Tim Donaghy, the ex-NBA referee who admitted to gambling on games he worked, has now said that two NBA officials altered the outcome of playoff games, and were also told to not issue flagrant fouls or eject star players as it would hurt ticket sales.

The bombshell news was released in a court document filed Tuesday by Donaghy’s lawyer, John Lauro. As reported by the New York Daily News:

According to the document, he told FBI agents, "League officials would tell referees they should withhold calling technical fouls on certain star players because doing so hurt ticket sales and television ratings."

Donaghy claims he was told two refs who were "company men" acting in the interest of the NBA conspired to extend a playoff series in 2002 to a seventh game.

The referees allegedly ignored flagrant fouls committed by one team and "made up fouls" against the other team, which led to two of its players fouling out. The team favored by the refs won that game and the next to win the series.

While the series is not mentioned by name, the only series that went seven games in 2002 was the Lakers/Kings. In game six, the Kings were called for 31 fouls while the Lakers were called for 24. The Lakers went on to win the game, tying the series at 3-3. They then went on to win Game 7.

League executives were quick to react. NBA Vice President Richard Buchanan said Donaghy's allegations are "part of his desperate attempt to lighten the sentence that will be imposed for his criminal conduct. The NBA remains vigilant in protecting the integrity of our game. . . . The only criminal activity uncovered is Mr. Donaghy's."

David Stern was asked for a reaction from tonight’s Game 3 of the NBA Finals. See the video report from ESPN below. 

OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK

• Interview - Tim Marchman - New York Sun - The Biz of Baseball
• IFSA Strikes Out with Tribune Co. over Wrigley Field - The Biz of Baseball
• MASN Wins Second Arbitration with Time Warner Cable - The Biz of Baseball
• Fantasy Sports Case Ends... For Now - The Biz of Baseball
• Waxman Calls MLB Testimony on PEDs into Question - The Biz of Baseball
• Biz of Baseball Organizational Report - San Diego Padres - The Biz of Baseball
• Broadcasting Great, Part Owner Orioles, McKay Dead at 86 - The Biz of Baseball
• Cowboys Stadium Site Allows Fans to View Their Seat Before They Buy Tickets - The Biz of Football
• Former NFL Steroids Dealer Found Shot to Death - The Biz of Football
• Cowboys, Bank of America Extend Sponsorship Deal - The Biz of Football
• Bucs TE Jerramy Stevens Suspended for Violating NFL’s Substance Abuse Policy - The Biz of Football
• SEE IT: Dancing with the Stars? Indy Car Driver Helio Castroneves Visits T.O. and the Cowboys - The Biz of Football
• SHOWTIME, and CBS Sports to Bring "Inside the NFL" to SHOWTIME in September - The Biz of Football
• New Cowboys Stadium to Feature NFL’s First Center-Hung Scoreboard - The Biz of Football
• NBC Reports 6.8 Million Viewers for Game 6. Up 111% from 2006 - The Biz of Hockey
• Post-Game Commentary from Babcock, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Osgood, Therrien, Crosby, Lemieux, Whitney, and Malkin - The Biz of Hockey
• TV Ratings for Decisive Game 6 of Stanley Cup Up Dramatically From Last Game 6 Played - The Biz of Hockey
• Dion Phaneuf Selected for Cover of EA Sports "NHL 09" - The Biz of Hockey
• NHL.com Breaks All-Time Record for Number of Fans Consuming Streaming Video - The Biz of Hockey
• NHL Renews Agreement with Anheuser-Busch for Bud Light - The Biz of Hockey

Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus, and is available as a freelance writer.

Brown’s full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.