LOS ANGELES -- Two former NBA referees told ESPN on Thursday that federal investigators had questioned them about referee Dick Bavetta while conducting their probe into Tim Donaghy.
Former referee Hue Hollins said Thursday on ESPN's Outside The Lines that federal investigators "questioned me about Dick Bavetta more than they did about Tim Donaghy."
"They wanted to know what I knew about Dick Bavetta in terms of holding calls, making sure this team wins, that team wins. I said 'I never heard of that, and I didn't know anything about it,' " Hollins said. "When they called to interview me, I was again caught by surprise they asked so many questions about Bavetta. I didn't know where they were going with that."
Another ex-referee, who spoke to ESPN.com on the condition he not be identified, said federal investigators asked him about specific games that Bavetta refereed and whether he had noticed anything peculiar about Bavetta's actions.
Former referee Mike Mathis told ESPN.com that he had been questioned by the FBI but was not asked about Bavetta. Also, ex-referee Blaine Reichelt said he had not been contacted by any law enforcement authorities, and ex-referee Ted Bernhardt said he had only been questioned by NBA security officials.
A request by ESPN.com to interview Bavetta was denied Thursday by the NBA, as was a request to view the officials' post-game report from Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference finals -- a game Donaghy has alleged was refereed unfairly to ensure that the Lakers and Kings would meet in a Game 7.
Bavetta, Bob Delaney and Bernhardt were the three referees who worked that game, and Delaney told ESPN on Wednesday that he has never been contacted by NBA or federal investigators concerning Donaghy's allegation that two referees in that game intended to assure that series went seven games.
Bernhardt, reached Thursday by ESPN.com, recalled the aftermath of Game 6 in 2002.
"I only talked to [former supervisor of officials] Ed Rush after the game, and I said I wasn't happy about it. He asked why, and I said I didn't feel we were very good."
"But I stand by my calls in that game. I was right on," Bernhardt said. "I believe in Dick Bavetta, and I believe in Bob Delaney, and I believe in the NBA for that matter. I'm also afraid that if Tim Donaghy is proven wrong, he's going to end up having to serve more time. I feel sorry for his kids. It's just a terrible situation all around," Bernhardt said.
NBA commissioner David Stern was asked Tuesday night by ESPN.com whether he was aware of any ongoing investigations of other referees: His response: "I'm going to repeat the question because I want everyone to hear it: Are we aware of any open investigations by the government? Only possibly of Mr. Donaghy, nothing else."
Bavetta officiated Game 1 of the NBA Finals in Boston, and it is unknown whether he is scheduled to work any more games this postseason. The NBA does not release its referee assignments until the morning of a game day.
During a lengthy interview with ESPN.com early in 2006, Bavetta bristled at a question that cited detractors' criticisms of him, including his officiating in Game 6 of the Lakers-Kings series, and he declined to answer on the record.
The NBA, in turning down ESPN.com's request to interview Bavetta, did not explain the reasoning behind its decision, which in effect deprived Bavetta an opportunity to defend himself against Donaghy's latest allegations.
Hollins told The New York Times, in a story published Thursday, that investigators asked if he ever noticed that Bavetta "was making sure that the home team would win, and I told them I had no idea because I didn't work with him a lot."
Lemell McMorris, president of the referee's union, declined comment, and FBI spokesman Steve Kodak said the U.S. Justice Dept. never comments regarding any kind of ongoing investigation.
Former referee Hue Hollins said Thursday on ESPN's Outside The Lines that federal investigators "questioned me about Dick Bavetta more than they did about Tim Donaghy."
"They wanted to know what I knew about Dick Bavetta in terms of holding calls, making sure this team wins, that team wins. I said 'I never heard of that, and I didn't know anything about it,' " Hollins said. "When they called to interview me, I was again caught by surprise they asked so many questions about Bavetta. I didn't know where they were going with that."
Another ex-referee, who spoke to ESPN.com on the condition he not be identified, said federal investigators asked him about specific games that Bavetta refereed and whether he had noticed anything peculiar about Bavetta's actions.
Former referee Mike Mathis told ESPN.com that he had been questioned by the FBI but was not asked about Bavetta. Also, ex-referee Blaine Reichelt said he had not been contacted by any law enforcement authorities, and ex-referee Ted Bernhardt said he had only been questioned by NBA security officials.
A request by ESPN.com to interview Bavetta was denied Thursday by the NBA, as was a request to view the officials' post-game report from Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference finals -- a game Donaghy has alleged was refereed unfairly to ensure that the Lakers and Kings would meet in a Game 7.
Bavetta, Bob Delaney and Bernhardt were the three referees who worked that game, and Delaney told ESPN on Wednesday that he has never been contacted by NBA or federal investigators concerning Donaghy's allegation that two referees in that game intended to assure that series went seven games.
Bernhardt, reached Thursday by ESPN.com, recalled the aftermath of Game 6 in 2002.
"I only talked to [former supervisor of officials] Ed Rush after the game, and I said I wasn't happy about it. He asked why, and I said I didn't feel we were very good."
"But I stand by my calls in that game. I was right on," Bernhardt said. "I believe in Dick Bavetta, and I believe in Bob Delaney, and I believe in the NBA for that matter. I'm also afraid that if Tim Donaghy is proven wrong, he's going to end up having to serve more time. I feel sorry for his kids. It's just a terrible situation all around," Bernhardt said.
NBA commissioner David Stern was asked Tuesday night by ESPN.com whether he was aware of any ongoing investigations of other referees: His response: "I'm going to repeat the question because I want everyone to hear it: Are we aware of any open investigations by the government? Only possibly of Mr. Donaghy, nothing else."
Bavetta officiated Game 1 of the NBA Finals in Boston, and it is unknown whether he is scheduled to work any more games this postseason. The NBA does not release its referee assignments until the morning of a game day.
During a lengthy interview with ESPN.com early in 2006, Bavetta bristled at a question that cited detractors' criticisms of him, including his officiating in Game 6 of the Lakers-Kings series, and he declined to answer on the record.
The NBA, in turning down ESPN.com's request to interview Bavetta, did not explain the reasoning behind its decision, which in effect deprived Bavetta an opportunity to defend himself against Donaghy's latest allegations.
Hollins told The New York Times, in a story published Thursday, that investigators asked if he ever noticed that Bavetta "was making sure that the home team would win, and I told them I had no idea because I didn't work with him a lot."
Lemell McMorris, president of the referee's union, declined comment, and FBI spokesman Steve Kodak said the U.S. Justice Dept. never comments regarding any kind of ongoing investigation.
