Former NBA official Tim Donaghy still can't go anywhere near an NBA game, but the world of professional wrestling should be the perfect fit.
Donaghy was charged with fixing NBA games back in 2007. The NBA called him a rouge "bad apple" who was caught up in a gambling scheme that resulted in him being sentenced to 15 months in jail in July 2008. Donaghy pleaded guilty to two federal charges related to gambling and the NBA has washed their hands of him ever since.
Donaghy won't ever be allowed to officiate a sports game or pro competition for the rest of his life. That said, professional wrestling isn't exactly an official competition. It's a fixed brand of entertainment that has a pre-determined winner. And, with his background, he'd be a natural heel in the industry that is always looking for the right types of characters.
As per a story by Sports Illustrated's Justin Barrasso, Donaghy has agreed to appear as a referee for the Major League Wrestling (MLW) promotion. He said of his starting to work in the professional wrestling world:
“Pro wrestling is entertainment, and I always joked the NBA was a form of entertainment and I compared it a little bit to pro wrestling behind the scenes. When I was growing up, I always enjoyed pro wrestling, guys like Hulk Hogan and Ivan Putski. I thought it would be fun to get involved and see where it goes.”