Sept. 26, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. - The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to announce it has received a copy of NBA Referee Bob Delaney's book Covert: My Years Infiltrating the Mob for its archives. Covert, written with Dave Scheiber of the St. Petersburg Times and published by Union Square Press/Sterling Publishing, was released in February of 2008 and is scheduled to be available in paperback in the Spring of 2009.

The book accounts Delaney's Garden State upbringing as the son of a New Jersey State Trooper and as a basketball standout at Jersey State College before becoming a state trooper himself at age twenty-one. Soon after, Delaney was recruited to go undercover in an unprecedented joint venture with the New Jersey State Police and the FBI to infiltrate the Mafia's control and influence of the Northern Jersey waterfront. For this secret mission, Delaney had to take on a new identity and for an authentic cover, had to turn his back on his loved ones and the fraternity that he most enjoyed being a part of, his fellow troopers. The 2 ½ year investigation, which was originally planned to last only six months resulted in over 30 arrests of prominent mob figures.

The undercover experience took a serious physical and mental toll on Delaney who suffered bouts with Stockholm Syndrome and post-traumatic stress. As Delaney struggled to find his new identity following his convincing life as a mobster, he returned to the sport of basketball, which proved to be both therapeutic and cathartic, first becoming a high school referee and is now one of the most respected veterans of the NBA with over two decades of officiating at the sports highest level.

"I am honored to have my book, Covert, in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame library", expressed Bob Delaney. "My story, like so many of my fellow NBA referees and basketball officials of all levels, is one that was born after playing days ended. Becoming a referee was the avenue available - and that road has provided an exciting ride. I share with folks that when you experience tough times, follow your passion. For me, that was basketball officiating. The calm and peace I felt on a high school basketball floor helped me through my emotional rollercoaster ride after surfacing from working undercover. I never planned on it, but that passion opened the door for my NBA career and having my story included in the Hall of Fame is humbling."

Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the birthplace of basketball, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level - professional, collegiate, men and women. For more information on these and other upcoming events, please visit our website at www.hoophall.com or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA.