Things that stood out to me from David Stern's press conference this morning:

• If I'm not mistaken, David Stern somehow made it through all of the press conference (at least the part that I saw before my feed froze) without once saying the words "mob" or "mafia." He didn't even make a passing reference, and the only question he really got about that angle he ignored completely. I can imagine why he had that approach -- it's a thicket of bad PR and legal complications -- but all the same, it seems odd not to at least address the notion that the mob might have been influencing games.
• Tim Donaghy has been hung out to dry. Stern has closed the door every way possible on that guy. He didn't really allow, in any way, for the possiblity of Donaghy's innocence -- a much harsher line than the media or the judicial system would allow at this point. Stern talked about punishments and prevention. He said things like he wanted to see if that Suns-Spurs game was one of the games that was gambled on, which implies with certainty that some were gambled on. He even, oddly, told the world Donaghy's income last year. (Per Stern, $260,000.) The most interesting question of the conference came late, when someone asked how Stern knew Donaghy was guilty, when he hadn't even been charged with anything. Stern said that Donaghy's lawyer had said that Donaghy was contemplating a plea. Contemplating a plea? That is the same as guilt? I assume the FBI has told Stern more than he is telling us.
• This press conference was, I thought, very successful in explaining whether or not the league let Donaghy referee games when he was under suspicion of gambling. There was one allegation that he had been in a casino, and the league, according to Stern, investigated the hell out of it and came up with nothing. Stern was poised and firm in his insistence that the FBI first called with word of the investigation on June 20, and he first met with them the following day.
• Stern went to great lengths to explain the fancy background and asset checks that the league has been doing on referees for the last two years, but no one that I saw asked about the reported million dollar Florida home that is said to have raised eyebrows with at least one of Donaghy's colleagues.
• David Stern seemed to have Las Vegas's back a little. He volunteered at a moment when it seemed a bit forced that it was his understanding that the bets Donaghy is said to have placed were not through Las Vegas. He also said that he canceled a scheduled meeting about how Las Vegas might fit into the NBA's future because it seemed unseemly at this time.
• UPDATE: Stern said that the main thing he has done, since learning of this, is prepare for this press conference. Working with the FBI, and being eager not to mess with their investigation, clearly there have been some things that need to be worded very carefully. One topic that clearly gave Stern pause was whether or not there were other NBA referees involved. (And, I should add, one notable moment I just quoted below, about whether or not we know Donaghy actually made improper calls that affected games.) On that topic he said, essentially, that at this time as far as he was aware there were not other NBA referees involved.
• Stern was totally convincing when he pointed out that you can have the best background checks in the world, like the FBI, the CIA, and the Justice Department have, and still have the occasional bad apple. If people are determined and criminal, he said (another way he hung Donaghy out to dry ... if Donaghy is somehow acquitted, you can bet David Stern will be sued) they can slip through the cracks.

An interesting exchange, from the transcript of the press conference:

Q. So they are looking into the other referees, as well?

COMMISSIONER DAVID STERN: Not exactly. But we don't know exactly -- we know a little bit and we know that at this point, that we understand that it's an isolated instance, but I don't want to comment about their investigation or what they are doing because I've been asked not to; indeed, directed not to.

Q. If I'm reading you right, is it yet to be determined whether Donaghy made calls that affected outcomes of the games?

COMMISSIONER DAVID STERN: I don't think you have to read me. You can ask me. I mean, what I said was -- my understanding is, that he is currently -- that the current state is that he's -- I have to choose my words carefully. His current state is -- what we are dealing with is betting and providing information. I don't know about any charges or any discussions or anything else with regard to fixing of games.

Q. Do you know how he bet to avoid security?

COMMISSIONER DAVID STERN: I have a strong idea but it's part of the continuing investigation and I'm not authorized to say that. But I believe that it will come out and I also believe -- my understanding is it wasn't through Las Vegas.