Donaghy endures bad beat

It's a good bet that Tim Donaghy has more than a few regrets. All he had to do was meet the low standards that the NBA sets for its officials and he could have had an easy life.

Instead, Donaghy has been doing hard time.

The disgraced former NBA referee -- that's his unofficial title -- is set to be released from a federal prison camp in Pensacola, Fla., on Wednesday. He's serving a 15-month sentence for his part in a basketball betting scheme and will complete his sentence at a Tampa halfway house.

It has been revealed that Donaghy was roughed up in prison in November. Another inmate, claiming ties to the New York mob, beat Donaghy with a "heavy object," causing severe knee and leg injuries. (Can you hear David Stern chuckling?)

According to the Associated Press, Donaghy claimed he was told he would be shot in the head and his kneecaps would be broken.

Worse things have happened to guys like Donaghy in prison, but there's no reason to go into detail.

After his release -- and if the mob doesn't get to him first -- Donaghy plans to write a book on his years as an NBA referee. It should be a good read, cover to (fixed) cover.

The working title could be: "Bad Beats: Tales of a Losing Gambler and His Hard Times in the Prison Shower."

• LAKER COMPLAINERS -- Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson enjoys manipulating referees with sarcastic comments, and his players are picking up on the act.

Kobe Bryant constantly barks at officials and flails his arms to beg for calls. But he might not be the Lakers' biggest complainer.

From T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times: "Pau Gasol is the reason Bryant has the chance to win another title, but he really is a big baby, whining on almost every foul call. Just one more reason why it's so difficult to embrace these guys."

• A FALLEN LEAF -- Once projected to be an NFL great, Ryan Leaf has turned into a great screw-up. The former San Diego Chargers quarterback, the No. 2 pick in the 1998 draft, passed for only 14 touchdowns in his pathetic career.

And Leaf, 33, just keeps falling.

A warrant was issued in Texas for Leaf's arrest May 20 after he failed to turn himself in on drug and burglary charges, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Leaf is a former West Texas A&M quarterbacks coach.

So whatever happened to the guy picked No. 1 in 1998? Peyton Manning has 333 career touchdown passes, one Super Bowl victory and no warrants issued for his arrest.

• BROWN SCHEDULES DOWN -- Texas football coach Mack Brown likes to lobby for votes when his team is a BCS national championship contender. If he's doing the same this season, his cries should fall on deaf ears.

The Longhorns' nonconference schedule includes games against Louisiana-Monroe, Texas-El Paso, Central Florida and Wyoming.

That might pass as a decent schedule for Kansas State.

COMPILED BY MATT YOUMANS LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL