tim Donaghy served as the head official for the CBA All-Star Game. This role marked a significant milestone in his officiating career before joining the NBA.
1994: Start of NBA Career
In 1994, Tim Donaghy began his career as an NBA referee. Over the next 13 seasons, he officiated in 772 regular season games and 26 playoff games, until he was caught in a gambling scandal in 2007.
1995: Marriage to Kimberly
In 1995, Tim Donaghy married Kimberly. The couple went on to have four daughters.
January 2000: Referee Reprimand Allegation
In January 2000, it was alleged in a court document that an NBA referee was privately reprimanded by the league for ejecting a star player in the first quarter of a game. These claims were part of broader accusations made by Tim Donaghy.
2002: Read to Achieve Program Participation
During the 2002 NBA Finals, Tim Donaghy participated in the NBA's Read to Achieve program, attending an event at the Universal Charter School. This involvement highlighted his contributions to community service.
2002: Western Conference Finals Controversy
In 2002, the Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings came under scrutiny. It was alleged that two referees fixed Game 6 to extend the series, a claim made by Tim Donaghy during the betting scandal investigation.
2003: Technical Foul on Rasheed Wallace
During a 2003 regular-season game, Tim Donaghy called a technical foul on Rasheed Wallace for throwing a ball at another official. Wallace confronted Donaghy after the game, leading to a seven-game suspension, the longest for an incident not involving violence or drugs.
2003: Gambling on Games
In 2003, Tim Donaghy began betting on NBA games he officiated, which would later be revealed during an FBI investigation. This year marked the start of his illegal activities.
2003: Start of Betting Activities
In 2003, Tim Donaghy began placing bets on NBA games he officiated. This marked the beginning of his involvement in illegal gambling activities.
November 19, 2004: Pacers-Pistons Brawl
Tim Donaghy was one of the referees who officiated the infamous Pacers-Pistons brawl on November 19, 2004. The brawl ended in a fight between Pacers players and Pistons fans, making it one of the most notorious incidents in NBA history.
2004: Continuation of Betting
Tim Donaghy continued to bet on NBA games he officiated during the 2004 season. His actions during this time were part of a larger pattern of illegal gambling activities.
2004: Continuation of Betting
Tim Donaghy's illegal betting activities continued into the 2004 season, as he placed wagers on NBA games he officiated.
2005: Betting Activities
In 2005, Tim Donaghy's betting on NBA games he officiated persisted, contributing to the scandal that would eventually lead to his resignation and imprisonment.
2005: Ongoing Betting
In 2005, Tim Donaghy continued his pattern of betting on NBA games he officiated, which was later revealed during the FBI investigation.
2005: Gambling on Games
In 2005, Tim Donaghy engaged in betting on NBA games he officiated, contributing to the scandal that would later be investigated by the FBI.
2006: Passing Game Information
In 2006, Tim Donaghy admitted to passing information about two games and betting on games himself. He was fined $500,000 and ordered to pay at least $30,000 in restitution.
2006: Ongoing Gambling
Tim Donaghy continued his gambling activities in 2006, betting on NBA games he officiated. These actions were part of the charges he later pleaded guilty to.
2006: Betting Activities
Tim Donaghy's betting on NBA games persisted during the 2006 season. His actions were part of the scandal that led to his resignation and imprisonment.
2006: Further Betting Activities
Tim Donaghy's betting on NBA games persisted in 2006. His actions during this period contributed to the charges he later faced.
April 29, 2007: Miscalled Playoff Game Allegations
On April 29, 2007, Tim Donaghy was alleged to have intentionally miscalled a Phoenix Suns playoff game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Former county attorney Andrew Thomas raised these concerns with the NBA and FBI.
May 12, 2007: Further Allegations of Miscalled Games
On May 12, 2007, another playoff game involving the Phoenix Suns, this time against the San Antonio Spurs, was called into question. Allegations were made that Tim Donaghy's conduct might have violated Arizona criminal law.
July 9, 2007: Resignation from NBA
On July 9, 2007, Tim Donaghy resigned from the NBA after an FBI investigation revealed he had been betting on games he officiated, which affected the point spread.
July 20, 2007: FBI Investigation Revealed
On July 20, 2007, columnist Murray Weiss reported an FBI investigation into allegations of an NBA referee betting on games. It was revealed that Tim Donaghy bet tens of thousands of dollars on games during the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons, and was approached by low-level mob associates.
August 15, 2007: Plea of Guilty
Tim Donaghy pleaded guilty to two federal charges related to the FBI investigation on August 15, 2007. He admitted to betting on games he officiated over multiple seasons.
September 2007: Divorce Filed by Kimberly
In September 2007, shortly after the scandal involving Tim Donaghy broke, his wife Kimberly filed for divorce.
November 2007: Alleged Prison Attack
In November 2007, Tim Donaghy claimed he was attacked in prison by a man allegedly associated with the New York Mafia. Donaghy sustained injuries requiring surgery, though FBI agents doubted the involvement of organized crime.
