BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — Disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy was a free man Wednesday after serving 13 months of a 15-month sentence in a gambling scandal.
Pat Berdan, a consultant working with Donaghy, said the former ref was released from Hernando County Jail in Florida. Donaghy had been jailed there since August after officials said he violated travel restrictions while living at a halfway house in the Tampa area.
A New York judge sentenced the ex-referee in July 2008 after Donaghy said he took thousands of dollars from a professional gambler in exchange for inside tips on games — including games he worked.
During his stay in prison, Donaghy wrote a tell-all book “Blowing The Whistle,” which does not have a publisher.
Random House said last week it had decided not to go forward with publication of the book, which in excerpts posted online includes accusations of wagering between officials working games, favoritism toward star players and desires by the league to extend playoff series.
The NBA said it will review the allegations.
Footnotes.
A news conference is scheduled for today to introduce Nancy Lieberman as the first female head coach of an NBA Development League team, which will begin play during the 2010-11 season in Frisco, Texas.
• Magic guard Vince Carter is day to day with a sprained left ankle.
• Pacers forward Troy Murphy is sidelined indefinitely with a bruised lower back.
• Suns guard Leandro Barbosa is out with an injured right wrist.
• Timberwolves forward Kevin Love said he feels like he is ahead of schedule in rehabilitating his surgically repaired left hand and is hoping to be cleared to practice Nov. 20.
• The Kings signed swingman Ime Udoka, who is averaging six points and 3.2 rebounds in his five-year career.
