I guess it goes part and parcel with livin' in the US of A, but having to put up with wannabe hardasses constantly gets to me.

How else would you explain a certain Phoenix prosecutor whose name we won't mention because we're sure he's enjoying his Google News alerts asking for the federal files on former NBA referee Tim Donaghy?

According to the AP, the prosecutor wants to see if Donaghy "broke any Arizona laws while officiating two Phoenix Suns-Los Angeles Lakers playoff games in 2007," which makes no sense because Donaghy only officiated one game in that series, it was played in California, and the Suns comfortably won.

It'd be lovely if the prosecutor in question actually admitted to the real reason for the inquiry. It'd be nice if he just told us that he wants to see if the Phoenix Suns were royally screwed in Game 3 of that year's Western Conference semis; a game in which the Suns were royally screwed.

I keep a lot of games on DVD, but I don't have that one, though I did watch it twice before deleting it from the trusty Tivo (I was at a Wanda Jackson concert that night, it was my almost-birthday). What I do remember is the Suns getting royally screwed, the officiating was horrid, but it wasn't coming from Donaghy. Eddie F. Rush, even some Suns fans admit, was the real culprit behind most of that nonsense.

But this doesn't matter to this prosecutor, most observers, and a lot of fans. For them, poorly officiated game + Donaghy's presence = FIX!, in spite of all the evidence to the contrary.

And in spite of the real reason Phoenix lost that series - Amare Stoudemire's moronic decision to leave the bench, a move he knew would cost him a (unfortunate, but deserved) suspension. I'll let Matt Moore have the penultimate word:

"As someone that was more outraged by that series as anyone, I'll still say someone should tell Phoenix that this won't put Steve Nash's nose back together in Game 1, nor will it keep Amare Stoudemire on the bench after Robert Horry cheapshot."

By all means, fill up the comment box with talks about a fix and the NBA being on the take. Blow yourself up like a big puffer fish and sound righteous. Request some documents, there, tough guy.