By ROBERT LEE
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy appeared on WEEI's Dennis & Callahan show Tuesday morning and said that he had a problem with Celtics coach Doc Rivers because, he said, Rivers tried to influence younger refs.

"I certainly had my share of problems with Doc, so he wasn't high on my list," Donaghy said.

When asked why he didn't like Rivers, Donaghy said: "I thought he was one of those guys who put a lot of pressure on referees, especially young referees, to try to manipulate them into giving him the benefit of the calls."

While Donaghy said that trying to influence refs is part of the game, he said that Rivers goes about it the wrong way.

"He was good at manipulating, but I think he took it to a whole new level of the way he whined and complained. I think the stronger referees had enough of the way he acted," Donaghy said.

When asked to comment on what Donaghy said, Rivers said: "I'm so sick of that guy. I really am for our league. I love our league and I hate what is going on - that we're giving a guy like him credibility."