Ref denies Kings-Lakers conspiracy
Posted: Sunday June 15, 2008 08:47AM ET
Ted Bernhardt has forgotten the details but remembers the game. He says he botched some calls. He says he has had better nights. But the retired referee, who officiated the intensely controversial Game 6 of the Kings-Lakers series with Dick Bavetta and Bob Delaney, insists there was no pressure to influence the outcome and extend the 2002 Western Conference finals, nor any hint of a conspiracy involving colleagues that night or any other night. "After the game, I wasn't happy, not with a particular call, but it just wasn't a good game for us," Bernhardt said Saturday from a campground near his hometown of Evansville, Ind. "I know this is a horrible thing. But we tried hard to get the calls right. I don't understand. I don't know what's behind (the Tim Donaghy) situation, but I have never been around a referee I thought cheated or was influenced in a game. I never imagined we'd be talking about this six years later."
David Stern, AP
Comments (35)
has anyone had enough about this Charge Donaghy throw away the key and start again
Tuppytim | 06/15/08, 09:36 AM
Report Offensive CommentInstead of just saying that he is "full of it", why won't the NBA counter with some evidence showing that the calls in that 2002 game were justifiable or at least plausible mistakes from the vantage point of the refs. If this is going to be the NBA's only defense to this, then they couldn't sound more guilty even if they tried.
Fan of Football | 06/15/08, 09:56 AM
Report Offensive CommentHe told this story while being polygraphed twice! Donaghy may be a lot of bad things but in less he is also a CIA Spy who can beat a polygraph twice by ex police I think their is truth to it.
Pimpston23 | 06/15/08, 10:08 AM
Report Offensive CommentI believe what he is saying is that the refs were incompetent that night, not corrupt. Now there is a defense...
50yearfan | 06/15/08, 10:08 AM
Report Offensive Comment50yearfan may be right in what he's saying, but this ref has EVERYTHING to gain by denying this accusation. He obviously wouldn't come right out and say there was a conspiracy when there isn't any evidence on the matter yet.
G.O.A.T. | 06/15/08, 11:14 AM
Report Offensive Comment"Is not what you know,
it's what you can prove...."
any evidence? no?....well let's talk about facts,not bull***
Lakerfan24 | 06/15/08, 11:17 AM
Report Offensive CommentDavid Stern not only looks like a Giant Rat that should be in charge of chucky cheese but hes a big fat lying rat who fixes games. Go naw on some swiss rat boy.
kspice2834 | 06/15/08, 11:29 AM
Report Offensive CommentAll cow-bell ringing fans & LAKER haters, get out of the produce department!!! Why??? Because no matter what supermarket you go to, the grapes are sour. HA!
arejaydub Sept. 13,'08 | 06/15/08, 11:52 AM
Report Offensive CommentWell that settles it. NOT! What did they expect him to say? Was he suppose to admit any wrongdoing, and join Donaghy in prison?
Hllywd: Old Schoolin' | 06/15/08, 12:02 PM
Report Offensive CommentWade + kobe = a sure championship!
the dEE of dees | 06/15/08, 12:05 PM
Report Offensive Commentwell of course the guy is not going to admit to conspiracy to influence the outcome of a basketball game -- duh! -- has anybody checked to see how the big gambling money did on that game and that series? -- the guy doesn't want to get whacked!
silverblack23 | 06/15/08, 12:37 PM
Report Offensive CommentI really hope that Donaghy is NOT the NBA equivalent of Jose Canseco in the sense that he's actually credible...no matter how much he is disliked.
All this "he said this, he said that" crap is opening a can of worm that Stern can no longer close. Stern better stay up late either getting to the bottom of this, or come clean and be straight with the fans. Perception can easily become reality the longer he stays silent.
Odenator...I'll be baack! | 06/15/08, 12:46 PM
Report Offensive CommentAnyone who does not think the way Refs are prepped and judged by the league does not need changing is misguided. At least i hope a third party comes in from all this and the system gets better.
What are the odds of three refs all having a "bad" day on the same night, and in the play offs?
Crooked? no. Objective? not hardly.
50yearfan | 06/15/08, 01:19 PM
Report Offensive CommentOf course he's going to lie about it, that's what cheaters do! Dang, if he was still fixing games maybe the lakers might be leading the series right now. I Guess now he gets to answer for his cheating for the rest of his life, what a loser.
Thorn19 | 06/15/08, 01:27 PM
Report Offensive CommentHere comes the cover up.
I'm officialy no longer an NBA Fan. Not just because that night but because It happend on other nights. When you questioned other calls that took place when the ref was standing right there in front of the foul and didnt call it.
It B.S.
49er SF Giants | 06/15/08, 01:53 PM
Report Offensive CommentI'm amazed that anyone even tries to defend Stern and these clowns. Any idiot can see that the networks don't want any 4 game series and don't want any blowouts.
Rich Morgan | 06/15/08, 01:55 PM
Report Offensive CommentAnyone who does not think the way Refs are prepped and judged by the league does not need changing is misguided. At least i hope a third party comes in from all this and the system gets better.
What are the odds of three refs all having a "bad" day on the same night, and in the play offs?
Crooked? no. Objective? not hardly.
50yearfan | 06/15/08, 01:19 PM
Oh, so it's conceivable that NBA refs can decide the outcomes and NFL referees cannot? I still say that the Super Bowl in which the Rams played the Patriots, coming on the heels of 9/11, was fixed.
arejaydub Sept. 13,'08 | 06/15/08, 02:12 PM
Report Offensive CommentWell, if they deny it what more can be said?
Hillary Clinton | 06/15/08, 03:02 PM
Report Offensive CommentAnd Super Bowl XL was enough to make me turn off football for a year.
Hllywd: Old Schoolin' | 06/15/08, 03:06 PM
Report Offensive CommentIf into the security recordings you go, only pain will you find.
YODA | 06/15/08, 06:52 PM
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