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NBA wants Donaghy to pay up
NEW YORK - The NBA wants disgraced referee Tim Donaghy to pay the league $1.4 million, including his wages for games on which he bet or provided inside tips to gamblers. The written demand, filed Thursday in federal court, asks a judge to force Donaghy to pay the sum as restitution in his gambling case. The league previously indicated it would seek $1 million.
The Donaghy scandal "has harmed the NBA and caused it to spend vast sums to undo that harm," league lawyers wrote.
In an earlier filing, defense attorney John Lauro accused the NBA of trying to extract the money to punish Donaghy for embarrassing the league with allegations of widespread misconduct by executives and employees - including claims that referees rigged games by making bad calls. The league has denied the accusations.
The NBA "provides no support whatsoever for the demand, which appears to be a transparent effort to intimidate Mr. Donaghy," Lauro wrote.
Both sides are expected to argue the issue next week in court in Brooklyn.
In other basketball news:
"I said, 'Pau, being that we lost this [NBA Finals] series, you [expletives] have no chance at a gold medal,'" Bryant said. "'No chance. I ain't going 0 for 2, homie.'"
TENNIS
No. 1 Ferrer advances to final
DEN BOSCH, Netherlands - Top-seeded David Ferrer defeated Juan Martin Del Potro 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 to set up a final against Marc Gicquel in the Ordina Open.
On the women's side, French Open finalist Dinara Safina upset top-seeded Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-2. Safina will play Thai qualifier Tamarine Tanasugarn, who defeated Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine 6-2, 6-4.
Gicquel rallied to beat Guillermo Canas 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 for a chance at his first ATP title in a nine-year career. The 31-year-old Frenchman reached a final only twice before, but has beaten Ferrer in their two previous encounters, at Metz in 2006 and at Lyon in 2005.
In other tennis news:
Petrova will appear in her first final since August in Los Angeles. She is seeking her first title since winning the Paris indoor event in February 2007. She has struggled much of this year, losing her opening match in seven of 11 tournaments.
GOLF
Mickelson to play in Skins Game
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - Phil Mickelson has agreed to compete in the LG Skins Game, the first time in five years the three-time major champion will play in the oldest event of the silly season.
Mickelson, the No. 2 player in the world and a two-time winner on the PGA Tour this year, joins a four-man field that includes two-time defending champion Stephen Ames. The other two spots will be filled this summer, although an invitation has been offered to Sergio Garcia as winner of The Players Championship.
In other golf news:
European captain Nick Faldo said an American team without Tiger Woods in the Ryder Cup could be just as dangerous if it uses his absence as motivation.
"On the one side, it could be a loss," Faldo said. "But on the other, they know that they don't have the option to bank on Tiger this year, and I'm sure they'll all pull together because of that."
Europe has defeated the U.S. the last three times, including nine-point margins in 2004 and 2006. The Ryder Cup will be played Sept. 19-21 at Valhalla, Ky. ELSEWHERE . . .
Lewis, 65, brings a sterling résumé to his position. He guided his teams to 10 Virginia High School League state titles from 1970-82: one at Mathews and nine at Menchville.
