Actually, there are plenty of observers who are still questioning that call. I've watched it several times and cannot see the ball breaking the plane.
The holding call was huge. Seattle would have been on the 1 yard line at that point. Instead, the penalty changed the momentum and Hasselbeck threw it away after that.
Madden and Young were both wrong? No offense but I'll take their opinion over yours. Traditionally, the refs let the players play in the playoffs and don't allow ticky tack calls to interfere with the game. But not in this case.
Those calls could have caused a 14-point swing (at the minimum) in the outcome of the game. One bad call is understandable. But three or four is ridiculous in the Superbowl.
In summary, I wanted to see the players PLAY with as little interference from the refs as possible. We didn't see that, unfortunately.
Taking Madden's opinion on holding calls is like taking Theisman's opinion on interceptions. I've never seen Madden say he agreed with a holding call, I think he just doesn't like the rule as a whole. Young maybe can be dealt with seriously, but Madden always says holding calls were wrong and they should "just them play".
What's so hard to believe there, especially with Young? Sorry, he was a great player, but as a talking head, he is sad. And if Madden were a ref, there would never be a holding call, but in his defense, he is consistent.
Actually I just got back from lunch and had the opportunities to watch the reruns again in slow motion. On Ben's TD, the ball was without question directly above the goal line before he got pushed back. The officials have nothing to apologize for on that call.
On the holding call, I would say I think I now see what the official saw. While the camera angle didn't show the offensive lineman's left hand, the way the pass rusher's right shoulder was quickly yanked back and downward would lead one to think that the O-lineman may have had a handful of shirt. That is what the official may have seen but the camera didn't. You'll note that there wasn't a protest from the lineman who was flagged.