Racist Refs in the NBA?

**D Mac** · 05-02-2007, 03:27 PM

http://sports.aol.com/nba/story/_a/s...00010000000001

Study Suggests Racial Bias in NBA Ref Calls
Claim Made That Race of Officiating Crew Can Affect Games
AP Sports

NEW YORK (May 2) - 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.

Offensive Foul on Refs?

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.

Justin Wolfers, an assistant professor of business and public policy at Penn's Wharton School, and Joseph Price, a Cornell graduate student in economics, said the difference in calls "is large enough that the probability of a team winning is noticeably affected by the racial composition of the refereeing crew."

The study, conducted over a 13-season span through 2004, found that the racial makeup of a three-man officiating crew affected calls by up to 4 1/2 percent.

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 that is cited in the New York Times article is wrong," president of league and basketball operations Joel Litvin told The Associated Press on Tuesday night. "The fact is there is no evidence of racial bias in foul calls made by NBA officials and that is based on a study conducted by our experts who looked at data that was far more robust and current than the data relied upon by Professor Wolfers.

"The short of it is Wolfers and Price only looked at calls made by three-man crews. Our experts were able to analyze calls made by individual referees."

Litvin said the NBA's study, using data from November 2004 to January 2007, included some 148,000 calls and included which official made each call. The Times said the NBA denied a request by Wolfers and Price to obtain that information, citing its confidentiality agreement with the officials.

The study also found differences in everything from a decrease in scoring to a rise in turnovers depending on the officials' race.

"Player-performance appears to deteriorate at every margin when officiated by a larger fraction of opposite-race referees," Wolfers and Price wrote.

But the key finding was in regard to foul calls, saying "black players receive around 0.12-0.20 more fouls per 48 minutes played (an increase of 2 1/2-4 1/2 percent) when the number of white referees officiating a game increases from zero to three."

The NBA has an observer at each game and closely monitors its officials, who are required to file reports after each game they work and are expected to be able to explain each potentially controversial call they have made.

Litvin said in an original version of the paper, dated March 2006, Wolfers and Price came to the conclusion that there was no bias. He added that the NBA's research "all prove beyond any doubt in our minds that these guys are just flat wrong."

"They reached conclusions in their own papers that are unsupported by their own calculations," Litvin said.

Wolfers and Price are set to present the paper at meetings of the Society of Labor Economists on Friday and the American Law and Economics Association on Sunday. The Times said they will then submit it to the National Bureau of Economic Research and for formal peer review before consideration by an economic journal.

**SammyG** · 05-02-2007, 03:57 PM

Joey Crawford- Tim Duncan. classic example.

**Kris P Lettus** · 05-02-2007, 04:54 PM

Black dudes get more fouls called because there are more black players..

Prolly more white refs too..

WHO GIVES A FUCK

**Stickman** · 05-02-2007, 05:42 PM

Aside from Nash...there's white guys in the NBA?

**The Genius** · 05-02-2007, 10:09 PM

yeah, Dirk.

**Jesus Shuttlesworth** · 05-02-2007, 11:00 PM

Yeah this study is pretty stupid

**MTH15** · 05-02-2007, 11:04 PM

That hairy dude is white...Anyway I think its cause the black players get more physical

**Stickman** · 05-03-2007, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mth1410

That hairy dude is white...Anyway I think its cause the black players get more physical

I disagree...it's because there's more black players.

**Funky Fly** · 05-04-2007, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris P Lettus

Black dudes get more fouls called because there are more black players..

Prolly more white refs too..

WHO GIVES A FUCK

Yup

**D Mac** · 05-04-2007, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris P Lettus

Black dudes get more fouls called because there are more black players..

Prolly more white refs too..

WHO GIVES A FUCK

Al Sharpton?

**Gonzo** · 05-05-2007, 11:34 AM

Yeah I heard about this study on the Dan Patrick show on ESPN radio, Charles Barkley came on and was saying how since theres more black players of course more fouls get called on black players. Its true, the study is fucking retarded.

**El Capitano Gatisto** · 05-05-2007, 11:37 AM

Do any of you know what the word "rate" means in this context?

**Downunder** · 05-07-2007, 01:03 AM

No ECG I don't think they do.

