Except of course, he’s not actually scouting for an NBA team. Donaghy’s completed his probation and tells The Sporting News’ David Purdham that he plans to celebrate his freedom by attending next Friday’s Mavericks/Knicks contest at MSG. The entire story sounds rather sleazy, but if this is what it takes to displace Matthew Modine from his courtside seats, I’m all for it.
“I don’t think there is any reason why they’d remove me from the stadium,” Donaghy (above, middle) told The Linemakers via phone from his Sarasota, Fla. home. “I’m there to take in a game and look at some live action and do a bit of scouting. I’m not even too sure that anyone is really going to notice me, to be honest with you.”
“I’m moving on to another phase in my life and that is helping Danny B. and his clients.”
Danny B., aka Daniel T. Biancullo, is Donaghy’s boss and also a convicted felon. Biancullo is a pick-seller from New Jersey who runs the handicapping site Dannybwins.com. Donaghy will appear on radio shows and provide analysis and picks on the NBA.
Donaghy’s value to Biancullo’s clients derives from his experience as an NBA referee. He says he still spots tendencies of his former referee colleagues. For example, he said some officials tend be more strict about enforcing hand-checking, which slows the game down and causes foul trouble, while others are more loose with the interpretation and keep the game flowing.