Yoi and Double Yoi!
Posted on 02/07/2006 4:55:05 PM PST by bikepacker67
GOT SCREWED, USA -- Complaining about officiating is a time-honored sports tradition. It's much easier to believe your team got screwed than it got whupped because anger is more manageable than sadness.
It's sour grapes, plain and simple.
But, America, please forgive Seahawks fans if they sound a little bitter and paranoid after the rest of the country got its sweet, little fairy tale with Jerome Bettis winning Super Bowl XL in his hometown of Detroit.
It just seems a bit too tidy, considering how things went down.
Here's the rub: No intelligent person, and that includes Pittsburgh fans, watched the Steelers 21-10 "victory" and believed it was well-officiated. Period.
And every -- EVERY -- call went against the Seahawks.
Seahawks fans promise to stop being paranoid just as soon as the NFL proves it isn't out to get them.
The Seahawks, who were tied for second-fewest penalties in the NFL this year, were flagged seven times for 70 yards. Three were critical. Two were dubious. Another flag was so stupid the official explanation didn't actually make any sense.
As for head linesman Mark Hittner's oh-what-the-hell delayed touchdown call on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's 1-yard touchdown dive? Think the officials want that tape taken to the FBI crime lab?
The Steelers, who were tied for sixth-fewest penalties this year, suffered just three horrible hankies for 20 yards. Two were false starts on their first possession. The third was offensive pass interference on rookie tight end Heath Miller deep in Seattle territory in the second quarter. That call will inspire no wringing of hands, even from Miller.
Thereafter, apparently, the Steelers felt guilty and decided not to break the rules for the next 35 minutes. Jerome probably wanted it that way.
Apoplectic Seahawks fans are not alone. ESPN.com's Michael Smith pointed this out Monday in a story ripping the officials: "The Seahawks lost 161 yards to penalties when you combine the penalty yards (70) and the plays the flags wiped out (91). By halftime alone, when it trailed 7-3, Seattle had had 73 hard-earned yards and a touchdown eliminated."
Let's rewind.
Matt Hasselbeck hits Darrell Jackson for a 16-yard touchdown pass for a 7-zip lead?
Nope. The incidental contact that occurs on nearly every NFL passing play was, actually, offensive interference -- at least the officials decided so after safety Chris Hope stomped and huffed and demanded a flag, perhaps insisting that Jerome wanted it that way.
Beleaguered tight end Jerramy Stevens makes a spectacular catch inside the Steelers 2-yard line setting up what surely would have been a Shaun Alexander touchdown run and 17-14 Seahawks lead early in the fourth quarter?
Nope. Seems that offensive tackle Sean Locklear's incidental hooking (which occurs on nearly every NFL play from scrimmage) on his block of Clark Haggans (who was offside) was too dastardly to ignore.
Maybe the officials were calling the game tightly.
Nope. Only two plays later, Steelers linebacker Joey Porter used an illegal "horse collar" tackle on Alexander, and the officials decided to let it slide, even though that would have transformed a third-and-18 on the Steelers 34 to a first down on their 19.
"Penalties, as much as anything, were the story of the game," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "That's unfortunate. And that might be the first time I've said that in my life."
Here's the comic relief.
After the no-call on the horse collar, Hasselbeck tossed a critical interception to cornerback Ike Taylor. Hasselbeck then, apparently, forgot which team he plays for and tried to throw a block in order to spring Taylor. Only he threw a "low block," according to the game's official book.
So not only does he toss a pick and then try to block for an opposing player, but he also gets called for a 15-yard penalty.
Most folks would figure that Hasselbeck was trying to TACKLE Taylor. Seeing Hasselbeck is a quarterback lacking tackling skills, he went low. But the officials decided it was a block. Only Hasselbeck was credited with a tackle on the play.
(The official explanation is he went low on a guy trying to block him, which is against the rules on a change of possession. But the fact that he made the tackle erases, at least for a reasonable person, his potential motivation based on the result. It was a tackle.)
Like we said: Stupid.
Steelers fans should be angry, too. For one, they know how this feels, see their playoff game vs. Indianapolis, when they were the interlopers ruining the heartwarming tale.
Moreover, the execrable officiating cheapens their championship because it's what folks are talking about now, not the glory of Bettis.
Is all this an accusation -- J'Accuse! -- like Porter's ranting about the terrible officiating in the Indianapolis game?
