NEW YORK — Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy bet on about 14 games he officiated in the 2006-07 season, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Goldberg said in a letter filed Friday in Brooklyn Federal Court.
“In the spring of 2003, Donaghy provided picks for games he refereed on only 2-3 occasions,” Goldberg wrote. “Over the next three full seasons (2003-2004, 2004-2005, and 2005-2006), however, Donaghy bet on numerous games that he worked.
“The government’s investigation revealed that Donaghy provided picks for anywhere from 30 to 40 such games for each of those three seasons. During the 2006-2007 season (the time period charged in the information), Donaghy bet on approximately 30 games, including about 14 games that he refereed.”
Finland wins bronze
QUEBEC CITY — Finland beat Sweden 4-0 for the bronze medal at the IIHF World Hockey Championship behind first-period goals by Antti Pihlstrom and Janne Niskala and 36 saves by Niklas Backstrom.
Canada and Russia play for the gold medal today. The two countries have never met in a world championship final.
Sharapova withdraws at Italian Open
ROME — Maria Sharapova pulled out of the Italian Open semifinals because of a strained left calf, two days before she is to assume the No. 1 ranking following Justine Henin’s retirement. Sharapova said the injury would not affect her preparations for the French Open, which begins next weekend.
• Rafael Nadal won a three-set struggle with Novak Djokovic 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 to protect his No. 2 ranking and advance to the Hamburg Masters final against No. 1 Roger Federer today. Federer reached the final by beating Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-1.
Swimmer sets U.S. record
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Peter Vanderkaay set an American record in the 400 freestyle, winning in 3 minutes, 43.82 seconds at the Santa Clara Grand Prix. Vanderkaay broke the mark of 3:44.11 set by Klete Keller on Aug. 14, 2004.
Japanese Olympian Maki Mita collapsed and had to be taken to a hospital after competing in two events. Mita finished the women’s 800 relay when she began having trouble breathing, cramping and suffering from chills according to a meet official.
• Weightlifter Melanie Roach, a 33-year-old mother of three, was the top-rated woman lifter at the U.S. Olympic trials in Atlanta. Also making the women’s team: Carissa Gump, Natalie Woolfolk and third- time Olympian Cheryl Haworth.
The three-member U.S. men’s team for the Beijing Games in August is Kendrick Farris, Chad Vaughn and Casey Burgener.
Footnotes.
Riccardo Ricco won the eighth stage of the Giro d’Italia by breaking away from a group of about 40 cyclists in the last 100 meters. Giovanni Visconti kept the overall lead for a third day.
• Candace Parker scored 34 points, the most in a WNBA debut, and added 12 rebounds to help the visiting Los Angeles Sparks beat the defending champion Phoenix Mercury 99-94. The previous high in a WNBA debut was 25 points by Cynthia Cooper in 1997.
The Associated Press
