1. The Refs didn’t give up the longest run in SB history…Seattle’s defense did.
2. The Refs didn’t bite on a 43 yd trick play, Randle to Ward for a TD…Seattle’s defense did.
3. The Refs didn’t allow Ben to scramble around on a 3rd and 28 and complete a long pass to the 2 yd. line…Seattle’s defense did.
4. The Refs didn’t miss two field goals, that was Seattle.
5. The Refs didn’t fail to step out of bounds late in the 1st half to stop the clock in Pitt territory in a crunch time situation…Seattle’s offense did.
6. The Refs didn’t let the 1st half clock tick down from 48 seconds all the way down to 13 seconds before finally running their next play at Pitt’s 36 yd line…Seattle’s offense did.
7. And on this play, 3rd down, 53 yds away from a FG, it wasn’t the Refs who tried and failed to go deep for a TD rather than a safer 5-7 yd play and timeout setting up a much easier FG attempt….that, again, would be Seattle’s offense.
8. The Refs didn’t get confused by Pitt’s zone defense and throw an INT…that would be Seattle’s QB.
9. The Refs didn’t let a little physical contact intimidate them from catching 4 very catchable passes…that would be the Seattle TE Jeremy Stevens.
10. With approx. 20 seconds left in the game, knowing they need a TD and FG, in no particular order, and in easy FG range on 4th down, it wasn’t the Refs who ignored the FG and elected to throw up a prayer trying for a TD…that AGAIN would be Seattle.

And for any ‘hater’ still feeling a little salty and reaching for excuses as to why the Steelers didn’t deserve to win the Super Bowl …

11. The Refs didn’t constantly punt deep into the end zone, repeatedly giving Pitt the ball at the 20 yd line…that of course was Seattle.
12. It wasn’t the Refs who received a Christmas gift wrapped easy INT lobbed in perfect position to return deep into Pitt territory…the lucky beneficiary of that break would be Seattle.
13. It wasn’t the Refs who got a break when a Steeler DB dropped an easy int early in the game…that too would be a break for Seattle.
14. It wasn’t the Refs who caught a break when a Steeler WR dropped a very catchable TD pass…that break again would go to Seattle.
15. It wasn’t the scapegoat Refs that received a break when a WR caught the ball, turned, stepped, was hit hard enough to cause a fumble, and then ruled INCOMPLETE…that would be of course, another chance for Seattle.
(this was an interesting call considering that after Troy’s famous overruled Int, the NFL stated that it WAS a catch. If so, than this definitely WAS a catch)
16. The Refs werent the ones who caught a break when at the conclusion of a 2nd qtr play, as a Pitt DE was walking away, the Seattle Center blindsided the defenseless player, leveling him to the ground. This mysteriously unseen crime was again another break for Seattle.
17. It wasn’t the Refs who got a break when Pitt QB Big Ben was blocked in the back as he pursued the DB who he’d tossed an int to…that again would go to Seattle.
18. It wasn’t the Refs who stopped Seattle RB Alexander in a few key situations. That would be the Pittsburgh Steelers.
19. It wasn’t the Refs who converted many of their 3rd downs yet stopped their opponent on 3rd down often…that would be the Pittsburgh Steelers.
20. And the very bottom line is this…On plays when there wasn’t any penalties …One team made plays and one team didn’t.

The end result was the final score, 21-10.

*********************************************

To every Steeler hater out there I say, ‘Get over it,’ and learn to accept losing with a little grace, humility, and dignity. Perhaps you’ll earn yourself some respect in doing so ….

What the Steelers accomplished this year as a #6 seed on the verge of elimination is nothing short of miraculous. Think about it, it’s NEVER been done before in NFL history and may never be done again. This team was matched against the very best that the league had to offer …. on the road no less … and we beat them all! Sorry, but there is nothing empty, tarnished, or undeserving about that …..

With that said, Congratulations to the

World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers

Welcome Home Lombardi Trophy!

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/2375/beninforthetd1tp.jpg

http://www.petitiononline.com/NFLFraud/petition.html

Same thing this year against the Colts- a non call on an obvious pass interference early. A non-call on a defensive encroachment that would have given the Steelers a first down on a 4th and inches, the Polamau non-interception. My son was visibly upset, and I was holding my anger- difficult to follow my own advice, searching for justice and an effort worthy of overcoming the “bad luck”. The Steelers won over huge odds in addition to a hostile crowd and unlucky calls. Champions do that. Another lesson for my son. I also was always careful to tell him when I truly believe that a call was correct versus suspect or a 50/50 judgement call.

Finally, the Super Bowl- calls that were close did seem to go our way while we were at the game, but we were not close enough to see. Obviously we were elated by the result, but as we drove back, the talk shows were full of nothing but conspiracy theories, official-bashing, and cracks about the entertainment (weight and/or age). It was disappointing not to hear about th triumph of our team, the struggles against all odds, congratulations for an incredible journey and result. I wanted to watch my Tivo version of the game myself- could it be that blatent? Were the refs on the take?

I was able to watch without emotion (since the event was already decided), and logged a balanced view of what I saw for every play and what impact the officials had. I also noted the announcers take on the calls at the time. Here are my findings:

1. The announcers were NOT outraged by the offensive pass interference call on the reversed Seahawk touchdown. The tone was more that it was a penalty, and he probably did not need to push off to get open. In fact, the announcer implied that the coach would be upset with the player, not the official.

2. No one is talking about the offensive pass interference called against the Steelers in the second quarter. The penalty was against the tight end that was no where near the play, which resulted in a nice gain to inside the 20 yard line. Replays were NOT shown and I would like to go on record that this could be considered as much a “phantom” penalty as any others the Seahawks care to blame. The play was called back, the Steelers were sacked on the next play in an obvious pass situation (thanks officials!). And here is where a Champion makes the play instead of complaining about a call. After that, on a 3rd and 28, Ben threw a long pass complete to Hines Ward inside the 5.