Yes. No. Who knows?
It's just too bad -- for everyone -- that the officials made sure Super Bowl XL wasn't "Extra Large," as the joke went, but "Extremely Lame."
Amen!
Two Seattle turnovers became non-turnovers because the refs either missed the call or misinterpreted the rules. Don't forget those.
Excellent point...all I can add is 'hmmmmmmmhaaaaaaa.'
"Like legal issues ... if you want to change the laws - go through the proper channels. The pass interference law was correctly called as stated in the books. You cannot initiate contact after 5 yards, never mind having the stupidity to do it IN FRONT of a referee while in the endzone during a Super Bowl."
It is enforced selectively just like very other call in the league. The Pittsburgh player was also making contact so it should have been offsetting penalties at the very least. I suppose Madden, Michael Irvin, and Steve Young just said it was a lousy call fo their health.
"Touchdown
The line just has to be touched and the camera did not show conclusive evidence to reverse that call. Perhaps we should just have robots with mounted cameras on the field from now? Strictly because the camera angle didn't provide the referees angle is not reason to whine."
Well then why did the ref wait 3 seconds to signal TD. Either he crossed the line or he didn't. By the time he signaled TD the QB was further back than he had been on any point during the play. The inconclusive evidence rule is just a loophole that assures the refs have total control out of the games' outcomes. And they do have cameras mounted on robots on the field.
"Holding
Did anyone see the regular muggins being made against Casey Hampton? How about the take downs against Haggans? Herndon gained another 15-20 yards when Rothlisberger was blocked in the back (very obvious) ... no complaints on that one? Strange?"
No, just saw the bogus holding calls that seemed to occur every time Seattle got within the Pittsburgh red zone. Rotthlesburger got pushed in the back because he was running ith his back to the play. You can block someopne in the back if they are turning away from you.
I personally am no longer interested in the joke that is modern pro sports. I just think it is funny that Pittsburgh fans and NFL kool-aid drinkers are so dishonest that they cannot admit that the game was a joke. Did you believe that the tuck rule was actually a reason to negate Brady's obvious fumble a few years ago?
Incompetent or corrupt. Take your choice.
The Pirates have been the model of consistency ... seeing the Bengal success this year gives me hope!
1993: 75-87
1994: 53-61
1995: 58-86
1996: 73-89
1997: 79-83
1998: 69-83
1999: 78-83
2000: 69-93
2001: 62-100
2002: 72-89
2003: 75-87
2004: 72-89
2005: 67-95
I was in home heater I designed, surrounded by the client's contractors, who were all die hard Steeler fans.
Everyone one of them was embarrassed by the officiating.
Honest.
At least the kid still has some honor.
He's young tho, just turning 24....give him time!
Excellent. I dare a any Seahawk fans to line by line deny these truths!
A stupid rule correctly enforced.
Then don't waste your engergy on it in this thread! No one here is going to lose any sleep over the topic -- unless you're someone posting in large letters that are emboldened? lol
At least six months later he was still going on and on and on.
All right. Everything the talking box says is true. There is no corruption in pro sports. The officiating was great in the game. That is why this is the only Super Bowl in 40 years to have been questioned so heavily. You want proof the game was fixed. Go watch.
I wonder if Mike "Al Gore" Holgreen will hire David Boise to argue his case before the highest court? LOL
As for the TD, when Big Ben came DOWN on the goal line he had the ball in his hands and the ball landed on the white line. (A TD by NFL rules)
He pulled the ball BACK under him as he was being covered to protect the ball and once he was down he pushed the ball forward again.
What everone (the complainers) are seeing is the 2nd half where it looks like he's pushing the ball forward AFTER the play is dead. What they missed was the original FALL on the goal line BEFORE the ball was pulled back.
A TD...no question!
Some who refused to admit the truth about the officiating can't seem to resist resorting to personal attacks.
Correct. It also broke the plane while he was airborne, before he was pushed back by a blocker.
...thereby proving his guilt
You don't watch football much, do you? That reach is made all the time.
Give Alexander credit here. He signed a one-year deal last year with a caveat that Seattle wouldn't make him their franchise player this year -- then went out and had an MVP season that ought to get him a huge signing bonus this off-season.
No bad officiating here, nosireebob!!! LOLOL.....
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