[BillyMac]

Researchers interviewed hundreds of players, coaches, and fans of all teams involved and asked them to rate the fairness of the officials on anonymous surveys. "We found strong evidence of referee bias against your teams in every single survey ... This was true at every level, from pee-wee to the pros, and even at the Olympics. Whichever teams you were rooting for, the refs were definitely against them."

Not sure if this is "tongue in cheek" or not, but based on the group surveyed and the question asked, it's totally believable.

I consider myself, as far as I know, and to the best of my ability, completely unbiased as a basketball official. Just for perception purposes, I still, almost twenty years after retirement, block out the middle school where I taught and coached, and only recently unblocked the high school in the school system where I taught and coached.

Oddly, whenever I "channel surf" and come across any sporting event where I don't have a favorite team playing (for example, this year's World Series), I always root for the team that's behind when I "tune in". If I turn on the television and the Astros are up five to two in the fifth inning, I root for the Phillies. The next night, if I turn on the television and the Phillies are up six to one in the sixth inning, I root for the Astros.

As far as I know, to the best of my ability, I'm able to avoid this "underdog" bias in the basketball games that I officiate.