University News
Tim Donaghy, the former NBA referee implicated in the leagueӰԭs worst betting and game-fixing scandal, will speak via Zoom to a class taught by Declan Hill, an expert on match-fixing and sports corruption.
April 17, 2020
Declan Hill, D.Phil., an associate professor in the University of New HavenӰԭs Investigations department, has, throughout his career as a journalist and professor, seen firsthand the prevalence of sports corruption and the dangers of match-fixing.
Through his work, he has connected with Tim Donaghy, a former referee who was at the center of the leagueӰԭs infamous betting and game-fixing scandal in 2007, and was caught gambling on the very games he officiated. Donaghy, who was investigated by the and threatened by the mob, was sentenced to more than a year in prison. The film ӰԭInside Game,Ӱԭ which is based on the scandal, was released late last year.
Dr. Hill has invited Donaghy to speak via to his ӰԭAmerican Sports CorruptionӰԭ class. The lecture, which will take place on Wednesday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m., is open to all University of New Haven students, as well as to the media and the public, who can join as observers.
ӰԭBy having Tim Donaghy speak with students, I want them to learn from primary voices,Ӱԭ said Dr. Hill. ӰԭIt is important they hear from those who have firsthand knowledge of corruption and match-fixing.Ӱԭ
Joining Donaghy for the discussion will be Chris Rasmussen, a global money laundering and match-fixing expert who ran the sports monitoring section of the , and Bill Olsen, a former athlete who witnessed sports corruption firsthand and is now an anti-bribery investigator.
Both Rasmussen and Olsen will join Dr. Hill in teaching courses as part of a graduate certificate in sports integrity the University is launching.
The new graduate certificate will enable students to develop skills such as how to determine if a game is rigged. Addressing sports corruption requires professionals in several fields and is an area that Dr. Hill says is seeing increasing demand.
ӰԭThe United States is going through a huge transformation with the legalization of sports gambling,Ӱԭ said Dr. Hill. ӰԭThis is an important way to train professionals, such as law enforcement officers, lawyers, and, even, journalists to identify and investigate sports corruption.Ӱԭ
Dr. Hill hopes the discussion will give prospective students in the graduate certificate program a flavor of what itӰԭs like to be in a sports corruption class at the University. He is sure the experience will shine a light on the dangers of gambling addiction and organized crime.
ӰԭIt isnӰԭt a pretty story,Ӱԭ said Dr. Hill. ӰԭIt isnӰԭt glamorous, and I want students to see that. No one will be tempted to get into sports corruption after hearing from Tim Donaghy.Ӱԭ
To register for the Zoom meeting, please email Michele Vittorio at mvittorio@newhaven.edu. Please include Ӱԭformer NBA refereeӰԭ in the subject line.
The Charger Blog
Ashanti Truelsen Ӱԭ23, Ӱԭ24 MBA shares her inspiring journey from playing softball to landing a role as an inventory analyst at NBCUniversal. She reflects on how the UniversityӰԭs supportive network paved the way for her career success.
The Charger Blog
Hundreds of Chargers took part in the UniversityӰԭs two-day Career Fair, talking with recruiters and employees from more than 100 companies, organizations, and agencies in the engineering, arts, business, healthcare, criminal justice, and nonprofit fields.
The Charger Blog
Beatrice Glaviano Ӱԭ26 reflects on rediscovering herself through personal challenges, the Hedgehog Concept, and her passion for healthcare and research.