As always, we will allow others to engage in rampant
\nspeculation about Tim Donaghy\u2019s latest bombshell finger pointing. We will
\ncontinue to give our fair
\nand balanced<\/a> take. <\/p>\n

Mind you, in lieu of a smoking gun, we are all engaging in
\nconjecture, but unlike others, I only claim to have educated theories, not the
\ndefinitive rejoinder. <\/p>\n

Let\u2019s rid of one apocryphal contention. <\/span>I have heard enough of this \u201cwe didn\u2019t believe
\nJose Conseco either\u201d balderdash. This is not to say I accepted every name and
\ndetail from the get-go. However, the before\/after comparisons of sundry players
\ngirth, corroborated by rapidly ascending power statistics, had me long previously
\nconvinced of MLB\u2019s \u201cdon\u2019t ask, don\u2019t tell\u201d steroid policy. <\/p>\n

Whether or not such circumstantial evidence would hold up
\nin a court of law is irrelevant. <\/span>The
\nvisual and statistical evidence that existed long before Conseco\u2019s casebound<\/span> is infinitely more damning than any so-far undocumented
\ninnuendo Donaghy has thrown against the wall. <\/p>\n

Until Donaghy presents supporting evidence, here is my
\nlearned take. The rogue criminal merely cherry-picked several high profile NBA
\nofficiating controversies and decided to retro fit insinuation with the intent to
\nintimidate the NBA from aggressively seeking punitive action. <\/p>\n

Yet he is fortunate enough to possess likely legitimate,
\nthough irrelevant to his criminal charges, tattletale scuttlebutt that
\nconspiracy theorists will accept as proof that the more salacious
\nwhistle-blowing (pun unintentional) is valid. <\/p>\n

As an example, the jailbird alleges, \u201cTeam 3 lost the
\nfirst two games in the series and Team 3\u2019s Owner complained to NBA officials.
\nTeam 3\u2019s Owner alleged that referees were letting a Team 4 player get away with
\nillegal screens. NBA Executive Y told Referee Supervisor Z that the referees
\nfor that game were to enforce the screening rules strictly against that Team 4
\nplayer. Referee Supervisor Z informed the referees about his instructions. As
\nan alternate referee for that game, Tim also received these instructions.\u201d <\/p>\n

Coaches and players make game-to-game adjustments. The
\nfact that officials also view game film in order to correct errors, even on a
\nnight-by-night basis, is every bit as commendable as it is believable. Nice try
\nconvict, but thanks for the big \u201cso what\u201d. <\/p>\n

He also alleges that in violation of league policy,
\nofficials at times socialized with team hierarchy or solicited players for
\nautographs. While it\u2019s quite plausible a referee requested a star player\u2019s John
\nHancock for their grandson, this is the equivalent of proving a person
\njaywalked as evidence he is guilty of murder. <\/p>\n

Okay Tim, we are sure officials didn\u2019t obey the NBA\u2019s
\noverbearing guidelines infallibly, but even if said squealing proves accurate,
\nit only demonstrates your fellow zebras human, not illicit. Score another \u201cso
\nwhat\u201d for the inmate. <\/p>\n

Sadly though, early returns of the court of public opinion
\nsuggest Donaghy\u2019s<\/span> indoctrination has been met with
\ninitial success. While Donaghy skillfully planted confirmation bias to put the
\nNBA on the defensive, the burden of proof is on him to substantiate, not the
\nleague to negate. <\/p>\n

\u201cInnocent until proven guilty\u201d may not a burden of proof
\nthat applies at the collective water coolers around the country, but the
\ndesperado seems to be given a lot more credibility than he has earned. <\/p>\n

In the book, <\/span><\/span>Propaganda and Persuasion,<\/i> authors Garth
\nS. Jowett<\/span> and Victoria O\u2019Donnell define propaganda as
\n\u201cthe deliberate, systematic attempt
\nto shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a
\nresponse that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist.\u201d <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

In lieu of a
\nscinitlla of even an air of reality, it appears window dressing is all Donaghy
\ncan deliver. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Joe Duffy is
\nthe top sports handicapper<\/a> in
\nAmerica and CEO of OffshoreInsiders.com<\/a><\/span><\/b> <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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