Foul Play

During his 13 years as an NBA referee, Tim Donaghy officiated nearly 800 games for the league. Now, because of his alleged gambling problem and ties to the Mafia, a dark cloud hangs over the integrity of the sport.
Donaghy is accused of betting on basketball during the past two seasons, and an FBI investigation into his misdeeds was made public on July 20. Questions about his decision-making process on the court date back several years, and his performance during the Phoenix Suns-San Antonio Spurs game on May 12 is drawing renewed scrutiny. (He also worked during the infamous Detroit Pistons-Indiana Pacers matchup on November 19, 2004.) If he wagered on games where his calls affected the point spread, the NBA may never recover from what could be a growing scandal.
Sports and gambling have been intertwined for decades, and David Stern has always been conscientious about its presence looming over the league. Legendary for his image-conscious ways in governing the sport, I find it ironic that the commissioner's concern about players' behavior didn't extend to the officials. Stern penalized anyone who questioned the referees' calls -- most notably Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban -- and marketed the game at the expense of alienating die-hard fans. For those reasons, his plea of ignorance about Donaghy's situation rings hollow.
Cuban wrote in his July 20 blog entry that this predicament will serve as a starting point for change. Unfortunately, the only change I see is Donaghy's actions forever tainting how I look at the game.

V for Victory

Numerologists believed July 7 was a lucky day. For Venus Williams, luck was on her side as she beat Marion Bartoli to win her fourth Wimbledon title.
The irony of her victory at tennis' most prestigious event is she played poorly in the early rounds. In recent years, her game has declined because of various injuries ... but her latest career resurgence on the Grand Slam singles stage is due to more than just luck -- it's about perseverance.
On January 27, younger sister Serena Williams trounced Maria Sharapova to win her third Australian Open trophy. Like Venus, Serena had a low ranking entering the tournament and wasn't expected to advance far. However, she believed in herself when no one else did, and her skills ultimately led to victory.
When the sisters hit the tennis scene a decade ago, their father, Richard Williams, predicted they would dominate the game. At the time, critics wrote him off as a crazy Black guy ... but he was proven right by 2002. In addition to their individual success, they also share six doubles titles and an Olympic gold medal. They're also the only siblings in the history of the sport to play each other in championship matches at the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open.
Venus and Serena's accomplishments go beyond the tennis court, showing the world that just because the odds are against you doesn't mean you have to succumb to defeat. They're following the path created by Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe, and seeing them spread their wings in other areas is inspiring. (Venus started an interior design company, while Serena tried her hand at acting on dramas like Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and sitcoms like My Wife and Kids.)
The best part about the sisters' achievements is they avoided the pitfalls of fame. With any luck, they'll avoid the pitfalls of aging and continue to leave their mark on tennis.

I Miss My Independence

After two years of living on my own, an expired lease and rising housing costs forced me to move back home with my parents just before Independence Day. The good news is we have a cordial relationship ... but the bad news is I don't know how long it's going to take to find a new place -- especially since I refuse to deal with a broker.
My parents understood my dilemma when I informed them in May that I was embarking on a new apartment search. Paying hundreds of dollars for cramped living quarters is the norm in New York ... but if I'm going to pay a lot of money, I should do so because I'm getting what I want. My one-bedroom apartment was spacious, but it was also full of insects.
In the beginning, I was willing to overlook the building's flaws because its location provided easy access to transportation and was within walking distance of multiple amenities. I was also surrounded by quiet neighbors who took pride in where they lived, and being near Prospect Park was a bonus. However, as time went on, my reasons for leaving started to outnumber my reasons for staying.
Cleaning 1,000 square feet of living space on a regular basis made me realize I didn't need an apartment that big -- even if my parents claim I collect more junk than Fred Sanford. And because the building was in pre-war condition, its poor insulation meant the room temperature fluctuated between too cold and too hot, depending on the season. But dealing with centipedes and rodents was the deciding factor in giving up my apartment.
Living alone was a great self-confidence booster -- not that I was lacking in that department -- but returning home hasn't been without its sacrifices. (I'm paying my parents a monthly stipend while I'm under their roof.) Most of my possessions are in storage because I've outgrown my childhood bedroom, and the few items I brought with me clutter the area. To make matters worse, I'm readjusting to a lack of privacy.
As much as I enjoy being around my family, there's nothing like having your own place. After all, independence is liberating -- not just one day out of the year, but all year round.