THE CORRUPT SOCIETY

Capitalism tarnishes everything it touches. Recently we have had the sporting world shocked with tales of cycling drug cheats, football managers and "bungs" and now we have basketball entering the rogues’ gallery. "American sport was rocked yesterday when a leading basketball referee pleaded guilty to passing betting tips to professional gamblers, after an FBI operation linked to the Gambino Mafia family. Tim Donaghy also admitted placing bets on games over which he officiated, in what the head of the National Basketball Association (NBA) described as the the "worst situation" he had ever experienced for the sport." (Times, 17 August) RD