Commissioner's demeanor reflects gravity of scandal

	David Stern took a measured tone with the media in addressing the allegations against former referee Tim Donaghy. Chris McGrath/Getty Images
	NBA Referee Betting Scandal Donaghy pleads guilty | Four games pinpointed BURNS: Guilty plea doesn't end NBA's headache WERTHEIM: How Donaghy's plea affects the NBA THOMSEN: NBA must find way to live with betting ASCHBURNER: Stern's legacy suddenly on the line THOMSEN: Other referees have cause for concern McCALLUM: Commissioner shows a different side BURNS: Fans will inevitably doubt Stern's NBA DEFORD: Betting probe like this one was inevitable MANNIX: An isolated case? Stern better hope so McCALLUM: The NBA missed some warning signs BURNS: Ex-Donaghy colleague expresses anger GALLERY: Infamous gambling scandals in sports SI FLASHBACK: Referees caught for tax evasion

Sports Illustrated senior writer Jack McCallum attended commissioner David Stern's news conference in New York on Tuesday. SI.com caught up with McCallum afterward to discuss Stern's first public comments about the betting allegations involving former referee Tim Donaghy.

SI.com: You've sat it on a lot of Stern news conferences. How did he come across in this one?

McCallum: His demeanor was completely different. He was nervous, which I've never seen him. Unlike most commissioners, he actually loves these sessions with the media, because he likes to show how quick he is on his feet, which he is. But this was different. In the beginning, with his opening statement that went about 15 minutes, it was unlike any Stern press conference in a long, long time, maybe ever. And that's understandable.

Even when he was responding to the brawl at the Palace, he knew what he was going to say, what he was going to do. That was his show. This was different. He loosened up a little bit, but never completely. Whenever he addresses the media like this, he always breaks down afterward into smaller groups to answer more questions. This time he didn't do that. That speaks to the critical nature of the moment and, as a lawyer, how conscious he is of not doing anything to hamper the investigation.

SI.com: What surprised you the most about his comments?

McCallum: The No. 1 thing that surprised me was that I thought he would want to make news. I thought he would announce an initiative, something that would be done in the future. Because that's his nature -- he's not going to sit there and take questions and be a dartboard for an hour and a half.

When that didn't happen, I really understood for the first time how frustrating this really must be for him. He's just putting out fires. He's essentially just waiting on a federal investigation about which he can't do much. Stern is a control guy and suddenly the thing he values most about the game -- its integrity -- is out of his hands. What he can do is very limited.

SI.com: What can he do then while the FBI continues its investigation?

McCallum: I have it on good authority that the league has started looking at the games Donaghy worked the past few seasons and, if it hasn't already, it is certainly going to look at the one game he worked that's been talked about more than any other: Game 3 of last season's Western Conference semifinals between the Suns and Spurs. It's incumbent on him to look at every game.

SI.com: What about how this situation might change the way the NBA oversees its referees?

McCallum: Regarding accountability for the calls they make, I can't even imagine that the NBA could do more. When I talk to refs, their No. 1 complaint is how much work they have to do, how much they have to explain their calls to the league office. It drives them absolutely crazy. I don't think you can ask for more from them in deconstructing their calls. Obviously, though, the steps in terms of investigating their private lives will increase

SI.com: Obviously there's been a lot of reporting of this story over the last week. What did Stern specifically seek to refute or clarify?

McCallum: One thing Stern wanted to refute was the idea that Donaghy was a gambler and the NBA did absolutely nothing about it. When there were allegations about Donaghy gambling in a casino, the NBA did in fact investigate that but could not substantiate it.

Stern also pointed out that Donaghy was in the top tier in accuracy among officials. I was surprised to hear that. I thought Donaghy was a very mediocre official.

SI.com: Will this scandal change the way in which games are officiated?

McCallum: One of the interesting things coming out now, if the refs weren't aware of this already, is how much Web sites and bloggers and interested parties are dissecting their calls. A whole other world has been unlocked to a lot of people. Now, all of their calls are public information. That could have a profound effect. They're definitely going to be talking about it. I think that's sad because their job is hard enough, but it's something they're going to have to deal with.

SI.com: Stern was asked about how the NBA can overcome this, how it can regain the confidence of fans. What is your feeling about that?

McCallum: People want sports. They need sports. But if any league will have trouble coming out of this, it's the NBA. It's at a very bad time with television ratings. And questions about refs' competence -- forget about their integrity -- were a problem before this. There's simply too much complaining about the fact that there aren't enough good referees.

Stern has existed for 23 years with massive amounts of PR problems, yet he emerges as routinely called the best commissioner in sports. I don't think the public has lost trust in him to get things done, but right now, as he said himself, this is the worst crisis he has faced. The league is kind of at a tipping point.