Worst. Officiating. Ever.

[WildEyedLiberal]

Discuss.

(BTW - I have zero stake in either the Seahawks or the Steelers and had zero preference as to the victor of this game, but the reffing was so obviously tilted in favor of Pittsburgh I found the game to be unenjoyable.)

[Broken_Hero]

1. Yes...

But again, i'm biased, i'm a Seattle fan....the reffing sucked.

[Baclava]

67. Sorry, but your team ain't the Patriots.......

...you actually get called for holding...

Yup, the refs made Stevens drops those easy catches, they made Miller miss 2 field goals, and they even made Seattle's receivers catch balls out of bounds. Ref's didn't throw 3 yard outs to the TE with no time left. The refs make one good holding call against the chickenhawks and their fans whine like hell.

This is all that matters...

[Broken_Hero]

71. True True...you won...:)

Kudo's, congrats....

[RoyGBiv]

2. It was fairly horrible ...

Literally, the only thing that kept me awake during the thing was seeing really bad calls and getting agitated by them. I had no dog in this hunt either and was just wanting to watch the game and get to see either the Seahawks win their first ever or Bill Cowher finally get the "can't win the big one" monkey off his back. At the end of this, I don't feel like either happened.

That said, I think the Seahawks made some questionable decisions and managed the clock poorly and could have gotten back into it anyway. Whether their mental state was affected by the officiating is irrelevant to this, imo. Great teams suck it up and do the best they can.

[WildEyedLiberal]

7. Yes, they could have still won despite the horrid reffing

A true champion would have risen above the bad calls and won despite the obvious bias against them - Seattle's defense and offense failed when it most needed to succeed. Obviously, Pittsburgh played well.

That said, if I were a Steelers fan, I'd feel a little empty about this victory, because reffing that biased just taints the entire game IMO.

[Broken_Hero]

15. Yes, very true...

but when Hasselbeck got that personal foul, for tackling the ball carrier, the guy who intercepted his pass, in the 4th quarter, i was like WTF?...i took it in stride. As a matter of fact, i'm taking this loss okay, which is rare....but you are right, seattle could have come back but didn't, so Kudo's to the Steelers, enjoy it...enjoy it.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Can anyone explain the penalty against Hasselback (sp?)?

When he got intercepted, he made the tackle - and was then penalised 15 yards for what seemed to be explained as tackling too low - but I thought it was only blocking that you could be too low with. The commentators (on the international feed) were mystified, but the game went on too quickly for more analysis. Any ideas?

[flamingyouth]

5. Never mind

I'm just bitter. :grr:

[Mojambo]

13. We all are darlin'

We'll be back, and sooner rather than later.

[Broken_Hero]

18. Thats what i'm praying for...

come back next year, win the big one, make some upgrades where possible, and hopefully Allen/Holmgren will do some off season trading and what not...but I am glad the Hawks made it, its still good to see for once in my life, one of my seattle teams actually make it to the dance!...Now its the Mariners turn!...go M's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[flamingyouth]

30. I know.

It's just... sigh. :(

[Ravenseye]

6. I don't remeber the exact call

It was an illegal block of some type that was too low. When you're on 'defense' as he was at that point, you can't make certain types of low chop blocks, that offensive players can...I think that was why.

[Mojambo]

10. No. You can't do what he did against someone without the ball.

You can hit the ball carrier low, which he did.

It was one in a long string of questionable (or outright WRONG) calls that went against Seattle.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. It looked like a tackle to me

ie it was on the ball carrier. I didn't see him touch anyone else. Now, I'm only a late convert to American Football, so I can still totally misunderstand things, but it did seem to confuse the commentators we had too.

[Zen Democrat]

63. I thought that if you're playing defense you tackle, not block.

[petronius]

58. There was a Steeler out in front of the ballcarrier,

and it looked like Hasselback made contact with both players. I believe he was called for a low hit on the guy who was not the ballcarrier - the tackle itself was fine. In other words, bogus call...

[Ravenseye]

4. Tight, Close, but not Unfair

Definately not worst ever. This was nowhere near the officiating of the Patriots/Broncos or the Colts/Steelers games a few weeks ago. Each call was definately close, and arguable, but none were so questionable that you couldn't see that the call was by the letter of the law.

At least I don't think so. There's always one or two eh....bad calls....but overall I think it was solid, though rather tight, officiating.

