Whistle Blowers?

I wonder.. Are the officials who turn in another referee or other pro sports official for gambling problems considered "whistle blowers?"

I've always believed that pro sports officials had their own agenda when it came to the games they officiated. That they are evil little minions that have a conspiracy to have one team win over another. And recent events in the world of sports seem to be supporting that belief more and more. I'd be remiss in my duties as Ref Hater if I didn't mention this.

Today NBA ref Tim Donaghy pleaded guilty to tipping off high-stakes gamblers with inside information and recommended which teams to bet on. Court papers say Donaghy began placing bets on NBA games in 2003. Starting last December, he began giving gambling associates sensitive information, including which crews would officiate games and how the various officials and players interacted. Before that NHL's Director of Officiating Andy Van Hellemond resigned after Media reports indicated he was accused of approaching members of his officiating staff for personal financial loans to pay gambling debts. It was reported that he had borrowed money from on-ice officials he supervised -- in amounts reported to range from $100 to $10,000 -- raising questions about possible conflict of interest because of the possibility that the lenders got preference for prime playoff assignments.

I'm sure that there have been multiple other instances in the other "Name" sports as well as the two I just talked about (with help from news articles.) I think there needs to be a major overhaul of the system that hires and manages these officials for all the different sports. I'm sure that many a fan can attest to the corrupt officials controlling the outcome of the games more than the players who actually play in the games. And now it appears that us fans were right all along.

PS.. This was on yahoo.com this morning. (8/16) More evidence that all officials in all sports are corrupt.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20070814/sc_livescience/majorleagueumpscallmorestrikesforpitchersofsamerace

Major League Baseball umpires are more likely to call strikes for pitchers of the same race or ethnicity, a new study finds.

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin analyzed every pitch from the 2004 through 2006 major league seasons to explore whether racial discrimination factored into umpires’ decisions to call a pitch a strike or a ball. The researchers found if a pitcher is of the same race or ethnicity as the home plate umpire, more strikes are called and his team’s chance of winning is improved.