Jimmy “The Sheep” Battista pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transmit wagering information for his role in the Tim Donaghy NBA betting scandal. The Sheep’s partner in crime, Tim Donaghy, was recently released from jail and attempting to sell a tell-all book about the NBA referee gambling and game fixing culture. The Sheep has a book of his own he’d like to sell.

A source close to Battista says he had a Big 5 of refs he could count on to swing games in his favor. There will always be the issue of trusting information that comes from a shady source but David Stern needs to address all of the allegations and put the issue to the bed. If he doesn’t say anything while people claim to have proof of game fixing and one of the main refs believed to be involved (Dick Bavetta) suddenly announces he’ll retire, Stern is making a big mistake. The problem, true or not, will ruin the league.

Source: Gambler claims 13 referees involved in NBA betting scandal [7Sports Boston]