Are NBA referees racially biased?

[muntrv]

Study Suggests Racial Bias in NBA Calls
Report: Study Suggests Racial Bias in Calls by Both Black and White NBA Referees


An academic study of NBA officiating found that white referees called fouls at a greater rate against black players than against white players, The New York Times reported in Wednesday's editions.

The study by a University of Pennsylvania assistant professor and Cornell graduate student also found that black officials called fouls more frequently against white players than black, but noted that that tendency was not as pronounced.



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http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/WireStory?id=3120196&page=1

[chelsea0011]

1. There are so many variables in these types of stats, I'm not sure

any of it matters.

[hughee99]

13. Exactly...

Some teams foul more than others, some players foul more than others, some referees see a lot more of one team than another, and some referees call more fouls in general than others. I'm not saying there's definitely not a bias, but there are many factors that would seem to go into this and it's not clear from the article now many of these variables were taken into account.

[BlooInBloo]

2. I love how literally EVERY commenter (a) hasn't read the paper, and (b) is sure it's wrong...

... I fully expect the same from DU.

[jody]

3. Given the disparity in white vs. black representation among players and referees, I doubt if any

statistical analysis could withstand rigorous scrutiny as to cause and effect.

[MethuenProgressive]

10. Rookies get called for more fouls than vets.

Is that bias against rookies? Or do vets learn what individual refs look for and call most often?

[genie_weenie]

4. ESPN had Stephen A. Smith and Eddie Johnson commenting

on the paper and both were of the opinion the study was not sound and that no players they had ever spoken to agreed with the findings.

[BlooInBloo]

5. Well duh. (a) they're stupid, and (b) they expose themselves to reprisal if they agree...

... So what players say is irrelevant in the extreme.

It is nice for white folks though, to hold them up, no matter how obviously unqualified and conflicted they might be.

[karlrschneider]

6. What does "at a greater rate" mean?

...

[BlooInBloo]

12. Quoting the paper: "Foul Rate (= 48*Fouls/Minutes Played)"

[MethuenProgressive]

7. Here's why the "study" is bogus:

The NBA strongly criticized the study, which was based on information from publicly available box scores, which show only the referees' names and contain no information about which official made a call.

The study wants people to conclude "white refs are bigots". Didn't attend games or watch films? Didn't look at the standings to see which games would be rougher because of playoff circumstances? Didn't look at the actual calls to see if it was/wasn't a foul? Didn't look to see if the ref was in position or not? If it was his call, or not? Who decided which players(or which refs for that matter)were white or black? Bigotry from a box score... Nonsense.

[KharmaTrain]

8. Big Men Foul More...

Most whites in the NBA are backcourt players...the ball-handlers who are more likely to get fouled in either shooting, passing or driving to the basket...and good chance they'll run into a black center or forward who is playing close to the basket and more likely to get into situations where fouls are called.

If anything, the NBA is one of the most diverse when it comes to afficiating....the only league to integrate women into their officiating corp.

[MethuenProgressive]

9. Female NBA refs call fouls on male players 100% of the time.

I love stats...

(added NBA to subject line)

[KharmaTrain]

11. Next Question...

:rofl:

Now how do we know they're all really male? :crazy:

But then I used to collect free drinks when I would ask someone who won the Podoloff Trophy the most times.

(the trophy is given to rookie of the year).

:rofl:

Cheers...

:hi: