Donaghy "very sorry" for actions

BRADENTON, Fla. — Disgraced referee Tim Donaghy was in a sorry state on Thursday.

A day after coming clean about his role in an NBA gambling ring, he was back home in Florida and — in his first public comments — apologizing for his disgraceful actions.

"I'm very sorry about what happened," Donaghy, 40, told the New York Daily News outside his home.

"I'm not going to say anything beyond that. This is an ongoing case — I can't say anything else."

Donaghy had plenty to say in Brooklyn Federal Court this week, pleading guilty to two gambling-related charges and telling a judge he was paid $30,000 to pass inside information on professional basketball games to his bookie buddies.

He admitted he even made picks in games he was assigned to referee, using special codes to communicate with cronies James Battista, 42, and Thomas Martino, 41.

"I was in a unique position to pick the outcome of NBA games," he told a judge Wednesday. "I received cash payments for successful picks."

The 13-year NBA veteran, who resigned last month after his name surfaced in an FBI probe, has blamed a severe gambling problem and depression for his behavior.

He also could face charges in Arizona if investigations by the league and FBI show that he deliberately miscalled two Phoenix Suns playoff games this year, authorities said.

Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas has sent letters to commissioner David Stern and the head of the FBI in Washington, saying he wants to know whether Donaghy gambled on the two Suns road playoff games, provided inside information to gamblers or helped determine the outcome by making bad officiating calls.

The Suns beat the Lakers 113-110 in the April 29 game, but lost to the Spurs 108-101 on May 12 in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Notes

• The Pistons signed free-agent G-F Jarvis Hayes. The 6-foot-8 Hayes appeared in 81 games last season for the Wizards, averaging 7.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 20.1 minutes.

• The Clippers signed G Guillermo Diaz. Diaz, Los Angeles' second-round pick in 2006, averaged 10.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in five games for the Clippers' Las Vegas Summer League team.

• The Spurs signed free-agent swingman Ime Udoka. Ukoka, who was undrafted out of Portland State, averaged 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 75 games with the Trail Blazers last season.

• The Wizards traded the rights to Spanish G Juan Carlos Navarro to the Grizzlies for a future first-round draft pick. Washington drafted Navarro in the second round, 40th overall, in 2002. He never joined the team, though, instead playing for FC Barcelona in the Spanish league.

• Free-agent G Robert Hite signed with the Nets. Hite played in 12 games for the Heat last season, averaging 4.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 11.3 minutes.

• Gene Bartow, a former coach at Memphis State and UCLA, was hired as president of Hoops LP, the company that operates the Grizzlies and their arena, the FedExForum.

The Arizona Republic contributed to this report.