Tim Donaghy is expected to surrender to authorities late this week or early next. David Stern couldn't wait that long to talk about the biggest crisis his league has ever faced.
The NBA commissioner planned to hold a press conference Tuesday morning to discuss Donaghy, at the center of an alleged point-shaving scandal. The first question Stern must answer is what, and when, the league knew of the former referee's gambling habits.
Donaghy officiated the last game of his 13-year NBA career during the San Antonio-Phoenix second-round series. Stern surely will be asked if the league could have - or should have - known of Donaghy's problems by then.
The FBI is investigating Donaghy for allegedly betting on games he officiated during the last two seasons. He will eventually turn himself in at U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, according to a person familiar with the investigation.
Stern won't be allowed to discuss many specifics of the case against Donaghy, but will likely try to clear up some of the conflicting reports relating to the NBA that are circulating. For example, the league said Monday that Donaghy ranked in the lower half of technical fouls called in each of the last two seasons, refuting reports he led the NBA.
Also, a person with knowledge of the FBI investigation into Donaghy told The Associated Press the league was unaware of the inquiry until after the NBA finals. But The Denver Post reported Sunday that the NBA was made aware of the probe in January.
Authorities are examining whether Donaghy made calls to affect the point spread in games on which he or associates had wagered thousands of dollars over the past two seasons, according to a law enforcement official. The referee had a gambling problem and was approached by low-level mob associates through an acquaintance, the official said.
Those familiar with the investigation and the law enforcement official spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the ongoing probe.
During All-Star weekend in Las Vegas, Stern was asked if the fear of point shaving was the reason for his stance against gambling. Stern quickly cut off the questioner and said: "I am not worried about games being fixed, and I'm surprised you asked the question."
Now, questions abound.
According to RJ Bell, president of the sports betting Web site Pregame.com, Donaghy's games went above the over/under line 57 percent of the time in the last two seasons after doing so only 44 percent of the time from 2003-05.
Perhaps more damaging, Bell found that in games where the spread moved at least 1½ points, the team getting the big action covered in 10 straight games officiated by Donaghy from January through April of this year. The odds of that, he said, were 1,024 to 1.
Donaghy is the only referee, at this point, under investigation, according to a law enforcement official, but others outside the NBA are expected to be charged in the betting probe.
The investigation already has drawn plenty of unwanted attention.
Over the weekend, police staked out Donaghy's home in Bradenton, Fla., after he received two telephone threats. Both calls seemed to come from the same unidentified caller, Manatee County Sheriff's Office spokesman Randy Warren said.
Three squad cars arrived at Donaghy's home Sunday after he received the calls, according to a sheriff's office report. Donaghy did not have a listed phone number at his home.
"There is reason for us to keep an eye on his place and follow up," Warren said.