**Jesus Shuttlesworth** · 05-07-2007, 01:09 AM

The rate gets thrown off since the majority of times there is 1 white guy (if that) on the court to 9 other black dudes. The study is retarded

It is also impossible to tell which ref called which foul since they are just going by box scores (that is what I heard, which I believe I highly doubt they went through every tape) and in the box scores it only lists the 3 refs and the fouls; it does not list who made the calls. So I honestly don't even know how they did this, unless they just looked at games where there was just all white refs? But then what does that really prove? Are they calling more fouls then black refs on black players?

**El Capitano Gatisto** · 05-07-2007, 07:08 PM

If you want to know how they did then read the paper if it gets published. You can't say the study is "retarded" until you've read their methods. There may very well be something to this, in turn you're all "retarded" for suggesting the authors don't realise there is a discrepancy in race as it regards to numbers playing the game.

I don't know their methods either (having not read the study), but it says as much in this article that they have adjusted the rate to account for the difference in numbers between blacks and whites playing. Then it would depend on how statistically significant their observations are that they could be attributed to something other than chance (i.e. racism).

**Gonzo** · 05-07-2007, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Article

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.

This is why I call the study bullshit.

**Jesus Shuttlesworth** · 05-07-2007, 07:38 PM

Even if the rate was accurately configured (pretty much impossible) it is still stupid since they have no idea who made what call.

**El Capitano Gatisto** · 05-08-2007, 04:13 AM

It would not be impossible, don't be silly. They don't need to know who made the call, either, they were looking at a relationship between numbers of black players related to numbers of black referees. Statistical methods never tell you exactly what happens, they only ever tell you the odds of something happening due to pure chance, after you have removed the influence of factors which you know have an effect.

Until the paper is published you cannot really make a statement either way regarding the research.

**ct2k** · 05-08-2007, 05:09 AM

And besides...Wouldn't this merely extend to the NBA a pattern which has been evident in the rest of US life since black people were actually allowed to participate in society after the civil rights movement?

**Jesus Shuttlesworth** · 05-09-2007, 11:48 PM

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/10173627

Well the NBA has racist refs, but the most minorities in front office positions...makes sense

05-02-2007, 03:27 PM	#1
D Mac Posts: 21,603	Racist Refs in the NBA? http://sports.aol.com/nba/story/_a/s...00010000000001 Study Suggests Racial Bias in NBA Ref Calls Claim Made That Race of Officiating Crew Can Affect Games AP Sports NEW YORK (May 2) - 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. Offensive Foul on Refs? 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. Justin Wolfers, an assistant professor of business and public policy at Penn's Wharton School, and Joseph Price, a Cornell graduate student in economics, said the difference in calls "is large enough that the probability of a team winning is noticeably affected by the racial composition of the refereeing crew." The study, conducted over a 13-season span through 2004, found that the racial makeup of a three-man officiating crew affected calls by up to 4 1/2 percent. 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 that is cited in the New York Times article is wrong," president of league and basketball operations Joel Litvin told The Associated Press on Tuesday night. "The fact is there is no evidence of racial bias in foul calls made by NBA officials and that is based on a study conducted by our experts who looked at data that was far more robust and current than the data relied upon by Professor Wolfers. "The short of it is Wolfers and Price only looked at calls made by three-man crews. Our experts were able to analyze calls made by individual referees." Litvin said the NBA's study, using data from November 2004 to January 2007, included some 148,000 calls and included which official made each call. The Times said the NBA denied a request by Wolfers and Price to obtain that information, citing its confidentiality agreement with the officials. The study also found differences in everything from a decrease in scoring to a rise in turnovers depending on the officials' race. "Player-performance appears to deteriorate at every margin when officiated by a larger fraction of opposite-race referees," Wolfers and Price wrote. But the key finding was in regard to foul calls, saying "black players receive around 0.12-0.20 more fouls per 48 minutes played (an increase of 2 1/2-4 1/2 percent) when the number of white referees officiating a game increases from zero to three." The NBA has an observer at each game and closely monitors its officials, who are required to file reports after each game they work and are expected to be able to explain each potentially controversial call they have made. Litvin said in an original version of the paper, dated March 2006, Wolfers and Price came to the conclusion that there was no bias. He added that the NBA's research "all prove beyond any doubt in our minds that these guys are just flat wrong." "They reached conclusions in their own papers that are unsupported by their own calculations," Litvin said. Wolfers and Price are set to present the paper at meetings of the Society of Labor Economists on Friday and the American Law and Economics Association on Sunday. The Times said they will then submit it to the National Bureau of Economic Research and for formal peer review before consideration by an economic journal.

