Donaghy's sentence to start Tuesday

Tuesday marks a historic moment for the NBA, but not one it wants to commemorate. The league contends that for the first time in major professional U.S. sports, a referee will walk into prison a convicted felon on a gambling charge related to his employment.

It is an embarrassing day not only for Tim Donaghy, 41, who will report to a minimum-security federal camp in Pensacola, Fla., to start a 15-month sentence, but also for a league with a lucrative global footprint and a system of officiating that has taken a blow.

Donaghy pleaded guilty 13 months ago to felony charges of wire fraud and transmitting wagering tips through interstate commerce. He admitted to betting on NBA games, but neither the league nor federal investigators found evidence he wagered on games he worked. He was fined $500,000 and ordered to pay the NBA restitution costs.

Donaghy, enduring divorce proceedings and living in Florida with a friend, was sentenced in July. The former referee could be let out after 12 months.

"Needless to say, this is a difficult time. ... Tim is accepting of his situation," said his attorney, John Lauro. "He understands that he was going to be punished. But he's also looking to rebuilding his life. That's his hope."

A book might be in his future. "The (full) story has not come out yet," Lauro said. Donaghy, post-prison, also is considering counseling gambling addicts.

Meanwhile, the NBA awaits results of an investigation by Lawrence Pedowitz, hired by Commissioner David Stern, regarding its hierarchy of referees and potential gambling issues. Beyond reorganization of the officiating department this summer, further reform is possible because it was the FBI, not the NBA, that stumbled upon the corruption.

"Once you ruin the integrity of the sport, it is tough to regain it," said Hall of Fame basketball player and TNT analyst Charles Barkley, who has his own gambling issues. "The basketball family and fans need to know if there's anybody else involved."

The NBA says no. Donaghy's father, Gerry, a former college basketball referee, isn't so certain about the league's credibility. He remains "angry at the whole NBA — especially David Stern," he said in an interview with USA TODAY.

His son is "no worse than a lot of other people who should have been helped, not chastised, like the NBA did to him," Gerry Donaghy said. Stern "stood up there (at the Finals in June) and put on a show ... and called (Tim) a rogue referee, when there's at least 10 other guys floating around in that organization who are doing things just as bad."