That's one Jake O'Donnell one of the most experienced NBA refs in league history.
Us Boston Celtic fans certainly know him well. He was outrageously biased against the *green and white*, for decades! If you don't believe me just ask Tommy Heinsohn.
Every time he'd show up in Boston the point spread would freakin' narrow. And fans all over Boston Garden would continually ask/beg him, "Jake, when are you going to retire?"
So I'm out at a restaurant tonight passing the 45 minutes we have to wait for a table.
And I start talking to an 'old coot' in Philly attire. No, it wasn't an outfit of denim shorts, Fila sneakers, and a black tee shirt with a 14k chain on top of it....the guy was decked out in old Philadelphia Eagles threads (from the Randall era!) - yeah, a week after their season ended so ignominiously.
Anyways the guy told me he knows Jake O'Donnell well...
AND that Jake, an NBA referee, used to consort with a huge, well-known bookie, ALL THE TIME.
The guy's name was Mike Darmeni (spelling?).
According to my source, Jake didn't just say hello to this guy on the corner stoop. No, he was so tight with this bookie that he even publicly played golf tournaments with him. (Some 2-man event at Llanerch CC was booked as evidence.)
Recall that the NBA endured more than a little bit of a *scandal* a few years ago over the gambling exploits of referee Tim Donaghy.
And in searching for *jake odonnell* I came across a recent article where he comes out of retirement and sanctimoniously criticizes other ref's for appearances of impropriety!
Do I think Jake was betting on NBA games?
No idea.
But I do know from experience that these Philly guys bet on everything, all the time. Heck, when I was in Philly I saw guys betting on how many blocks Mutombo would have in a game, what week of the NFL season Steve Young would suffer his first concussion, and even on the total annual snow accumulation at the Philadelphia International Airport (betting started in September!). And there's probably 11 year olds in South Philly government schools taking bets!
If Jake O'Donnell wasn't betting on the games he was refereeing I'll wager he was at least betting on other stuff.
And he was no doubt taking out the agony of his losses on the Boston Celtics!
11 comments:
Jake O'Donnell did the job better and for longer than almost anyone else. Your "research" ("I do know from experience that these Philly guys bet on everything, all the time"), references ("just ask Tommy Heinsohn") and anonymous sources are laughable at best. It's not difficult to believe home team fans would ever accuse a referee of bias. Also, you might not realize this but people do not "come out of retirement" just to be quoted in an article - the writers seek them out. You're dancing around libel without anything to show for it. Keep your unfounded accusations to yourself unless you're looking for a lawsuit.
Is that you Jake? Or Jake's attorney?
I didn't know that referee's had fans...
I will consult my attorney as to whether or not this *laughable* post rises to the level of libel.
But only after I stop laughing!
Email me on the side if you, whoever you are, would prefer a non-public discourse.
Jake O'Donnell was the worst NBA referee that I ever saw. The person who said he "did the job better and for longer than almost anyone else" must be a personal friend of his, or something. It wasn't because he was incompetant. The man was petty, vindictive, and corrupt.
I grew up in Portland Oregon, and am old enough to have witnessed the Drexler era, which means I am also old enough to remember Jake O'Donnell. The way he singled out Clyde(and Buck Williams), and by extension the Blazers, was like nothing that I have seen anywhere else in professional sports. If the Blazers were playing a playoff game, and he was officiating, you knew what the outcome was going to be. I'm not sure if the Blazers ever won a playoff game that he officiated. I still remember how I would get knots in my stomach as a kid when I would watch those playoff games and they would anounce that O'Donnell was one of the officials. I felt cheated before the game even began. He was like the Boogieman to Blazer fans.
When Jake stuck it to Clyde, he wasn't just doing Clyde a disservice, he was sticking it to everyone on the team, all of the coaches, everyone in the stands who paid good money to watch thier home team, and all the little kids who were rooting for the Blazers, but I don't think that bothered him at all. I think that he just thought that is was funny.
After Clyde was traded to the Rockets, Jake stuck it to Clyde in a playoff game against the Suns, and the Rockets lost that game, but O'Donnell was finally punished for his behavior, and Clyde finally won a ring. Suck on that Jake.
Hello,
I agree with the first poster. Jake O'Donnell worked for 28 years. In one news story, he actually went with news reporters who questioned a call to the news station to review the call immediately after the game - and he was vindicated. He was a true class act. Unlike you. I met him years ago and still have his contact info. I'm not a lawyer but my son is and I'm going to have ask him to see if we have lawsuit potential here if you keep this post up. Have a day.
I don't think Jake was betting on games. However, having witnessed the way he treated Clyde and Buck Williams firsthand during the early 90s I can tell you that he was completely guilty of letting his personal dislike for them affect the way he officiated Blazer games. Earl Strom was, in my opinion, the greatest referee in the history of the league, officiated many Blazers games during the Drexler era, and you don't hear about the same kind of behavior from him. Jake simply didn't like Drexler and took it out on him whenever he could. Even after Clyde was traded to Houston.
I don't think Jake was betting on games. However, having witnessed the way he treated Clyde and Buck Williams firsthand during the early 90s I can tell you that he was completely guilty of letting his personal dislike for them affect the way he officiated Blazer games. Earl Strom was, in my opinion, the greatest referee in the history of the league, officiated many Blazers games during the Drexler era, and you don't hear about the same kind of behavior from him. Jake simply didn't like Drexler and took it out on him whenever he could. Even after Clyde was traded to Houston.
Jake O'Donnell was a degenerate gambler without a shred of honesty or integrity. I hate to burst your bubble, but first of all, jake is a public figure and thus, is fair game. Secondly, the defense for libel and slander is proving the statement(s) as truthful so good luck proving otherwise- your son probably already told you by now. Kudos to jake for vindicating himself on one call, but after he ejected Drexler, the league waived the fine and didn't even need Drexler's side of the story before ousting him from the game because it was the last straw for ol' jake the snake. If he were a class act, he wouldn't refused to shake hands with Clyde and Buck Williams. Good riddance to that clown, the game is better off without him.
THe reason Drexler and Williams got it stuck to them was because they were two of the biggest crybabies in the NBA. Any NBA official would attest to that. Jake wasn't the only one. I for one was quite pleased as the Bulls over came a 15 point 4th qtr Blazer lead in game 6 in 1992. Particularly fun watching "Team Whine" choke their way back to Portland.
Jake O'Donnell was a terrible referee. Back in the 1980's I used to cringe when I watched a game and he was one of the refs.
He was arrogant and
Anonymous you're a fuggin nut gobbler. Jake O'Donnell was one of the top 3 WORST refs in nba history. And you're a tool for defending the douche bag!
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