[WildEyedLiberal]

17. I should have clarified, worst ever Super Bowl officiating

Of course, I am young, so my Super Bowl history spans only 8 years or so.

I am a Patriots fan and the officiating in the Pats-Broncos game was disgraceful. Maybe the league felt it "owed" Pittsburgh an easy time of it in the SB after the horribly biased reffing in their game against the Colts. I agree with MrSlayer - the entire playoffs have been a fucking disgrace.

[fishwax]

48. much worse than Pats/Broncos, though no single call was as bad as

the (no)interception call in the colts/steelers game.

[bleedingheart]

8. I am a Steeler fan and I think that the officiating was poor

made me queasy....

[MrSlayer]

9. Yes, I didn't think they could top the Colts-Steelers game.

Which I didn't think could top the Broncos-Pats game. This entire playoff has been an absolute disgrace. The Seahawks had it stolen from them plain and simple.

[zone]

14. Fair weather (whoops) Seattle fan (see my question)

Only because I grew up there; haven't even followed the season. The refs sucked. The commentators knew there were bad calls.

Why can't they bring back a holding call for review? There were two bad ones that cost Seattle crucial momentum, if not the game.

[Ravenseye]

16. Stolen by Ike Taylor

At the Pittsburgh 15...

But seriously there were a few crucial penalties....

The hold on Chris Gray...he pulled him to the ground negating an 18 yard third down catch, which then led to a punt...Unquestionably the right call.

Jackson then was called on the next drive for pushing Chris Hope away as he caught the pass. I think even if he hadn't pushed him, he would have caught the ball, but he DID push him, even though it was slight, it was intentional, not incidental. Negated a touchdown, and turned into a field goal.

a 34 yard punt return called back on a holding call on an elevated practice squad player Pruitt, costing them 29 yards and leading to a stalled drive. Another unquestionable hold.

Jackson's catch near the goal line. He didn't have posseseion, and didn't have two feet in. Close, definatley, but just not there.

Another hold on Locklear negating a 17 yard completion to the 2, which then was followed by a sack and the interception.

Roethlisberger's touchdown, which video review showed that he actually did break the plane going down, which is all he needs to do.

What am I forgeting? Some close, but I don't think any of them were particularly egregious calls.

[WildEyedLiberal]

20. Sports this year in general have been a joke re: reffing

The umpires handed the White Sox a World Series berth, and nearly ever NFL playoff game showcased horrible officiating clearly designed to get what The Powers That Be deemed the "more marketable matchup" into the next round. Only the Steelers over the Colts and the Panthers over the Bears were able to overcome the horrendous ref bias.

[Broken_Hero]

28. I couldn't agree with you more...n/t

[JackDragna]

53. Hey, hey, watch where you're treading..

..the White Sox beat the Angels four games in a row after losing the first game. The whole fiasco over the third strike was silly, but hardly anything was handed to the Sox. They earned it.

[TheWebHead]

12. when I was watching the officiating today

the following equation came into my head...

Bill Leavy + Steelers = Kenneth Blackwell + George W. Bush

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

19. Ya, we've suffered through many games with bad officiating (see playoffs)

I wish it were cleaner but I have no control over it...and neither do the Steeler players/coaches.

[WildEyedLiberal]

21. The Steelers played well

They made fewer costly mistakes than Seattle, which in the end wins games. But the NFL should be ashamed of itself for the outrageous reffing that occurred. No one wants to see the refs clearly trying to engineer the result of their choosing.

[HuckleB]

57. So you say.

Unfortunately, this year's Steelers were the whiniest team in the league. That doesn't actually mean that the refs were hard on them, however.

I am happy for Steeler fans, and happy that Paul Allen lost! Nonetheless... this was a sad day for the NFL.

[Beware the Beast Man]

22. As a Steeler fan, I agree.

Still, they outplayed the Seahawks in the 2nd half, and Seattle made some poor judgement calls throughout the game.

[WildEyedLiberal]

24. Agreed

Seattle made too many mistakes. They could have overcome the bad officiating. Still, as a completely neutral sports fan, it's always depressing to watch the officials blatantly trying to influence the outcome. I'm happy for the Steelers fans, but sort of relieved that I'm not one - I would probably be having mixed feelings right now.

