Study: Officials show bias

An academic study of NBA officiating found that white referees called fouls at a greater rate against black players than against white players, the New York Times reported.

The study by a University of Pennsylvania assistant professor and Cornell graduate student also found that black officials called fouls more frequently against white players than black players, but noted that that tendency was not as pronounced.

The study, conducted over 13 seasons through 2004, found that the racial makeup of a three-man officiating crew affected calls by up to 4.5%.

The Times said the NBA did its own study, and Commissioner David Stern was quoted as saying the league’s report “demonstrates that there is no bias.”

JURISPRUDENCE

Marathon winner seeks compensation

Chicago marathon champion Robert Cheruiyot plans to pursue compensation from the race’s organizers after slipping as he crossed the finish line last October. Cheruiyot, taken to the hospital for tests after hitting his head, said he has suffered from headaches since the fall.

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The National Football League Players Assn. is countersuing six current and former players who are seeking to hold the union and league liable for millions of dollars they lost in an alleged fraud scheme.

The NFLPA, in papers filed last week in federal court in Atlanta, accuses Steve Atwater, Ray Crockett, Al Smith, Blaine Bishop, Carlos Emmons and Clyde Simmons of breach of contract.

TENNIS

Dementieva wins amid snow and wind

With snowflakes falling on the red clay, Elena Dementieva beat Meilen Tu, 6-7 (5), 6-0, 7-5, in a first-round match at the J&S; Cup at Warsaw, Poland.

Both players wore pants and long-sleeve shirts as they had to contend with wind on a 48-degree day.

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Sebastien Grosjean upset top-seeded Tommy Haas, 6-4, 6-4, in the first round of the BMW Open at Munich, Germany.

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Paul-Henri Mathieu beat fourth-seeded Fernando Gonzalez, 6-2, 6-4, in the first round of the Estoril Open at Oeiras, Portugal.

MISCELLANY

Ruling: Pilot error cause of Lidle crash

Poor piloting caused New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle’s single-engine plane to slam into a New York City apartment building six months ago, killing two people and injuring three, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded.

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Infielders Brandon Crawford of UCLA and Eric Farris of Loyola Marymount, and pitchers Barry Enright of Pepperdine, Blair Erickson of UC Irvine and James Simmons of UC Riverside were among 50 semifinalists announced for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s top college player.

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Olympic and world champion swimmer Ian Thorpe has been granted an open-ended extension to provide medical information to Australian investigators probing irregularities in a May 2006 urine sample.

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UCLA and USC will play host to NCAA men’s and women’s tennis team regionals next week at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.

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Louis Vuitton Cup racing was postponed off the coast of Valencia, Spain, because of strong winds that could have damaged the boats.

The series will determine the Alinghi’s challenger for the America’s Cup.

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Dale Earnhardt Inc. is in talks to buy rival Robert Yates Racing, a possible step toward the stock car team’s switching from Chevrolet to Ford.

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Jaroslav Bednar scored the winning goal with 1:08 remaining to lift the Czech Republic to a 4-3 victory over the United States at the hockey world championships in Mytischi, Russia.

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Talladega Superspeedway has permanently banned 14 fans from buying tickets at the speedway after their arrests Sunday on suspicion of throwing objects on the track.

A number of fans began throwing beer cans after Gordon won the race under caution, passing the late Dale Earnhardt in career wins.

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Arizona basketball Coach Lute Olson shook up his staff, hiring Kevin O’Neill to replace longtime aide Jim Rosborough.

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Former Tulane and Miami coach Perry Clark was hired as basketball coach at Texas A&M; Corpus Christi, succeeding Ronnie Arrow, who left for South Alabama.