05-08-2007, 04:13 AM	#18
El Capitano Gatisto World Class Raconteur Posts: 29,478	It would not be impossible, don't be silly. They don't need to know who made the call, either, they were looking at a relationship between numbers of black players related to numbers of black referees. Statistical methods never tell you exactly what happens, they only ever tell you the odds of something happening due to pure chance, after you have removed the influence of factors which you know have an effect. Until the paper is published you cannot really make a statement either way regarding the research. Last edited by El Capitano Gatisto; 05-08-2007 at 04:15 AM.

05-02-2007, 03:57 PM	#2
SammyG LAKE SHOW HOES Posts: 25,764	Joey Crawford- Tim Duncan. classic example.

05-02-2007, 04:54 PM	#3
Kris P Lettus Listen to Killer Mike Posts: 56,741	Black dudes get more fouls called because there are more black players.. Prolly more white refs too.. WHO GIVES A FUCK

05-02-2007, 05:42 PM	#4
Stickman Stickman Posts: 15,119	Aside from Nash...there's white guys in the NBA?

05-02-2007, 10:09 PM	#5
The Genius Dr. Mantis Toboggan Posts: 1,924	yeah, Dirk.

05-02-2007, 11:00 PM	#6
Jesus Shuttlesworth Posts: 42,765	Yeah this study is pretty stupid

05-02-2007, 11:04 PM	#7
MTH15 WHO DAT? NIGGA WE DAT! Posts: 2,867	That hairy dude is white...Anyway I think its cause the black players get more physical

05-05-2007, 11:34 AM	#11
Gonzo feel the madness Posts: 11,360	Yeah I heard about this study on the Dan Patrick show on ESPN radio, Charles Barkley came on and was saying how since theres more black players of course more fouls get called on black players. Its true, the study is fucking retarded.

05-05-2007, 11:37 AM	#12
El Capitano Gatisto World Class Raconteur Posts: 29,478	Do any of you know what the word "rate" means in this context?

05-07-2007, 01:03 AM	#13
Downunder God Bless America Posts: 37,905	No ECG I don't think they do.

05-07-2007, 01:09 AM	#14
Jesus Shuttlesworth Posts: 42,765	The rate gets thrown off since the majority of times there is 1 white guy (if that) on the court to 9 other black dudes. The study is retarded It is also impossible to tell which ref called which foul since they are just going by box scores (that is what I heard, which I believe I highly doubt they went through every tape) and in the box scores it only lists the 3 refs and the fouls; it does not list who made the calls. So I honestly don't even know how they did this, unless they just looked at games where there was just all white refs? But then what does that really prove? Are they calling more fouls then black refs on black players?

05-07-2007, 07:08 PM	#15
El Capitano Gatisto World Class Raconteur Posts: 29,478	If you want to know how they did then read the paper if it gets published. You can't say the study is "retarded" until you've read their methods. There may very well be something to this, in turn you're all "retarded" for suggesting the authors don't realise there is a discrepancy in race as it regards to numbers playing the game. I don't know their methods either (having not read the study), but it says as much in this article that they have adjusted the rate to account for the difference in numbers between blacks and whites playing. Then it would depend on how statistically significant their observations are that they could be attributed to something other than chance (i.e. racism).

05-07-2007, 07:38 PM	#17
Jesus Shuttlesworth Posts: 42,765	Even if the rate was accurately configured (pretty much impossible) it is still stupid since they have no idea who made what call.

05-08-2007, 05:09 AM	#19
ct2k Triple A Posts: 48,551	And besides...Wouldn't this merely extend to the NBA a pattern which has been evident in the rest of US life since black people were actually allowed to participate in society after the civil rights movement?

05-09-2007, 11:48 PM	#20
Jesus Shuttlesworth Posts: 42,765	http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/10173627 Well the NBA has racist refs, but the most minorities in front office positions...makes sense