a closer look

All of this seemed ready for wrapping in a tidy little gift box Tuesday: Tim Donaghy arranging his surrender to federal marshals barely a year after NBA Commissioner David Stern stood before a packed news conference to confirm the unthinkable.

The promise that day from Stern was thorough cooperation, full disclosure, and transparency. The man he so boldly branded a "rogue, isolated criminal" was sentenced Tuesday to 15 months in federal prison. The NBA's worst nightmare -- a gambling scandal involving a referee -- was over.

Or was it?

All but for the most troubling little detail: We still don't know -- and may never know -- the full breadth of the scandal.

We can't take John Lauro's word for it. The defense attorney had some nerve to win an improbable victory for his client -- about half the sentence he could have received -- and then stroll onto the sunny courthouse promenade to launch a few more hand grenades toward Olympic Tower.

"From day one, the strategy of the NBA was to demonize and ostracize Mr. Donaghy and to ignore the substantial cooperation he provided," Lauro said. "I think that the fans of this country will insist that the true story be told at some point."

Bloviation from a lawyer shouldn't offend Stern, who at times during this crisis has been guilty of the same. Of more concern is that one thing hasn't changed from Day 1: What we don't know is potentially a lot worse than what we do.

This was underscored Tuesday, when Lawrence Pedowitz released an ominous statement regarding the status of his internal probe commissioned by the NBA. Pedowitz, a former federal prosecutor, said he is "conducting additional interviews" and hopes to "obtain additional information from the government."

More interviews? More information?

Despite Donaghy's allegations that other referees were involved, not a single person other than Donaghy and his two co-conspirators has been charged.

But what about former ref Hue Hollins saying that federal agents asked him more questions about Dick Bavetta than Donaghy? What about the FOX News report citing 134 phone calls from Donaghy to fellow ref Scott Foster when Donaghy was betting on games?

Neither man has been charged with anything, despite the fact that any information Donaghy gave the feds about them -- or anyone else -- was fully investigated.

What about Donaghy's most sensational allegation -- that a playoff game between the Lakers and Kings in 2002 had been manipulated by other referees? It was reviewed by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles, and a person familiar with the probe told Newsday on Tuesday that the matter has been dropped.

Lauro wouldn't confirm or deny it, but you can bet on a Donaghy book hitting the shelves soon. Plus, the burden of proof in the court of public opinion is far less than in the court of Judge Carol B. Amon.