Summary of Article


            A referee of the National Basketball Association has been facing accusations of betting on NBA Games that he refereed during the last two years. Tim Donaghy who had just resigned after serving 13 seasons is under investigation by the FBI for the said charges. He had worked more than 700 regular season NBA games and at least 20 play off games. The FBI refused to disclose information on the investigation because of the sensitivity of the case. Authorities are trying to determine whether the referee has influenced the point spread in the games in which he had placed bets.


Donaghy is said to have gambling problems. Whether or not there is truth behind this, it has serious implications to the dignity of the games he has officiated over the years. The NBA assured the public to take every effort necessary to assist in the investigation. It has stated its intention to bring justice to anyone who is proven guilty of betraying the trust in professional sports and take the necessary steps to protect the institution from the same problem.


Thesis Statement


This issue has put the dignity of the NBA into question. It has serious implications especially on the games officiated by the referee. Others may speculate manipulation of scores which in turn causes doubts on the reliability of the results. Indeed, this issue calls for the NBA to ensure that no conflict of interest exist among officials that may affect their ability to perform their job in an ethical manner.


Duties of NBA Referee


The referee is the official in charge during the game. His duties may not necessarily concern the players but it is the referee who controls the game. This official is the one who tosses the ball up to the center for a jump during the start of the game and each overtime period. His duties range from inspecting equipments before the start of the game and approving the final score. In between, he is responsible for making decisions on matters of disagreements between officials.  The referee has the power to make decisions on any points that may not be necessarily covered in the rules and even to forfeit the game if needed (‘’, 2007).


Ethical Issues


            Being a referee is not an as easy as it looks. Referees need to run good and make decisive signals throughout the duration of the game. They must also have good judgment while striving to take absolute control of players and coaches. Most importantly, referees must strive not to make their personal interests take into their professional duties. This is a very important requisite for NBA referees since the public placed their trust to every decision they make. Thus, referees must practice good ethics to maintain the public’s confidence.


            However, the allegations against Donaghy concern serious ethical issues of which a conflict of interest was apparent. The referee has the absolute duty to act for the benefit of the public but he may be unable to do so due to the exploitation of his position for personal benefit. This case illustrates the clash between the professional obligations and personal interest of the referee which arise as he tries to perform his job and attain his personal goal.


For one, betting on games which the referee himself officiates is clearly unethical. The referee is the one who is in control of the game and his influence in the result of the game is undeniable. Because of this, the referee must take it to himself to exercise fairness and justice. That is, he must not engage himself into any situation or connection that will affect the dignity and the performance of his job.


Conclusion


            The National Basketball Association is a prestigious institution in professional sports. Today, its reputation is threatened. The institution is marred by controversies concerning a referee who has allegedly been betting on games he has officiated. Such issue is one which must be given serious action by NBA if it is to retain the trust and confidence of the general public.


            For one, this will put doubts on the minds of the public regarding the reliability of the game results during the previous seasons. Consequently, it may reduce the enthusiasm and optimism of NBA fans.  This may also affect the relationship of the players towards other referees. It is likely that such incidence will cause a degree of distrust between them which may lead to hostilities in the future.


            Ultimately, this issue reflects the need to ensure that ethically competent officials are the ones overseeing the game. NBA must get to the bottom of the problem and guarantee that stiff punishment is served if the referee is found guilty of the accusations. It is only through this can the association cope with the disgrace brought by this unfortunate event.


 


References



Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com


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