An academic study by a University of Pennsylvania professor and a grad student from Cornell University suggests that racial bias exists on the basketball court as well as in our society. According to the New York Times, the two researchers reviewed 13 seasons worth of NBA games, from 1991 through 2004, and concluded that white referees called fouls against black players more often than they did against white players.
Interesting conclusion considering there are more black players in the league than white players.
The Times also reports that the NBA did its own study in March and concluded that there is no racial bias. Three independent experts reviewed the results of both studies and concluded that the academic study was more sound.
While I do think the Bulls’ Kirk Hinrich gets a lot of nit-picky fouls called against him, I don’t think it’s a racial issue. I think that has more to do with the referees keeping control of the game,
Really, all this academic research is silly. If players commit a foul, it’s because they violated a rule, not because they're black or white. Fans too are more concerned about which player is getting into foul trouble and how that might affect the outcome of the game. Racial bias has nothing to do with it.
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