Personal Foul - by Tim Donaghy (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

The media has often speculated and sports fans have debated, but until now no one has known the real story. Personal Foul takes an in-depth look at former NBA referee Tim Donaghy and the betting scandal that rocked professional basketball. This is the decisive book that reveals exactly what was done and how it all happened. Which games were affected and how? Did referees target particular players or teams? Just how much did the NBA know and when? How did the mafia get involved? The book answers all of these questions and more. Thrilling and poignant, Personal Foul takes readers on the journey of one man wrestling his own demons and shines a light on a culture of gambling and "directive" officiating in the NBA that promises to change the way sports fans view the game forever. The book also includes a foreword by Phil Scala, the FBI Special Agent who worked the Gambino case.

Review Quotes

"The book the NBA doesn't want you to read."

―Deadspin.com

About the Author

Born in Havertown, Pennsylvania, Tim Donaghy loved the game of basketball as far back as he could remember. He received his love for the game from his father, Gerry Donaghy, who had officiated at the high school and collegiate levels for over 30 years. Since he lived so close to Philadelphia, Donaghy naturally became a 76ers fan. Some of his favorite players were Doug Collins and Mike Dunleavy.

Donaghy attended Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield, Pennsylvania, where he played competitively during his four years there. Following high school, Donaghy graduated from Villanova University with a liberal arts degree in 1989.

After graduation, he became unsatisfied with the direction in which his career was headed. One night, while sitting at the kitchen table with his parents, his mother suggested that he look into a career in the NBA. It was all the motivation that he needed, and he began to pursue his newfound dream job.

Later, as Donaghy perfected his skills as a referee through training camps, he was noticed by the NBA supervisor of officials, Darell Garretson. This eventually led to Donaghy's start in the CBA, the NBA's official minor league. Donaghy officiated for three years in the CBA. Before his fourth year, he was called to officiate in the NBA.

From 1994 to 2007, Donaghy worked for the NBA, officiating in 772 regular-season games and 20 playoff games. He was a participant in the NBA's Read to Achieve program, for which he participated in an event at the Universal Charter school during the 2002 NBA Finals. His uniform number was 21.