[CAG]

46. Yeah, the refs shouldn't have had Hasselback throw that interception

And what were the ref's thinking to not try to knock that ball down that Hines Ward caught for a touchdown.
And why didn't the ref's call those 54 and 50 yard field goals good; because, hey, they were close!
And why did the refs get in the way of all of those seahawks defensive players when they were just trying to tackle Willie Parker in that 75 yard TD run?
I've never seen so many people think an 11 point difference was due to the refs.

Remember, NFL refs were the same to overturn the paulomalo indy interception, among other calls going against the Steelers this year. I don't think there's a grand conspiracy here.

[Broken_Hero]

55. Hmm....

1. The reason why Hasselbeck threw the INT, it was because of a bogus ghost hold call, where seattle would have been at Pitts 1 or 2 yd line, instead of being back near the 30yd line....

2. After Hasselbeck threw said INT, he proceeded to tackle the ball carrier, who INT him, and got a Penalty for tackling him....

3. But like you said, Hasselbeck threw an INT, it was his fault.

The seahawks lost, pure and simple, true, true...Pitt, you won, enjoy it, i don't begrudge nothing...but bad calls, cause a domino effect...if that ghost hold wasn't called, it would have been 1st and goal on pitts 1 or 2 yd line...I dont' think there is any grand conspiracy, but I do know, that their were some bad mistakes in officiating throughout the whole playoffs, and even in the baseball playoffs...:)

The seahawks made mistakes, it cost them, i am not saying "the refs blew it for us".....the refs made it just a bit harder to overcome, and seattle could have, but didn't...Pitt made fewer mistakes, made the plays that needed to be made, and Sea did not...:)

Edit:Spelling

[Lori Price CLG]

23. Well, usually the officiating is *against* Pittsburgh! n/t

[Broken_Hero]

25. Yeah...:)

From what i saw in the Colts/Pitt game, I can agree with you there. That no interception thing with Polamalu, was abosulte crap...but live and endure. I'm a Hawks fan, i'm use to let down and dissapointment, and trajedy, so today...I'm taking a bigger look, they made it...finally one of my damn teams made it to the damn championship game, and tried...at least they tried...I just hope the Hawks don't go on another 29/30 yr hiatus before getting back to the dance again....Kudo's to Pitt, enjoy it...and Seattle fans, brothers and sisters..., we will be back again, and we will win..trust me...:) Go Hawks!...:) My pre NFL season prediction for the superbowl was...

for the AFC my number one choice was Patriots, my second choice Pittsburgh.

for the nfc, my first choice was Seattle, and my second Philly...

So i didn't do to bad this year! The hawks just surprised me by winning so many games...i had to endure R. Mirer for about 7 yrs or so, so you can imagine my hardships!...:)

[Lori Price CLG]

26. I have no problem w. the Seahawks, maybe the same match will...

take place next year - that would be cool!

Lori

[spuddonna]

69. Exactly!

I'm a Steelers fan, grew up in Pittsburgh, who lives in Seattle, and even though my old hometeam won, I am filled with respect for the Seahawks!

Hasselback did a great job, and if his receivers hadn't dropped the ball, they would have walked away with the game. Their defensive line was outstanding and let very few running plays through. I was impressed and I'm hoping to see a rematch next year! :)

[Ravenseye]

27. 10 Bucks says the Seahawks are back next year

They have a solid core of players, and the defense is what will keep you guys strong, even if you lose Alexander.

[Broken_Hero]

31. Yes...

The defense surprised me, I thought/believe their defense was ranked like 22nd in the league, which blows...but they are a young group and did rather well, in my opinion...:) I know the seahawks, if the keep their core, and get upper tier players during the offseason will be back in the mix...god knows, the NFC west is still in the sewer, so i know the hawks will be back in the playoffs again, barring tragedy or acts of god...cause i dont' think the rams/49ers can make a big turn around in just a year, the rams maybe, but i hope not...:) I'm in MO now, and I can't stand all the Rams bias here...:)

[Mojambo]

33. The injury to Marquand Manuel killed Seattle's defense

They were playing with a 3rd string strong saftey in the second half, Etric Pruitt.

Losing Manuel, their best DT (Bernard), a starting CB (Dyson), and fighting the officials was just too much.

