Justin Wolfers, an assiatant professor of Business and Public Policy at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton, and Joseph Price, a Cornell graduate student in Economics, recently conducted a study finding evidence of racial bias among NBA referees. Studying 13 NBA seasons from 1991 through 2004, the study found that white referees called fouls more often against black players than they did against white players.

The problem with this NBA study is that when race is brought up everybody automatically thinks "racism". But this Wolfers-Price Study does not say anything about racism being intentional. To a degree this bias indicates that the referees' actions are subconscious.

The study actually tells us more about our human nature than the game of basketball. We see the same thing in corporate America and all walks of life. The high profile of the NBA just brings to light an issue that is relevant in society and opens the door for discussion and debate of a real social issue.

Of course, many NBA writers have come to the NBA’s defense. Most likely in hopes of mainting a job that consistenantly pays the bills. NBA President David Stern's neglect to acknowledge the validity of the report clearly highlights his lack of understanding of social pre judgment which all of us fall prey to at some point in our lives.

NFL, NBA, players and Barry Bonds are probably the most scrutinized group of people in the United States, including our polititians. Why? This is a honest question we need to ask ourselves.

And this study strikes David Stern in the heart right about the time he has his ongoing NBA cleanup act in affect. The NBA has addressed the NBA dress code (which was more for corporate sponsors than the fans), this year he gave the NBA refs free will to eject players at a moment's notice - in addition to a "no confrontation rule," meaning players cannot challenge a call. A few years ago the NBA put a cap on how soon you could be become a young millionaire. Why? So the NBA could become more appealing to the fans. Was it that fans could not relate to being talented, black and rich? Or more about protecting the player?

The NBA for years has said they have a image problem but I really think what is going on is a jealousy problem.

And then you factor in that the major participants of the NBA are black but they are under represnted in every other area. Upper management, ownership, corporate fan base and the sports writers who cover the sport. It’s no wonder they face so much criticism -- the very people who write about them have no understanding of who these players are. So the disconnect is magnified by the time information arrives to the fan.

This study brings to light an important social issue, which is race. It is a reflection on all of us and how easy it is to treat people differently in ways we don’t even know or understand.

The bigger question is why are minorities so under represnted in all other areas, excluding sports? Possibly sports is one of the only areas where success and failure are very easily measured, so the likelihood for success is attainable for the black athlete whereas in other structures, where so much human intervention is needed and social bias is involved, you see the numbers fall.

Nevertheless… the conversation we need to have is more about our human nature than NBA refs.

Have you ever been introduced to someone and, based on them being a man or woman, had a instant connection and understanding that did not need to be discussed? If the answer is yes, this is prejudice. Or more specifically gender bias.

Prejudice is part of human nature… but we need to consistently check ourselves to ensure that our bias does not limit opportunity for others, put others in harms way and/or create an environment that lacks equality.