Study: Referee Bias Exists, Just Not In The Expected Ways

[VF21]

I believe there is a difference between a "bias," and a "fix."

A "fix," is a league-wide or referee-wide plan to screw or cheat someone. As in the outcome is already being planned ahead.

A "bias," is a personal feeling directing your actions. A ref can have a personal bias against a individual player, a la Tim Duncan... and effect an outcome.

I do believe that some NBA refs do have personal biases that effect games. They're human. And it's wrong. Some like this guy, others like another. And though they (some) try their best, it still comes out sometimes.

In 2002, no matter what anyone tells me, I will always believe Game 6 was not a bias, but one of the biggest fixes in all of sports. However, that was one of the last, if not the last I can remember.

I also believe that when a bad call has been made, this group of NBA refs have a major struggle with pride. When they know they're wrong and they get called out for it - they sometimes retaliate instead of admitting it and swallowing their whistle the next time.

So recapping.

Yes, the NBA individual refs have personal biases, that just by human nature - come out in a game.

The "Fix," is rare. IMO, Game 6 was the ultimate fix. There have been no fixes in the 09 playoffs. Just inconsistency and mediocrity.

Another issue that the refs have is pride. The "I'm never wrong, and I don't have to answer for it," syndrome.

Nice post, kingsnation. I agree there is a tremendous difference between "fix" and "bias" and I think you did a good job in pointing it out.

 

[6th]

Nice post, kingsnation. I agree there is a tremendous difference between "fix" and "bias" and I think you did a good job in pointing it out.

Absolutely DITTO!!

 

[beb0p]

I believe there is a difference between a "bias," and a "fix."

The "Fix," is rare. IMO, Game 6 was the ultimate fix. There have been no fixes in the 09 playoffs. Just inconsistency and mediocrity.

Another issue that the refs have is pride. The "I'm never wrong, and I don't have to answer for it," syndrome.

On the surface there is a difference between a bias and a fix, but at some point the two becomes one and the same. To follow the whole story of what happened in Italy - the bias was manipulated and controlled to create fixes. There is a point where a "bias" becomes a "fix" and the Italians intentionally crossed that line.

Here is how the Italians morphed "bias" into "fixes"; referees who favor certain teams, or have vendetta against certain teams, or allow rugged plays or don't allow rugged plays are assigned to matches accordingly to benefit the big teams. A ref who grew up in Turin and idolizes the local team is assigned to referee the Juventus (from Turin) team. A ref who despises Inter Milan, or hates certain players on the Inter Milan squad is assigned to referee the Inter Milan game, who is in a dog fight with Juventus for first place. So using the referees' bias, the big boss was able to help Juventus by giving them a favorable referee and giving their competitor an unfavorable one. Thus, by using the ref's bias, games were able to be fixed. And the genius is, you don't even have to buy off the ref. Thus, "bias" is now manipulated into "fixes."

In fact, this is how Tim Donaghy made his gambling profit - using his colleagues' personal bias to predict outcome, and with astounding accuracy I may add. In other words, Donaghy saw the connection between personal bias and predictable outcome. The same connection that the Italians Officating organization saw when they fixed games using the refs' bias.

If the NBA is to fix a game, I'm not saying they do or do not but if they are to fix a game, the Italian's method is how they'd do it. What I'm almost sure is that if Tim Donaghy can figure out the relationship between the refs' bias and game result, the NBA have figured it long ago. The only question is, are they using this information to manipulate games or doing the reverse - to eliminate as much bias as possible. In other words, is the bias a random occurrence or a planned one. And the answer is, I don't know. And neither do you.

A lot of soccer fans have said what you said - that "bias" does not mean "fix"; until it was revealed it does. As a fan, I say even if it is not a fix, but a bias; it is still not right. We as fans need to stop tolerating it. Bias, at least as much as possible, needs to be removed from the game. The irony is that the Italians have revamped the officiating system decades ago in an attempt to strengthen the officiating integrity. But it just shows that nothing is iron-clad.