[Broken_Hero]

49. Yeah, that too...

I guess the stars weren't aligned and all that...but again, i'm happy my team made it to the dance....albiet they didn't win, but hey...:)

[Ravenseye]

34. Ignore that defensive rank

it's like the same thing as ignoring the win over the Colts or the loss to Green Bay. You have to take things in perspective...You were ranked 22nd in the league, mostly because of your pass defense, which was ranked so high because you guys got big leads which forced the other teams to be really aggressive against you which hurt your overall ranking...but who cares, you won games.

Also Alexander, I don't think you will miss him so much. Running Backs are growing more and more interchangeable, and while he's a great back destined for the hall of fame, you have an offensive line which can make any mediocre back at the very least good.

Don't downplay your offensive line. That's where your running game starts and stops.

Seahawks will be the dominant power in the NFC for at least 4 years I think.

[Broken_Hero]

37. hmm...

You are right about the offensive line, for sure...you are right about a lot of things, in your post actually...:) I am still reeling from Holmgrens approach. Their isnt, i think...a single damn Seahawk player on the team, that was there before holmgren....M. Holmgren did a lot of mixing and matching of players and as a fan, it was hard for me to keep up on all the new talent that they were bringing in, because they were bringing in new, young talent, and not established players, and the roulette wheel of qbs, and players, made it very hard for me to keep up..shit, i got four jerseys, and a couple seahawks tshirts, of players, who are not even on the current squad...but anyways...:)

I didn't, or won't down play my O line, they have always been solid...with Chris Warren, and Ricky Watters, and now S. Alexander, they have always been solid...what i'm not use to is a above average qb...I am use to J. Friez, and Rick Mirer...man, oh rick mirer, man, i don't think there is one single player out there, that pisses me off more than R. Mirer...its just a bit hard to keep up, my only tool of research is the internet, and 3 uhf channels...:) But i try my best to keep up to snuff!...shit, i'm wearing my Kitna jersey right now dammit!!!...maybe i should have worn my C. Kennedy jersey, or Michael McCrary jersey, or my J. Galloway jersey today, maybe it was my bad mojo that cost the game!!...just kidding...:)

edit: I forgot to mention, I have a Bettis jersey too, dammit!

[Ravenseye]

40. I have a Bettis Jersey! I'm still wearing it!

Just hope that Holmgren sticks for a bit. Consistency is key. I know what you mean about jerseys. There was a period there that if I got a new Penguins jersey they'd trade that player....new jersey, trade....new jersey, trade....Sometimes it was even new jersey, trade to New Jersey. Hyuk Hyuk.

Seriously though, now I can wear my Bettis jersey forever. Will be enshrined in the hall of fame, and I can wear this jersey till I die. HAHAHAHA EAT THAT NFL MARKETING PEOPLE!

Anyway, yeah good O-line, good veteran QB, good d....you have nothign to worry about.

[Broken_Hero]

47. Yeah, true...but on the flip side...

When Holmgren came to Seattle, he dumped about 99% of the defense, i swear. But some of those stellar hawks, got picked up by the Ravens on their SB run...Michael McCrary, and Corey Harris...I think their was one more old Seahawk defensive player on that Ravens D, but can't remember..damn..:) I was thinking, maybe they should just make the numbers/names on the jerseys attachable by velcro, so when you lose a player, you can just go to the store, and buy some more velcro numbers/letters and upgrade your jersey!...:) Yeah, that an idea!

Yes consitency is key....its something almost all my teams seemed to lack, except my Hawks this past year, and my M's in 2001(except in playoffs)...they could go into a game, against one of the best teams and win, but then they turn around and start losing to suck dirt teams...So i fully understand the notion of consistency...I know I don't have nothing to worry about, and the NFC west is so weak, i know the Hawks will be back in the playoffs, barring injury/acts of god....but, its been nice talking with you...not to many of the people i surrond myself with now, are sports people, at all...shit, half the time, i'm trying to explain how to play the game/rules...

[regnaD kciN]

41. I hope you're right...

...the OL is pretty powerful. I guess I'm cynical because, when Alexander went out of the Redskin game with an injury, Morris was pretty much ineffective, no matter how good the line was.

I hope Mack Strong can stick around long enough to get back sooner or later.

[Ravenseye]

43. It can take a game or two

Plus you have to design your plays so your O-Line can work with and for your runner's strengths. Still it wouldn't hurt to pick up a new rookie runner.

I really think your team will be fine. More than that. Definatley in the playoffs, and once you're there, anything can happen.