3. From there, we move to the short run plays and the disputed TD run by Big Ben. Sorry, but the tip of the ball broke the plane of the goalline during his first lunge. Don’t care what the refs did, how they did it, etc. Just because the ball was only over the line by an inch or doesn’t mean it ain’t a TD. But so what- call it short. We go for it on 4th down and make it. After all, we did it against the refs/Colts on the famous “non call” above. We were 100% on such attempts this year.

4. Flash forward to a few other plays that are not talked about- after a Seahawk caught a ball deep in Steeler territory, he tucked it in and made a move with the ball. He was then nailed by a defender, clearly fumbled the ball, but the refs called it incomplete. No excuses- this was the wrong call. Oh well, we overcame that call as well.

5. Late in the game, Seahawk QB fumbled while running free in the middle of the field. Pittsburgh ball. If a player is tackled, the ground can’t cause a fumble. However, he was not tackled, he simply fell down. In theory he could get up and keep running. But no, the refs reversed that call because a Steelers hand brushed his jersey- he didn’t tackle him, had no influence on the fall or fumble, but by a tiny technicality the refs applied this rule. Why don’t they just let them play?

6. After an incomplete pass early in the game, Hines Ward got nailed in the head by a helmet to helmet contact and the refs threw the flag. The replay clearly showed the helmets colliding, yet the refs picked up the flag and said that what I clearly saw happen did not happen.

7. On Hines Ward’s reverse, as he went out of bounds, he was clearly nailed in the head again by a defender with his helmet (who left the game with an injury). No flag! DO they want the players to get hurt?

8. Big Ben was on an outside run and was hit out of bounds and clearly dragged for 5 yards by the defender after he went out. For a league that wants to protect their quarterbacks, this was a very curious non-call. Clearly the Seahawks caught a break.

9. As for the “phantom hold” that John Madden referenced that reversed a pass play inside the 5 for Seattle- They only showed one angle of this play, and I admit that at first glance the offensive player seemed to be behind the defender in the shot, with the defender having a clear shot to the QB. After further review, without my conspiracy glasses on, I realized that the camera angle obscured the lineman’s arm and hand that was wrapped up and under the arm of the defender in a last ditch effort to prevent him from getting to the QB. Notice the way his shoulder is held back, his momentum is stalled, and I realize that the official probably had a clear cut view of this and called the hold as he should. That split second was what the QB needed to complete the pass and the hold bought it for him. Sorry- illegal. We can’t let a breach of the rules affect the game, especially when the play resulted in a long gain. That would not have been fair. Most telling- the lead official, who has admitted failures/mistakes in past games (Polomau interception for example), did not feel this was the wrong call. I can’t wait until they find the “lost” camera angle that shows this mre clearly and everyone can stop talking about the conspiracy.

10. The block/tackle by the Seahawk QB after his inteception throw- This penalty was called as per the rule, which I don’t like. I know this because I did not like it when they called it against the Steelers in an almost identical situation this year. Bottom line- the call was correct, but they probably should review this rule.

11. I will offer a counterpoint on a similar play going against the Steelers. After Big Ben’s interception, he ran after the play to make a tackle. He was clearly and viciously blocked in the back- a clear clipping penalty. There was no flag and this gave the Seahawks excellent field position and allowed them to score a touchdown.

There are more, but hopefully you will get my point. A lesson I continue to give to my 12 year old son- get over it- you can always blame things on everyone else if you look hard enough for excuses. I know it doesn’t quite make for as a good of a conspiracy theory of you look for calls against the Steelers, but I never felt compelled to this before now.

Holmgram, Announcers, Writers, Seahawks fans- blame the Seahawks, credit the Steelers, get over it, and grow up. What are you, like 12 years old??

But the pushoff call and especially the holding call were atrocious. On pretty much any given pass play holding can be flagged. But the call is usually reserved for blatant grabbing of the jersey or wrapping of the arms when a player has you beat. The offensive lineman was in perfect blocking position and there was no grabbing or extending of the arms. That an official would throw a flag on that play – when the Seahawks would’ve had the ball on the one yard line, poised to take the lead – is highly suspicious.

But even barring those two dubious calls, there were at least 7 or 8 other shady calls. I remember commenting on an early possession when Seattle seemed to have made a key first down and one of the refs came sprinting in from left field to assist the other ref in spotting the ball. His “assistance” influenced the other ref to spot the ball a good foot shy of the first down marker when the play should have been at least close enough to measure. I believe it was the same ref who came rushing in to signal touchdown on the Roethlesberger run when he was clearly out of position to see the play.

Again, there were at least 6 or 7 other calls of a similar sketchy nature. I wish I had taped the game. Someone should put a highlight (or lowlight) film together of all the penalties and send it to the commissioner’s office for “further review.”

I have always liked Jerome Bettis and a blue collar smashmouth team like Pittsburgh. But the game just smacked of a Steeler coronation party.

WTF is it?

Doesn’t the NHL have some weird system for overtime losses that makes this not true? And space-time isn’t Euclidean, either.

This is what Leibniz was talking about with incompossibility. Sure, in an ideal world all sports teams would lose all the time. But that’s formally impossible, just like a square circle. Get over it.

Plus, if we’re talking conspiracy theories, maybe there was a theory that whenever Seattle had a chance, they’d mess up their time management. (‘I know, Smithers, we’ll all synchronize their watches… incorrectly!’) Seattle played a good game as long as they were outside the red zone.