Brevin Knight Implied or Inferred That He Made a Wager?

Jerry Crowe in the Los Angeles Times' sports section, page 2 column, used infer when he meant imply.

He said, referring to Brevin Knight, an NBA basketball player: "With the NBA's referee betting scandal still fresh in fans' minds, was it really wise for new Clippers point guard and Stanford Alum Brevin Knight to infer this week that he laid down a wager on his alma mater's game against USC?..."

Since knight was speaking, communicating some thought, he had to imply the thought. He was the agent of the thought. "To suggest without stating directly." Oxford Mini Dictionary.

To infer is receive suggested information, it is "to reach an opinion from facts or reasoning." OMD.

Nevertheless, we agree with Mr. Crowe's inference, his opinion of Knight's poor choice.