[regnaD kciN]

39. I'd take that bet, unfortunately...

The Seahawks are likely to lose Alexander, who's now a free agent. Replacing the league MVP with Maurice Morris is going to take a huge chunk out of the Seattle offense, allowing opponents to tee off on Hasselbeck with impunity. Plus, our Super Bowl loss only entitles us to the toughest schedule in the NFC for next season. If you look at recent history, you will see a lot of Super Bowl losers who struggled the next year, or even fell off the map entirely. I doubt the latter will happen to the Hawks, but it's going to take them playing well over their heads, plus a healthy dose of luck, to get to within a game of the SB in 2006-07.

:-(

[Ravenseye]

42. Steelers aren't going to have the hardest roads

at least as far as I can remember..

Losing Alexander can be hard, but he runs as well as he does because of the O-Line. He gets his record yards because of the NFC West teams with their shitty d.

What I'm saying is that they can either pick someone else up, or they can run a rookie, or a Morris, and that O-Line will turn them into a 1500 yard rusher. the O-Line is where the running game starts and stops, I dont' care if you're Shaun Alexander, or Betty Crocker.

[WildEyedLiberal]

29. I just have to give kudos here to the classy Steelers and Seahawks fans

Seriously, I'm seeing a lot of respect and honesty here, which is refreshing in the world of sports. Kudos to the Steelers fans for winning and celebrating with grace, and equal kudos to the Seahawks fans for a hard-fought game and your graciousness and optimism. It's good to see such sportsmanship.

[Broken_Hero]

32. you are welcome...but

if what happend to the Angels against the white sox, happened to my Mariners in a baseball playoff game, oh man, i would be nuclear!!! Just kidding...hey, i try. I'm use to it, this season was/is one to remember, hey folks, we finally made it...:) Just didn't win the last one...but barring a nuclear attack on seattle, the hawks will be back next year...:)

And to be honest, the Steelers had a rougher road...to beat the Colts, Denver, and Cincy(i think it was cincy) to make it to the SB...it takes guts, they deserve it.

[WildEyedLiberal]

35. Yeah, the Steelers definitely had their share of shit this postseason

And I hear you re: baseball (my true sports love). I'm a Cardinals fan and we got screwed on a few calls against the Astros but nothing game or series-changing. If what had happened to us had mirrored the royal screw the Angels received, I would be PISSED. Sigh... there's always next year. I just hope the Redbirds can learn to stop choking in October. That'd be something...

[Broken_Hero]

36. Thats funny...:)

A good friend of mine is an Astro's fan, and I don't hate the Cards, but i was rooting against them in the NLCS...sorry...:( But props to Pujols on that game winning homer, my god, when i saw that i was like, oh damn, well its another game!...:) I'm in SW Missouri, there is a lot of Ram/Cardinal/Chiefs bias...i like the Chiefs, their offense is good and scary, and about the KC Royals...i have met, like 5 Royals' fans, in my whole life...this state doesn't like its AL baseball team...:) But i'm a AL man, and on the NL side, I like the Cubs, Astros, and Braves....:)

And I agree, I am more of a baseball man myself, than football, football has been losing me a piece at a time....i use to be able to watch any NFL game and enjoy it, now i just try and watch my hawks whenever they decide to show them play on tv...but baseball, I am finding it, i can watch any MLB game and have an enjoyable time...its a weird shift, but it happens...:)

[WildEyedLiberal]

38. KC Royals: most pointless team ever

Wow, and you're from the region which should actually care about them. How sad! Poor Royals. But then again, that's what a) being stuck in the middle of the sparsely populated prairie; b) sharing a state with one of the most popular franchises in the nation; and c) sucking forever will get you.

Ah well, now I only have to wait two months for my favorite time of the year :bounce: I can't wait to go to a game in the new Busch Stadium - it should be a blast. Good luck to your Mariners!

[Broken_Hero]

50. Yep,

KC Royals fans remind me of Detroit Lions fans...I always think my teams suck, and then I think about the teams that are substantially worse than mine...as far as baseball goes, KC Royals are the bottom of the bucket...and in football to me, the Arizona Cards are the bottom feeders...consistantly, bottom feeders....sorry to Arizona Card fans, and Royals fans...:(

[RoyGBiv]

64. George Brett might disagree ...

As might Bret Saberhagen, Dan Quisenberry, Hal McRae, etc.

