Almost a year ago, NBA referee Tim Donaghy pleaded guilty to felony charges for taking cash payoffs from gamblers betting on games he officiated.  He is to be sentenced on July 14.

   This week, Donaghy's attorney implied in a letter to the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn that his client should be sentenced to probation because he fully cooperated with prosecutors and has been undergoing treatment for his gambling problem.

   It's what Donahgy's attorney says his client told prosecutors that's alarming.  Per Attorney John F. Lauro, Donaghy told authorites that relationships among officials, coaches and players " affected the outcome of games." 

   Lauro went on to write that the NBA might have "pressured" the attorney's office "into shutting down the prosecution to avoid the disclosure of info unrelated to Tim Donaghy's conduct." 

   The NBA offices are on fire with this Lauro letter, and say "the letter is a desperate act of a convicted felon who is hoping to avoid prison time."

   Lauro shot back by saying the NBA, "rather than seeking to implement much needed reforms, it has chosen instead to attack the messenger." 

   My question is: Who is telling the truth?  Donaghy or the NBA?   This can be all cleared up by prosecutors, who should do their due diligence in broadening their investigation with the accusations Donaghy made. 

   Donaghy is going to prison.  How long? Who knows.  He messed up and deserves time in the pokey.  However, I would very much like to know if Donaghy's statements to investigators are true.    Why?  Because I can't convince myself that it's not true, and I'm going back to the day Michael Jordan left the game for a spell.  What was the real reason there?  Anyone know for sure?

   Now, the latest gambling fiasco among former NBA stars centers around Charles Barkley.  He owes a casino $400,000!  I feel sorry for Barkley.  He got sucked into the abyss, and is out thousands!  Can he afford it?  He says he can.  But the fact is, he's destined for a spot on "bum" street in cardboard box.  

   I'm sure the Commissioner is losing sleep over all this, and he should.  But it's high time for someone in the NBA to say enough is enough.  Find out if the sport is clean.  If it isn't, do something about it!  If the NBA powers don't, it will be just a matter of time before someone in the media does.  My guess is their out there already trying to formulate the evidence.

  Tom Korun