Former National Basketball Association referee Tim Donaghy was sentenced to 15 months in prison today, after being found guilty of betting on games he officiated and helping other gamblers. Donaghy placed bets upon more than 100 NBA games he officiated from 2003 through 2006.

Donaghy's attorney John Lauro unsuccessfully requested only probation for his client, on the grounds that he suffers from a "pathological'' gambling addition and diminished mental state. Instead, three years of probation was tacked onto his sentence, which was only half the 27-33 months demanded by prosecutors.The relatively light punishment reflected Donaghy's cooperation with investigators.

"I brought shame on myself and my family," Donaghy said, presumably before also pointing out that the sky is blue, and people are really digging the new Batman movie.

Donaghy's former classmates were sentenced last week in the same court. Thomas Martino, 42, received a year and a day in jail after pleading guilty to conspiring to defraud the NBA, while James Battista, a professional gambler, was sentenced to 15 months. Both men said Donaghy told them which NBA games to bet on.

Martino and Battista, who attended Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield, Pennsylvania with Donaghy, approached him in December 2006 about some inside betting. The three agreed that Donaghy would provide picks on games through Martino to Battista, and that the referee would get his share of kickbacks.

While NBA commissioner David Stern has portrayed Donaghy as a rogue ref who worked alone, the disgraced official has sparked a wider FBI probe after claiming the corruption spread further. He said several other officials have committed actions in violation of league rules, including relationships with coaches, club executives and players. According to Donaghy, match rigging took place at a 2002 NBA playoff game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings officiated by Bavetta.

The NBA is hoping to distance itself from the scandal before the start of the next season in three months, having already changed their officiating staff organization and looked into Donaghy's actions. Lawrence Pedowitz, who is looking into the Donaghy affiar for the league, said his investigation is still underway, with a final report to be delivered to Stern.

"I am conducting additional interviews and hope to obtain additional information from the government," Pedowitz said. "My review is well-advanced but not complete. I have no final date at this time for the issuance of my report."

"Though we believe no sentence would ever be able to repair or justify the damage caused by this criminal and scoundrel, we are glad to finally put this behind us," said Lamell McMorris, a National Basketball Referees Association spokesman.

That's right, he just got called a soundrel.