Not that I'm a huge fan, but ...

The Royals had a pretty good history prior to the death of owner Ewing Kaufmann, probably one of the most benevolent owners in the history of the game. Everything has sucked since then, with the ownership by committee idiocy especially.

Prior to that, the Royals did win a series (1985 against the Cardinals, btw) and were the most successful expansion team in MLB.

[WildEyedLiberal]

68. True. They did beat my Cardinals

However, I was age one at the time, so I don't recall. :D

In my short lifetime, the Royals have been pretty much perennial losers - it's hard for me to imagine a time when the Royals were competitive, so long have they been futile. Sort of like the Detriot Tigers.

[HuckleB]

60. Nah, it's just that no one in the northwest ever actually expects to win.

It's easy to be graceful when you don't actually believe your team can win it all.

[Broken_Hero]

62. Aint' that the truth!...:)...n/t

[zann725]

44. "Officiating" aside (which seemed fine), the Steelers kicked butt...

even with one of their key plays TRULY with ankle problems.

Don't want to say I said it, but last night I said the Steeler's win by 9. And as I said then, in Pittsburgh street talk, "Yous gonna lose." (Which the Seahawks did.) Sorry, but it was the gamesmanship...NOT the officiating.

And Steeler "energy" and attitude. If you Tivo'd it, replay the two teams entering the field at the beginning of the game. The Seahawks merely entered, the Steelers had "attitude," bounce in their entry...and a "passion" to win, a NEED to win, that the citizens of Detroit mirrored back to the Steelers...adding to the ultimate victory. If the game perhaps had taken place in say Colorado, things MAY have been different. But in Detroit, in the true irony of "Ford" stadium, these steel town players simply HAD to win. Any odds-maker who KNEW Pittsburgh, truly knew the history of the last 20+ years in Steeltowns/Autotowns like Pgh & Detroit...KNEW the Steelers WOULD win by far more than 4 points. This wasn't just a matter of "points." Sorry boys.

[Blue_Tires]

45. i was pulling for pittsburgh, and even i'll admit seattle got bent over

by the refs

[qanda]

51. Not the best, but certainly not the worst!

Too happy that the Steelers won! The Seahawks were making some pretty terrible mistakes and some of them may have been called tight, but the refs are not the reason the Seahawks lost.

[fortyfeetunder]

52. A mixed bag altogether.

I was not enamored with the reffing either, and good thing Seattle had challenged when it did. It didn't really help matters.

Plainly speaking, I think the team who made the least mistakes won. That PGH had done. I cringed at every time SEA made a penalty. I counted at least 70 yards worth?

I saw potentially fatal flaws by the Seahawks in the Seahawks games against Washington and Carolina (like those I mentioned above) which made me wonder if they could sustain a win in a SB appearance.

One disappointing feature for both teams was the failure of offensive "sealing the deal" after interceptions -- like coming up for a score instead of going three-and-out. There were few bright spots after those plays. But I have to hand it to both defenses for keeping the offenses honest.

OTOH, I think the loss is, in the long run, a good thing for Seattle (if there was ever a good thing to be had from a loss) because when they watch the game videos afterward, they will have excellent examples and textbook material to deal with next season, as far as recruiting and drafting more players.

[FrankBooth]

54. Yes. Worst officiating in a Super Bowl ever

I've watched every bowl since the Raiders/Vikings game ... the officials absolutely killed Seattle with ticky-tack calls on big plays. The Steelers made very timely big plays, and it's not their fault the refs sucked so historically, so congrats to them. But the officials laid a big fat egg in this game.

[HuckleB]

56. It's been worse.

Though perhaps not on so many key plays. It was like the Steelers became the Juventus of the NFL today.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

59. Are Juventus the ref's darlings of the European Football world?

I did feel the reffing was kinda crappy which tainted an already "meh" at best game. I did feel the Steelers made more big plays overall, but it's hard to evaluate that when a couple important big plays for Seattle were negated.

[HuckleB]

61. Italy.

Juventus has a long bizarre history of having key calls go their way in important games. There's even a web site showing videos of dozens of phantom and non calls in big games over the years.

[Quixote1818]

65. I think the calls were tough and fair

The guy did push off in the end-zone, no doubt about it. Could have been a no call but still a fair call.

