As if former NBA official Tim Donaghy didn’t already have enough hanging over his disgraced noggin — what with pleading guilty to two federal felony counts of giving inside information to gamblers and what not.
Now he’s got Maricopa County Attorney Andrew “Foam Finger” Thomas tapping his back.
It’s the latest salvo in the “any issue you can hype, I can hype better” battle Thomas appears to be waging with Sheriff Joe Arpaio. I know the summer months are slow, guys, but try to find something constructive to do.
Thomas wants to makes sure that if a crooked ref messed with either of the Suns’ playoffs games he worked last year — a win over the Los Angeles Lakers and the celebrated Game 3 loss to San Antonio that featured two early Donaghy foul calls on Amaré Stoudemire — he’ll also pick up a technical or two from the purple-and-orange police.
We get it, Andy. The town is Suns-crazy and you’re with us. Atta boy.
Way to keep your eyes on the prize: re-election.
My e-mail sits poised for an impending press release from Arpaio’s office, where America’s toughest sheriff lets us know if it would help out, he has pink boxers and a bologna sandwich waiting for Donaghy in the Paris Hilton Celebrity Wing of Tent City.
Got any ID?
Donaghy officiated only one game in Phoenix last year. But sure enough, it was one of the nights (Jan. 5, 2007) he apparently received a payment from friend and co-conspirator Thomas Martino.
Since we have at least one check cashing center on every corner here, this would be the perfect place, huh?
That same night, the 24-8 Suns wiped out a Miami Heat team without Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade and Antoine Walker — heck, even coach Pat Riley didn’t show up — in a 108-80 rout.
The Suns were an 18-point favorite. Gary Payton played 34 minutes, the last 10 with his tongue dragging across the hardwood.
If the gamblers needed help with that game, I’ve lost just a little respect for crime families everywhere.
Quick hitters
• Life keeps getting better and better for former Coyote Mike Comrie. Not only did he score a nice free agent deal in New York with the Islanders this summer, but the 26-year-old center is seriously dating bubble gum pop diva Hilary Duff. He shoots … he scores!
• I’ve got to admit I had no pulse for how deep the hatred for Byung-Hyun Kim ran in this town. Even before he self-destructed in his two ill-fated starts, the venom in letters and phone calls from readers told me what to expect when he pitched at home. And the results were self-fulfilling.
• This just in: Mark Reynolds has figured it out again.
• Dale Earnhardt will have to give up his No. 8. That’s bad news for memorabilia buffs but great for tattoo artists from Daytona to Darlington who can expect a deluge of repeat customers. Imagine the upheaval if this guy actually won a race now and then?
• Babe Ruth and Elvis Presley both died on Aug. 16. Now you can add my 401(k) to that list.
• Rick Tocchet is scheduled to be sentenced this morning for illegal gambling — unless of course, he had a good run at some all-night Texas Hold ’Em tournament last night and just can’t get away.