2007: End of NBA Career
Tim Donaghy's career as an NBA referee ended in 2007 when he was caught in a gambling scandal. This year marked the end of his 13-season stint officiating NBA games.
2007: Public Reaction to Scandal
In 2007, following the revelation of Tim Donaghy's involvement in a gambling scandal, reporters reached out to his former colleagues and associates. Many did not remember him fondly, describing him as unpopular and arrogant.
2007: NBA Betting Scandal Involving Tim Donaghy
In 2007, NBA referee Tim Donaghy was caught betting on games he officiated. He testified that he was threatened by two men associated with the Gambino crime family to provide gambling picks. This event became one of the biggest scandals in sports history.
2007: Referee Conduct Guidelines Revised
In 2007, NBA Commissioner David Stern revised the guidelines on referee behavior following the betting scandal involving Tim Donaghy. The revisions included changes to gambling rules and measures to reduce the impact of referees on betting outcomes.
January 25, 2008: Awaiting Sentencing on Bond
On January 25, 2008, Tim Donaghy was released on a $250,000 bond as he awaited sentencing related to his involvement in the betting scandal. This marked a significant moment in the legal proceedings against him.
June 10, 2008: Allegations of Game Fixing
On June 10, 2008, Tim Donaghy's attorney alleged in court documents that Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals was fixed by two referees to extend the series. This accusation was part of broader claims that NBA executives manipulated games for ratings and ticket sales.
June 19, 2008: NBA Demands Reimbursement
On June 19, 2008, the NBA demanded that Tim Donaghy reimburse the league for various expenses totaling $1.4 million. This included costs for airfare, meals, game tickets, and legal fees. The demand was part of the fallout from Donaghy's involvement in the betting scandal.
July 29, 2008: Sentencing
On July 29, 2008, Tim Donaghy was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for his involvement in the gambling scandal. He served 11 months in a federal prison camp in Pensacola, Florida.
October 2009: Memoir Cancellation
In October 2009, Tim Donaghy's memoir, Blowing the Whistle: The Culture of Fraud in the NBA, was canceled by Triumph Books due to liability concerns. The book was intended to cover his career and the betting scandal.
November 4, 2009: Release from Prison
Tim Donaghy was released from prison on November 4, 2009, after serving his sentence for the gambling scandal that ended his career as an NBA referee.
December 2009: Memoir Release
In December 2009, Tim Donaghy's memoir was released under the new title Personal Foul: A First-Person Account of the Scandal That Rocked the NBA. The book faced significant scrutiny, with many claims being debunked.
June 2012: Lawsuit Against Publisher
In June 2012, Tim Donaghy won a lawsuit against VTi-Group, the publisher of his memoir, for breach of contract. Donaghy was awarded $1.3 million in damages.
April 22, 2014: Fixing Playoff Games Claim
On April 22, 2014, Tim Donaghy claimed that the NBA was going to push referees to fix playoff games to ensure the Brooklyn Nets would advance to the second round, a move he suggested was motivated by ratings.
May 4, 2014: Nets Eliminate Raptors
On May 4, 2014, the Brooklyn Nets eliminated the Toronto Raptors from the playoffs by winning Game 7 of the series by a single point. This event occurred amidst Tim Donaghy's claims of referee manipulation.
2016: Documentary Feature
In 2016, Tim Donaghy was featured in the documentary film Dirty Games – The dark side of sports, which explored various scandals in the world of sports.
December 22, 2017: Arrest for Aggravated Assault
On December 22, 2017, Tim Donaghy was arrested for aggravated assault after an incident involving his 19-year-old daughter. He was released on $5,000 bond.
2017: NBA Finals Referee Manipulation Claim
In 2017, Tim Donaghy claimed that referees would be instructed to extend the NBA Finals series for financial reasons. Despite his claim, the series ended in Game 5 with the Golden State Warriors defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers.
January 19, 2018: Scheduled Arraignment
Tim Donaghy's arraignment for aggravated assault was scheduled for January 19, 2018. The incident stemmed from a confrontation while searching for his daughter.
November 1, 2019: Inside Game Movie Release
On November 1, 2019, the movie Inside Game was released in theaters. The film focused on Tim Donaghy's perspective on the NBA betting scandal, highlighting the false claims he made about mob threats.
2020: Journalist's Critique
In 2020, sports journalist Henry Abbott criticized Tim Donaghy, stating that he had never encountered someone who lies as much as Donaghy. This comment was in response to the numerous falsehoods found in Donaghy's book and related appearances.
January 27, 2021: Debut as Wrestling Referee
On January 27, 2021, Tim Donaghy made his debut as a professional wrestling referee for Major League Wrestling. He helped Richard Holliday defeat Savio Vega in a title match for the IWA Caribbean Heavyweight Championship, incorporating a 'heel referee' gimmick referencing his past gambling scandal.