Scum bucket.

Tim Donaghy is still involved in a he-says, she-says disagreement with the publisher of his book, a disagreement I first heard about approximately a month ago while reading a TrueHoop post. Donaghy accused the publisher of taking his money. The publisher says Donaghy has threatened her life multiple times. (St. Petersburg Times)

Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy hoped his book, showing how he became the “central figure in a Mafia-controlled gambling ring,” would earn enough to pay off a $200,000 debt. He also hoped it would provide some financial security for himself and four daughters.

To date, he hasn’t gotten a dime.

Instead, he finds himself embroiled in a bitter dispute with his Largo-based publisher. He said she has refused to give him information about the financial success of his book, Personal Foul.

She said Donaghy threatened her, mentioning mob connections.

On top of that, she said, she has information that Donaghy may have committed more serious crimes. [...]

The initial printing, 10,000 books, sold within three weeks, said VTi chief executive Shawna Vercher. But Donaghy and Vercher’s relationship quickly deteriorated. In March, they cut ties.

Donaghy said he broke things off because Vercher tried to tack on additional costs and wouldn’t provide him with financial details.

Vercher’s side of the story: Donaghy called her office incessantly, became increasing hostile, demanded money and made veiled threats.

“Mr. Donaghy explained to me he had connections in the mob and the Gambino crime family and that they had an active member near me,” said Vercher, 33.

Donaghy vehemently denied ever saying anything like that.

“She’s using tabloid tactics to try to say I’m a bad person because the bottom line is she has not given me a full and accurate account of the profits and proceeds for Personal Foul,” said Donaghy, 43, who repeated a similar mantra about 20 times during an interview at a Panera Bread, near his Sarasota home.

Before Donaghy takes his cut, earnings from Personal Foul go to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which will make sure the NBA gets its money.

But Donaghy doesn’t want to wait for the government to sort things out. He wants Vercher to show him the figures, now.

“Why should I have to wait and go through all that when I have a contract in place,” Donaghy said. He now works sporadically with a New Jersey-based group called Firstep, doing interventions for people with gambling addictions.

Donaghy’s Tampa attorney, Nick Mooney, said Vercher failed to provide the government with a complete accounting, either.

Vercher said she is cooperating fully with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which refused to comment on the case.

I don’t know about you, but in cases like these I’m inclined to believe the person who isn’t a proven cheater, scumbag, liar, and felon. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Donaghy’s claims are refuted at every turn. I think they’re refuted because he’s not telling the truth. I know for a fact that people are going to talk about how Donaghy isn’t given a fair chance, and just because he was a cheating, lying, scumbag felon once doesn’t mean he’ll be one again. But just listen to the damn guy speak. Everything that comes out of his mouth is one big, giant lie designed to help himself no matter who it hurts.

Oh really, he talked about referee’s plots to ruin the NBA? Well yeah, he was trying to hype the book that was supposed to get him out of debt, even if he had to create a new tangled web of lies to do so. Donaghy is scum of the earth, the type of guy I wouldn’t splash water on if he was burning to death right in front of me. So keep threatening book publishers with the Gambino family, you big prick. What goes around comes around.

P.S. – For those of you who believe Donaghy’s web of lies, read this. You’ll find it more difficult to believe the piece of filth afterward.