University Park, Pa. -- In 2007, the sports industry was stunned to discover the illegal gambling conspiracy created by then-NBA referee Tim Donaghy and professional gambler Jimmy Battista. Battista never spoke with federal authorities and much of his role in the scandal has remained a mystery ... until now. In the new book, “Gaming the Game: The Story of the NBA Betting Scandal,” Penn State criminal justice expert Sean Patrick Griffin reveals information divulged by Battista himself about the intricate workings of the scheme. Griffin will discuss the book on the next episode of “Conversations from Penn State.”
The show will air at 9 p.m. this evening (July 14) on WPSU-TV. It also will air at noon Eastern time on Monday, July 18, on the Big Ten Network, and can be viewed at http://conversations.psu.edu online.
“It’s difficult, unless people read the book, to express how complicated and serious these people are about their business,” said Griffin.
Exhaustively researched, “Gaming the Game” includes never-before-heard interviews from other conspirators and explains how the scandal was linked to both organized crime and professional athletics, as well as the impact it’s had on the sports industry.
Griffin is an associate professor of criminal justice at Penn State Abington and is author of “Black Brothers, Inc.: The Violent Rise and Fall of Philadelphia's Black Mafia.” He began teaching at Abington campus in 2003 and focuses on organized crime, white-collar crime, international narcotics trafficking, American policing, and other areas. An active researcher, Griffin has authored peer-reviewed articles on topics ranging from police legitimacy, the social construction of white-collar crime, securities frauds, and political corruption. His research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and has been widely discussed in various media. He recently developed and implemented coursework regarding securities fraud and enforcement for audiences of professionals such as attorneys and accountants.
“Conversations from Penn State” is a series hosted by veteran interviewer Patty Satalia. The program offers thoughtful, in-depth exchanges with a broad range of remarkable people. In many cases, their trailblazing work has advanced their field and drawn national and worldwide attention. For more than 20 years, Satalia has engaged dynamic individuals from all walks of life and areas of expertise. No matter the guest, Satalia approaches each conversation with the same dedication to research and with a passion for helping people share their stories and insights with the world.
