WHAT A WAY TO MAKE RASHEED WALLACE LOOK GOOD -- Three major national sports controversies continue to dominate discussion: Barry (Bigfoot) Bonds approaches 755 home runs, Michael Vick is all but accused of eloctrocuting Lassie, and an NBA referee might have fixed games, or at least affected point spreads.
(The most damning evidence against Tim Donaghy: In 158 games over the past two seasons in which he did not referee Timberwolves' games, the team's record was 61-97 (.386). In the six games in which he did referee Wolves' games, the team's record was 4-2 (.667).
Of the three accusations, obviously those facing Vick are the most disgusting, especially in their cold business-related calculation. But those facing Donaghy are easily the most damaging to their sport.
We live in a cynical age. We have known for some time that in some circles, dog-fighing is an embraced form of sport. And even if Vick stupidly married himself to this pathetic lifestyle, the integrity of the game he plays is not directly damaged. Yes, baseball has been damaged to some degree by steroid allegations, but we have almost come to assume that a number of baseball players _ real good ones to mediocre ones _ have partaken in the use of steroids, and even now perhaps human growth hormone. We are almost used to it, even a bit numb to it.
Locally, we have also come to expect the pro basketball team to send out their clown, Mark Madsen, to deliver three-point shots, or to sit Kevin Garnett for an extended period to fix the outcome of games and enhance the team's draft position. Sad and embarrassing as it is, we're numb to that, too.
But the charges facing Donaghy are a new frontier. In the history of the four major American sports, has a single baseball umpire, football official, basketball referee or hockey official ever been charged with what Donaghy apparently will be? I don't think so. Despite all the endless referee-on-the-take jokes, there was at least the illusion that those making the calls in our favorite games were still above it. They might make bad calls or get caught up in personality conflicts and make ill-advised ones, but they were not on the take. The ticket-buying public, often asked to accept ridiculous prices, could at least count on that much.
Now, there is the great probability that a vulnerability has been exposed. A referee can be gotten to. Doesn't matter whether Donaghy really changed the outcome of games. What matters is the possibility that he might have, or could have, or even tried. It is the ultimate horror show for any sport that wants to be taken more seriously than pro wrestling.
Worse, the Rasheed Wallaces, not to mention the conspiracy-theorist fans who see an Oliver Stone film behind ever called charge, have been enabled. They have their smoking gun, and permission to become more paranoid than ever.