It was unclear if the Steeler Q-Back had a touch down but you have to go with the official on the field if the replay is inconclusive.

As someone who is neutral, I say the officiating broke the Steeler's way but was far on some VERY TOUGH calls.

[Robeson]

66. It was bad reffing. Also, Holmgren seemed to melt down at crucial...

...times, which was a big factor. It's up to the coach to coach game management, and he didn't.

[ClayZ]

70. Sad day for Sports

Really poor officiating... BOOOO!

First Superbowl I have ever seen and hopefully the last one.


Good time with friends and family, but I was embarrassed that my grandchildren had to watch such unfairness!


Pathetic!

[bridgit]

72. very disappointing tis true, but the seahawks had to keep their hands...

on the ball, that would have made a classic game :thumbsup:

[Strong Atheist]

73. Good.

Loath sports!
:evilgrin:

[EMAN51]

74. Shit calls at critical times equals NFL desired result

There was not one call that went the Seahawk way, except for the reversal on the Hasselback "fumble". Of course, the refs were trying to give the ball to Pittsburgh and even these morons could not justify the the call when one look at the replay demonstrated the obvious.
The phantom holding when the score was 14-10, negating what would have been a certain touchdown drive wiped out a first and goal from the 2 and forced the Seahawks backwards creating long distance plays. Of course, the inevitable interception compounded by the bs call on the tackle put the Steelers in position to use the reverse pass to score and ice the game. They never would have used that play if it were 17-14 as it should have been.
The Jackson reception could easily have been ruled a td and should have been. The left foot was in and the right leg hit the pylon with the ball crossing the plane of the goal line. Same as the Vick call earlier in the season.
Not to mention the bogus offensive P.I., fake run td and numerous penalties at the most inopportune times. Can anyone identify one Pitt penalty (other than obvious motion penalties) let alone one at a critical juncture?
Of course, Seattle aided and abetted their own loss by missed field goals, dropped passes and clock mismanagement. Pitt won and maybe could have won without the official's help, but I doubt it.

[Burma Jones]

75. Worst Officiating ever. Also worst playing I've seen in a long time

Seattle looked lifeless. Pittsburgh looked sloppy. I thought this was the worst Superbowl in about ten years.

I would have been happy to see either team win, both cities are great places...

[THUNDER HANDS]

76. if I was a Seattle fan

I would have tossed my tv out the window last night, went outside, stomped up and down on the tv and then picked up the shards of broken glass and stuffed them into the eyes of any Pittsburgh fan who happened to be gloating nearby.

That was an abomination and it doesn't matter that Seattle didn't make the big plays at the end of the game to come back. A team shouldn't have to beat their opponent AND the referees too. A few bad calls in the beginning of the game changed the whole flow of the game.

[ScreamingMeemie]

77. Nope....Officiating has sucked on and off for years, and sometimes

just as badly.

http://www.provencehome.org/refsuck/pages/history.html

I present:


Rice's Fumble (1999):

Trailing 27-23 with under a minute remaining in their first round playoff game, 49er receiver Jerry Rice caught a 6 yard pass at the Packer 41 yard line, but Packers linebacker Bernardo Harris and nickel back Scott McGarrahan stripped the ball and Harris pounced on it. The Packers began celebrating their fourth straight playoff victory over the 49ers and a trip to face the Falcons in the second-round. Unfortunately for Green Bay, line judge Jeff Bergman said Rice never fumbled, and although field judge Kevin Mack had a better view, he didn't overrule his colleague. Four plays later, Steve Young hit receiver Terrell Owens with the game winning touchdown. CNN/SI's Dr. Z put it best..."The Rice thing was a flat-out blown call. He fumbled. Period." Replay indeed confirmed that Rice had fumbled; however, instant replay was not re-instated for another year.


***The Packer's lost in a playoff game, dashing their hopes. They were winning. Refs do sucky things all the time. This is no different.

[Deep13]

78. couples Olympic figure skating 2002

Canadian team got robbed because of a secret deal among judges. After much protest, they ended up sharing the gold with the Russians while the Chinese remained in bronze with no one taking silver.

[livetohike]

79. Worst. Coaching. Ever. Holmgren should retire

Go Steelers!

[GalleryGod]

80. I Have a Feeling that The Walrus won't be listening to you, Consiglere !

Just a guess, though.