Glad to see the college sports are learning from the NBA problems. Hopefully this will improve matters in college sports some next year.
NCAA, conferences aim to avoid problems with gambling officials
Updated 56m ago
By Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY
The news that NBA referee Tim Donaghy is under investigation for involvement in gambling didn't have a direct impact on the college sports world. But the story didn't go unnoticed either.
"We'd be foolish if we weren't sensitive to what has gone on and attentive to these kinds of issues in the college game," said Dan Beebe, interim commissioner of the Big 12. "I don't think we'd be very good stewards of the game if we didn't pay attention to it and take our own measures."
"Obviously this is a very, very serious situation in anybody's mind who sits in the chair that I do," Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford agreed. " It goes to the integrity of the game."
Historically, gambling issues that have come to light in collegiate athletics have involved players, from the CCNY basketball point-shaving scandal of the early 1950s to the current investigation of a Toledo football player. The dismissal of Washington football coach Rick Neuheisel in 2003 was in part for participating in an NCAA basketball pool and is indicative of how seriously the issue of sports betting is taken.
Some major conferences and the NCAA already have taken steps to try to establish the integrity of game officials. The ACC approved a system of background checks two years ago for officials in football and men's and women's basketball. The league employs a private investigation firm for the checks for $10,000 to $12,000 a year. Officials are subject to checks on a four-year rotation. They can decline to be checked but then won't be assigned games.
"I'm glad we are doing it," Swofford said. "It is not a catch-all by any means. It can raise some red flags if they need to be raised."
The Big Ten also performs background checks on officials, league spokesman Scott Chipman confirmed, though he declined to discuss the nature of the checks. Beebe said Tuesday that the Big 12 plans to initiate background investigations for football and men's basketball officials this school year that will include financial information. This was planned before the NBA scandal.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: NBA | NCAA | Big 12 | Tim Donaghy | Jim Muldoon
"If any of our officials have gambling issues, that's a red flag right away. Any of them who are having financial problems, we need to take a look at and make sure they can explain why they're in the condition they're in (and) how they're going to get out of it," Beebe said. "If we run a check and they're in bankruptcy proceedings, we're going to be very hard-pressed to utilize that person, I think."
In addition, Beebe said this will be the third year the league has had a contract with Las Vegas Sports Consultants to monitor lines and betting patterns of all Big 12 football and men's basketball games. The NCAA also contracts with firms in Las Vegas to monitor lines and betting, according to spokesman Bob Williams.
Of the 31 Division I conferences, only three do background checks, but Pacific-10 associate commissioner Jim Muldoon said that could change. "Everybody will take a look at it in light of what happened in the NBA," he said.
"I am comfortable with what we're doing," said Jim Haney, executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, "but it's like anything. If one person does it — regardless of the efforts … to make everyone aware of the importance of doing things right — it always makes you reassess. Is there more we could be doing? I think when an event like this happens it makes everybody pause and reflect."
The NCAA began its background checks in 1999, and gambling issues are covered in offseason clinics for officials. The association even has a director of agent, gambling and amateurism activities.
Greg Shaheen, NCAA senior vice president for basketball and business strategy, was in New York for unrelated meetings and attended NBA Commissioner David Stern's news conference Tuesday.
"This is additional impetus for us to review and examine all of our practices and procedures … and how we manage the process of assigning officials," Shaheen said. "Just like, I assume, every other sports entity, this is an opportunity to make sure that we are taking every possible precaution to assure the integrity of the competition."
Updated 56m ago
By Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY
The news that NBA referee Tim Donaghy is under investigation for involvement in gambling didn't have a direct impact on the college sports world. But the story didn't go unnoticed either.
"We'd be foolish if we weren't sensitive to what has gone on and attentive to these kinds of issues in the college game," said Dan Beebe, interim commissioner of the Big 12. "I don't think we'd be very good stewards of the game if we didn't pay attention to it and take our own measures."
"Obviously this is a very, very serious situation in anybody's mind who sits in the chair that I do," Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford agreed. " It goes to the integrity of the game."
Historically, gambling issues that have come to light in collegiate athletics have involved players, from the CCNY basketball point-shaving scandal of the early 1950s to the current investigation of a Toledo football player. The dismissal of Washington football coach Rick Neuheisel in 2003 was in part for participating in an NCAA basketball pool and is indicative of how seriously the issue of sports betting is taken.
Some major conferences and the NCAA already have taken steps to try to establish the integrity of game officials. The ACC approved a system of background checks two years ago for officials in football and men's and women's basketball. The league employs a private investigation firm for the checks for $10,000 to $12,000 a year. Officials are subject to checks on a four-year rotation. They can decline to be checked but then won't be assigned games.
"I'm glad we are doing it," Swofford said. "It is not a catch-all by any means. It can raise some red flags if they need to be raised."
The Big Ten also performs background checks on officials, league spokesman Scott Chipman confirmed, though he declined to discuss the nature of the checks. Beebe said Tuesday that the Big 12 plans to initiate background investigations for football and men's basketball officials this school year that will include financial information. This was planned before the NBA scandal.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: NBA | NCAA | Big 12 | Tim Donaghy | Jim Muldoon
"If any of our officials have gambling issues, that's a red flag right away. Any of them who are having financial problems, we need to take a look at and make sure they can explain why they're in the condition they're in (and) how they're going to get out of it," Beebe said. "If we run a check and they're in bankruptcy proceedings, we're going to be very hard-pressed to utilize that person, I think."
In addition, Beebe said this will be the third year the league has had a contract with Las Vegas Sports Consultants to monitor lines and betting patterns of all Big 12 football and men's basketball games. The NCAA also contracts with firms in Las Vegas to monitor lines and betting, according to spokesman Bob Williams.
Of the 31 Division I conferences, only three do background checks, but Pacific-10 associate commissioner Jim Muldoon said that could change. "Everybody will take a look at it in light of what happened in the NBA," he said.
"I am comfortable with what we're doing," said Jim Haney, executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, "but it's like anything. If one person does it — regardless of the efforts … to make everyone aware of the importance of doing things right — it always makes you reassess. Is there more we could be doing? I think when an event like this happens it makes everybody pause and reflect."
The NCAA began its background checks in 1999, and gambling issues are covered in offseason clinics for officials. The association even has a director of agent, gambling and amateurism activities.
Greg Shaheen, NCAA senior vice president for basketball and business strategy, was in New York for unrelated meetings and attended NBA Commissioner David Stern's news conference Tuesday.
"This is additional impetus for us to review and examine all of our practices and procedures … and how we manage the process of assigning officials," Shaheen said. "Just like, I assume, every other sports entity, this is an opportunity to make sure that we are taking every possible precaution to assure the integrity of the competition."