NBA will survive ref scandal, but still needs fixing

Though innocence has been lost and the people's trust compromised, the lure of the game will prove to be too great.

That's why my hope is that if Donaghy does know there were others on the take, he kindly disregards Carmelo Anthony's old anti-snitching PSAs and blows the whistle. If we're going to start over, it might as well be with as clean a slate as possible -- it's time to see what's collected after getting through the cracks.

The league didn't detect anything amiss despite equipment that allows them to evaluate every single questionable call their officials make. The Vegas books didn't spot anything peculiar, either, and they're paid to notice any and all trends. If this is more than an isolated incident, all perpetrators have been remarkably sneaky. In a day and age where everyone eventually finds out everything, staying under the radar couldn't have been easy.

That should help you appreciate another point. This is probably not the first time this has ever happened; it's just the first time it has been detected.

Pete Rose wasn't the only name wagering on baseball, just the biggest. If we were omniscient, Donaghy wouldn't be the lone name associated with zebras shaving points for selfish reasons. It would probably go way back.

Ironically, legendary referee Mendy Rudolph was named to this year's Basketball Hall of Fame class in early April. He was the referee in the 1960s and '70s, the Dick Bavetta of his time. He also reportedly had a gambling problem.

His wife was quoted in a 1992 interview as saying he never resorted to the short cut Donaghy might have taken because his principles wouldn't allow it.

"I love the game too much," Rudolph said, "respect it too much."

Sadly, the conviction of others hasn't been as strong, but because of that, you shouldn't punish the entire sport.

Referees are going to make mistakes, and it stands to figure that a few over the course of time have gotten in situations they couldn't handle. In some cases, they're going to stain the integrity of something bigger than themselves. There might be players who are tempted to disrespect the game. Coaches, too. Those who fall victim to that temptation ruin it for everyone else.

It feels like a punch to the gut. Deception sucks. As we all find out together what exactly we need to get over, keep a few things in perspective.

This is a players league and always will be. The guys that are going to apply the first band-aid were on display trying out for the U.S. National Team over the weekend. Kobe Bryant, who can help upstage this current crisis by issuing another trade demand, drained the game-winner, then locked up LeBron James at the other end. That paid James back for a nasty third quarter block that saw Bryant turned away at the rim.

Kevin Durant delivered on the hype surrounding his arrival, dropping in 20 points and taking over for a lengthy stretch. Dwight Howard was doing his best Shaquille O'Neal impression, while Chris Bosh continues to turn into another Kevin Garnett. Dwyane Wade, still feeling the effects of offseason surgery, was watching from the sidelines.

The future of the NBA is in good hands.

The present -- not so much.

Many are going to be vindictive, and depending on the severity of these transgressions will feel wronged to the point of no return. Stern needs to level with the masses without care for damage control. This is bad. Trying to keep the fire in the kitchen isn't going to work here. Let it cleanse. If the way officials are handled needs to be overhauled, now is the time to do it.

The way games are called is the biggest problem the league has ever faced, and was even before these ties to gambling and organized crime came to light. Steve Javie shouldn't be the most hated man in three different cities. Jack Nies and Joey Crawford shouldn't be household names.

It shouldn't be common knowledge that Anderson Varejao leads the league in offensive fouls drawn and is an excellent flopper.

Consider that Donaghy normally graded out as one of the NBA's most effective referees. That should be a wakeup call. It shouldn't be as easy as it is for foul calls to dictate the outcome of games as it is. Most do the best they can, but there are so many gray areas and mandates to enforce this and clean up that it can leave your head spinning.

A players league sure has drawn far too much negative attention over controversial disciplinary rulings and the ineptitude of its referees as of late. The displeasure of the general public was evident before this, manifesting itself in awful television ratings.

The NBA needs to milk a positive out of a grim situation. All you can do during a power outage is prepare for when the lights come back on.

It's already dark, and figures to get darker.

Next season, offering the chance for a new beginning, is just over three months away.