Stern's words can't erase stain of 'rogue' ref

NEW YORK -- There stood a solemn David Stern on a dark, extraordinary day in NBA history, waxing poetic about the high-tech G-men and futuristic procedures that form a stern line of defense to protect his game from gamblers within. The head of security for the NBA is a former FBI agent, he explained. The league has consultants from the Secret Service, U.S. Army, NYPD and the New York State Police.

When it comes to game officials, the NBA performs extensive personal background looks including credit checks, scrutiny of bank accounts, debt analysis and asset examinations. On and on Stern went before a quiet ballroom full of normally boisterous and obnoxious New York media now stunned into silence.

David Stern gets his message across during one of the darkest times of his 23 years as commissioner. (AP)

The NBA, Stern continued, has even used experts from the CIA and gambling consultants in Las Vegas, the corruption capital of the universe, to thwart potential problems.

No stone is left unturned, no potential degenerate, no possible traitor, left unexamined when it comes to game officials and gambling, Stern continued. Except ... one did sneak through the net, leading to this moment, when a sport is left teetering on the edge.

All of the NBA's fancy checks and balances failed when it came to alleged gambler and mob hobnobber Tim Donaghy. The mafia was able to skirt the NBA's firewall with ease. In other words, it was Jason Bourne versus Big Pussy and Big Pussy won.

Stern said one of the reactions he had to the crisis was " ... I can't believe (this is) happening to us."

In meeting with the press Tuesday afternoon, a visibly shaken Stern was sincere, humble and, incredibly, extremely transparent. Gone was the usual extreme self-confidence, replaced by the wide-eyed vulnerability of someone who just learned how cruel the world can be. We have never seen Stern look like this. Ever.

Stern provided all of the information he could with little hesitation or prodding. It was as fine a performance in the toughest of public moments as any commissioner has ever managed.

"I have been involved with refereeing, and obviously been involved with the NBA for 40 years in some shape or form," Stern said. "I can tell you that this is the most serious situation and worst situation that I have ever experienced either as a fan of the NBA, a lawyer for the NBA or a commissioner of the NBA.

"And we take our obligation to our fans in this matter very, very seriously, and I can stand here today and pledge that we will do every look back possible to analyze our processes and seek the best advice possible to see if there are changes that should be made and procedures that should be implemented to continue to assure fans that we are doing the best we possibly can."

Unfortunately, Stern's bluntness will do nothing to help his league. Stern can talk about one bad apple and rogue agent and invoke this country's worst traitors like Robert Hanssen all he likes. And he might be right.

The problem is no one will ever believe just one official was allegedly committing these ugly acts. Remember, this is a league that sports fans love to hate and forcibly submerge into every conspiracy theory that has ever existed. There are still people buzzing about conspiratorial nonsense dating back to Patrick Ewing ending up in New York.

So for the next five to 10 years, thanks to probably one possibly crooked ref, the NBA will suffer mightily. In that period, its credibility in the eyes of fans will be in the same neighborhood as wrestling. There will be a gooey murkiness surrounding every official, every big call, every huge whistle.