DaytonDailyNews.com

I was more than a little surprised to learn federal investigators have been targeting NBA referee Dick Bavetta in connection with the probe into disgraced ref Tim Donaghy. Retired ref Hugh Hollins said the investigators "questioned me about Dick Bavetta more than they did about Tim Donaghy."

Of course Donaghy, in the sentencing phase of his gambling trial, said Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals was fixed by two officials he called "company men." Ted Bernhardt, Bob Delaney and Bavetta called that game.

I have a difficult time believing Bavetta would fix anything, but one never knows. He's been an NBA ref since 1975, never missing a game. I ran across him in 1982 while covering the Cleveland Cavaliers for The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.

Out comes this strange little guy who walked quickly and called fouls even quicker, with absolutely no regard for the flow of the game. And that's the rub. Most NBA officials pay attention to the flow, try to call fouls evenly — hence the notorious makeup call — and in the last few minutes of the fourth quarter, they try to make as few calls as possible so the players can decide the outcome.

If Bavetta ever understood any of that, it was long after I stopped covering the NBA, which was the mid-1990s. If he saw a foul, he called it, no matter the circumstance. He was innocent to a fault.

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gsimms@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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