Report: Gambling ref contacted colleague

NEW YORK, July 14 (UPI) -- Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy made scores of phone calls to a fellow referee on days he gave inside tips to professional U.S. gamblers, Fox News said Monday.

Citing court documents and phone records, FOXNews.com said Donaghy placed 134 calls to referee Scott Foster between October 2006 and April 2007 -- more than the 126 calls he made to his bookie during the time period during which he has admitted either betting on games or providing inside information to gamblers. Most of the calls were brief and occurred before or after games Donaghy called and on which he has admitted he placed bets.

Donaghy pleaded guilty in August 2007 to two felony counts related to his admission and could face up to 25 years in jail and a $500,000 fine when he is sentenced this month. He has not been accused of manipulating the outcomes of the games.

It was not known what Donaghy and Foster talked about, Fox said. Federal prosecutors declined to comment on the report but Fox said former federal prosecutors with no role in the investigation say the calls are suspicious because of their frequency and duration and because of the days they were placed.

NBA Commissioner David Stern says Donaghy was a "rogue," acting independently. Donaghy has alleged other NBA officials are corrupt.