are referees biased towards childhood teams?

[rondo4mvp]

Let me first start off by saying, although this is my first post, ive been on this website religously for the past 5 or so years. I remember participating in the first CB draft, as i used to have an account but forgot my username and password, haha.

anyways, my question is, are refs biased towards there favorite teams growing up?

I used to think about being a ref, thought it might have been a good way to stay in touch with the game. but im wondering if some, not all, refs have favorite teams, and 50/50 calls go that way? growing up right outside of boston + my aunts season tickets have certainly made me a diehard fan, so if i was a ref and there was a 50/50 call i know who id give it to. now im sure some refs grew up watching the game and probably had favorite teams, so do you think that affects how they ref? and how does the league regulate that? cant ref any games in your home state? what if your reffing your teams rival? or the game your reffing has playoff impacts for your team?

idk just something i thought about, maybe crawford and salvatore are from L.A.  curious to see what you guys think of it, and if you know how it is regulated. 
 

[rondo4mvp]

bumping this because im curious to know if you guys know how the league avoids this

[ballin]

Well, a google search on salvatore, crawford, and eddie rush has revealed that they are from CT, PA, and GA, respectively.

So if anything, salvatore should be in our side, but god knows that isn't the case.

[Roy Hobbs]

I think the bias, if any, is probably very slight, and subconscious.  I don't think refs have much of a rooting interest in terms of fan allegiance, although I think some do get caught up in the cult of personality with some of the stars.

There was a story last year, though, when a ref was seen walking out of the arena with his family dressed all in the colors of one of the teams involved in the game.  I can see why people think that may give rise to some impropriety; if a ref has a son at home who absolutely loves the Lakers and that son is in attendance, does the ref subconsciously try to help them out?

At the end of the day, though, I think this is a fairly minor issue.

[Fan from VT]

As far as i've read, the only global data that holds up is that NBA refs have a slight bias toward players of their same skin color.

[lovely_20]

Well, a google search on salvatore, crawford, and eddie rush has revealed that they are from CT, PA, and GA, respectively.

So if anything, salvatore should be in our side, but god knows that isn't the case.

Salvatore is from my state?!? 
I suddenly feel sick...