As a teen with an average academic record, Donaghy had a ringer take the SAT for him so he could gain admittance to prestigious Villanova University, which he attended for free because his mom worked there, according to a source at Donaghy's alma mater, Cardinal O'Hara HS in Springfield, Pa.
The ref puffed up his official NBA résumé with fibs - and was shunned by other league officials after punching out fellow whistleblower Joey Crawford three years ago, several sources said.
"When Tim didn't get his way, he'd act like an out-of-control child,"
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But when it came to getting an elite job as an NBA official, Donaghy didn't have to resort to lying or cheating - he had help on his way up.
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But the biggest local referee was Jake O'Donnell, a legendary NBA official who hails from nearby Clifton and helped others from the area break into the league - including current officials Crawford and two Cardinal O'Hara alums, Mike "Duke" Callahan and Ed Malloy.
That trio became a tight-knit group.
"You never met three better people," Coach Gardler said.
Soon joining their ranks was Donaghy, who worked just five years in the minor-league CBA before moving up, partly due to O'Donnell's help, to a league that paid him six figures, sources who know the group said.
Donaghy often joined the others to hang out after games or have beers together when they weren't working, the sources said.
There was a former ref on some ESPN show when this news broke who talked about the Good 'ol Boy system the league has for refs. This seems to confirm that contention...sounds like a problem to me.
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