Respected FBI Retiree Believes Tim Donaghy, Thinks There Are Other Dirty Refs

The New York Daily News has a wild set of quotes from retired FBI special agent Philip Scala, who led the team which uncovered the Tim Donaghy betting scandal (as well as a number of other profile cases involving things like Gotti and al Qaeda). Scala discusses a talk he had with Donaghy following the ref's indirect but incendiary statements about Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals being fixed.

"Donaghy, for some reason, looked up to me," Scala said. "He came to me one day and said, 'It means a lot to me if you could answer this question: Do you believe that I've told the truth?' I told him, 'I believe you.' ... Donaghy told us the truth."

As someone who is not an elite interrogator, I have no idea if there's some greater narrative in or purpose of Scala's belief of Donaghy's accusations. I imagine David Stern will ignore this story completely -- he has been begging for Donaghy to disappear into a cell for a few years, something that will happen very soon.

But Stern may not be able to ignore it forever. Scala tells the Daily News he has started up a private investigation firm focused on uncovering sports corruption. Good news for fans, possibly bad news for the NBA (and maybe Scott Foster) ... if Donaghy really was telling the truth.