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Bob Delaney (basketball referee)
Encyclopedia
Bob Delaney is a former police officer
and is a professional basketball referee
in the National Basketball Association
(NBA) from 1987-88 NBA season
to 2010-11 NBA season. Beginning the 2006-07 NBA season
, Delaney has officiated in 1,182 regular season games, 120 playoff games, and seven NBA Finals
games. In addition, Delaney was assigned to the 1998 NBA All-Star Game. He wears the uniform number 26.
with a B.S.
in Criminology
. He is a 2006 inductee into NJCU's Athletics Hall of Fame.
After finishing college, Delaney joined the New Jersey State Police
. During the mid-1970s, Delaney worked as an undercover officer as part of an operation known as "Project Alpha".
Project Alpha was an investigation into the New Jersey
organized crime
scene. Delaney and a group of undercover officers posed as businessmen in the trucking industry trying to get out from under the pressures of union interests. This would open an association with the crime families who would alleviate their business pressures from the unions for a price. Delaney would assume the identity of "Bobby Covert", a deceased resident of New Jersey, for his protection. While doing all this, he had to maintain a profile as a reputable business owner and keep in mind his primary responsibility as a police officer. Mobsters nicknamed him "Bobby Smash".
Project Alpha came to an end in 1977 when Delaney failed to check in with his commanding officers because he went on a business trip for his trucking company. In 1981, Delaney testified before a United States Senate
committee on organized crime led by Senator Sam Nunn
about his experiences with the most powerful organized crime syndicates in New Jersey during his three year undercover operation. Delaney testified that over 100 cases against the mobsters were opened in state and federal courts as a result of Project Alpha, and that the majority of those charged either ended up in prison, on the run, or dead. Soon after testifying in the Senate, Delaney retired as a law enforcement officer and devoted full-time to becoming a basketball referee. In 2008, Delaney wrote about his undercover experience in Covert: My Years Infiltrating the Mob, with co-author Dave Scheiber.
Delaney recently completed a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from Saint Mary's College of California.
(CBA) for four years before being selected by scouts to officiate in the NBA, beginning in 1987.
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
and is a professional basketball referee
Official (basketball)
In basketball, an official is a person who has the responsibility to enforce the rules and maintain the order of the game. The title of official also applies to the scorers and timekeepers, as well as other personnel that have an active task in maintaining the game...
in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA) from 1987-88 NBA season
1987-88 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls*Rookie of the Year: Mark Jackson, New York Knicks*Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls...
to 2010-11 NBA season. Beginning the 2006-07 NBA season
2006-07 NBA season
The 2006–07 NBA season was the 61st season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on October 31, 2006 and ran through April 18, 2007. The league fielded 30 teams, each playing an 82 game regular season schedule. The top eight seeds from each conference reached the NBA...
, Delaney has officiated in 1,182 regular season games, 120 playoff games, and seven NBA Finals
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
games. In addition, Delaney was assigned to the 1998 NBA All-Star Game. He wears the uniform number 26.
New Jersey State Police
Delaney is a 1973 graduate of New Jersey City UniversityNew Jersey City University
New Jersey City University is a public university in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. It is a member of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities....
with a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Criminology
Criminology
Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society...
. He is a 2006 inductee into NJCU's Athletics Hall of Fame.
After finishing college, Delaney joined the New Jersey State Police
New Jersey State Police
The New Jersey State Police is the state police force for the state of New Jersey. It is a general-powers police agency with state wide jurisdiction when requested by the Governor, designated by Troop Sectors.-History:...
. During the mid-1970s, Delaney worked as an undercover officer as part of an operation known as "Project Alpha".
Project Alpha was an investigation into the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
scene. Delaney and a group of undercover officers posed as businessmen in the trucking industry trying to get out from under the pressures of union interests. This would open an association with the crime families who would alleviate their business pressures from the unions for a price. Delaney would assume the identity of "Bobby Covert", a deceased resident of New Jersey, for his protection. While doing all this, he had to maintain a profile as a reputable business owner and keep in mind his primary responsibility as a police officer. Mobsters nicknamed him "Bobby Smash".
Project Alpha came to an end in 1977 when Delaney failed to check in with his commanding officers because he went on a business trip for his trucking company. In 1981, Delaney testified before a United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
committee on organized crime led by Senator Sam Nunn
Sam Nunn
Samuel Augustus Nunn, Jr. is an American lawyer and politician. Currently the co-chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Threat Initiative , a charitable organization working to reduce the global threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, Nunn served for 24 years as a...
about his experiences with the most powerful organized crime syndicates in New Jersey during his three year undercover operation. Delaney testified that over 100 cases against the mobsters were opened in state and federal courts as a result of Project Alpha, and that the majority of those charged either ended up in prison, on the run, or dead. Soon after testifying in the Senate, Delaney retired as a law enforcement officer and devoted full-time to becoming a basketball referee. In 2008, Delaney wrote about his undercover experience in Covert: My Years Infiltrating the Mob, with co-author Dave Scheiber.
Delaney recently completed a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from Saint Mary's College of California.
Basketball officiating career
While serving as a police officer, Delaney was also a high school basketball referee in New Jersey from 1972 to 1982 and later officiated in the Continental Basketball AssociationContinental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
(CBA) for four years before being selected by scouts to officiate in the NBA, beginning in 1987.
External links
- Bob Delaney National Basketball Referees Association
- Never Be Average - Bob Delaney National Basketball Referees Association (July 7, 2006).