Dan Patrick interviews former NBA referee Tim Donaghy

Disgraced former NBA referee  Tim Donaghy talked about his trials and tribulations about gambling on the NBA on Thursday’s edition of “The Dan Patrick Television Show,” which airs 8-11 a.m. on DIRECTV’s The 101 Network.

Here are some excerpts:

Would you have done things differently or not at all?

“I would certainly not have done it at all. My decisions affected a lot of other people in a negative way, so I wouldn’t have done it at all.”

 On gambling problem as NBA ref:

“The betting consumed me and I became addicted to it. It was easy for me to predict things and I was able to bet on NBA games that I was officiating in. … I was so successful at making these picks at 70-80 percent correct, that I didn’t need to help a team get a win. I was never asked to fix a game.”

How did you eventually get caught?

“I got caught because I got involved with people in organized crime talking about me during a wire-tap. I wanted to stop and these guys picked me up outside a hotel and took me for a ride in a car and said they wanted to continue to get information. They said they’d expose me and threaten to come down to Florida and visit my wife and kids.”

How much money did you make betting, Tim?

“Over a period of time of about four years, I made about $100,000. I was already making good coin as an NBA ref. It wasn’t about money at that time. … I used relationships to determine lines to games and provide information.”

Did the NBA ask you to fix games?

“The group supervisor and the head of officials would instruct you to make certain calls in certain games. It’s certainly manipulating a game. … In 2005, Dallas was put at a clear advantage when they were down 2-0 and it was swinging back to Houston.”

Any funny business in ‘06 playoffs between the Kings and Lakers?

“The Lakers were put in a clear advantage in Game 6 of that series.”

Last time you heard from Commissioner Stern?

“I haven’t. I did try to contact the league office and they blew me off. They still owe me money.”

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