The Fix was in at the Superbowl

[island911]

tabs, you've done it again.

Here's my perspective. ..

Superbowl Football is right up there with WWF. OF COURSE ITS FIXED.

. . .take a look at the demographics... the stadium was a great reflection of this. Just imagine how many commercials would be missed by the MASSES, if tv's started turning off prematurely. (Sea point winning)

Clearly, a show.

I've gotta say, tho' I'm glad Seattle lost. (no more of this kitschy crap). . .but especially the way they lost. Reason being; that 'officiating" really chaps the hide of a few of our elected officials here, who know a thing or two about fixing outcomes.

[dd74]

Okay, I plead ignorant, but how do you fix a football game? I know how questionable calls are made, but not every game has questionable calls.

Besides which, if Seattle instead scored on the end zone "push off," the game would have been that much better.

Last: plenty of people left at the first half. The Stones sure didn't keep many who were bored with the 3-0 halftime score on their living room sofas.

[Joe Bob]

Sonic...you ever ref a game? Football or anything else?

I don't car how much they pay....you are always going to make a mistake...that what's Instant Replay is supposed to fix....

Reffing is a thankless job. Especially when it's a volunteer position...ask me how I know.

[island911]

Originally posted by dd74
Okay, I plead ignorant, but how do you fix a football game? I know how questionable calls are made, but . . .

uhmm, i dunno . .. maybe the same way you get mick & the stones to not 'sing' any 'bad' words.

oh, and see: Go Seahawks!

Chirp- "holding. offense; (massive yardage) play does not count..."

Chirp- "holding. offensive; mick; keep your mouse in its house, and do not grab it"

[Sonic dB]

"Sonic...you ever ref a game? Football or anything else?"

Yes. I was a baseball umpire for several years and also played 1 year of college FB.

Penalties are not reviewable. Calling a penalty for "illegal block" on a QB who just threw an INT and is trying to make a tackle on the guy with the ball....is pure Bush League. Also, this penalty is not reviewable.

Pure and simple.... They ruined the SB for many fans, not just me....the only people satisfied today are Steeler fans.

[Sonic dB]

Also MikeZ...these guys are not volunteers. They get paid about $5K per game, and by their incorrect and unexplainable calls...are responsible for millions of dollars in revenue and billions in illegal gambling. I did not bet on the game by the way.

[Joe Bob]

Actually penalties ARE reviewable...just not during game time. They are reviewed by game officials that rate the ref and justify re-hiring them. At least in High School and College.

In the Pros.....well it's anyones guess.....I've seen some pretty sucko calls.

Once back in the day....I was a head linesman....the team trailing 6-0 was on the opposing team's 5 yard line. The head ref moved up to the line on the other side of me instead of staying in the backfield...we were a three man crew .....a line plunge came up with the ball carrier's back to the head ref.....

He crosses the goal line just AFTER he is stripped of the ball. The opposing team recovers, I call time out, signal first down the other way....my counterpart (head dude) signals TD......

Little schitzengruben that was the late ball carrier yanks off his helmet and wings it at me.....

The rest was really fun...made the news....50 people arrested.

[jorian]

I was sanding drywall on Sunday and missed the game. Glad I made the right choice.

[tabs]

I am saying ALL the Big games are what I call semi fixed....An Official makes a call here and there on the dominant team to slow them down a bit. To help even the teams out (to break the momentum of one team)...so one side just doesn't get blown out. If its a close game more people will watch to see the outcome then if its 27 to 3...So this has nothing to do with the Steelers or Seahawks...The NFL doesn't care who wins just so its a game people will watch and buy the Beer thats advertised. So the money will keep rolling in. get it its all about MONEY.

[Taz's Master]

Apparently you believe Big Ben was in on the fix too? If he doesn't throw that pick, it's 21-3, and the Steelers trounce the Seahawks. Then all those "fixed" calls are for naught.

[Superman]

Interesting. First, it makes sense, Island, that you wished a loss upon the Seahawks. My 13 year-old daughter is also struggling to create a unique identity. And if you favor bad roads and bad gubmint, it makes sense that you would withhold your support of a broad range of community goals. You seem very nice in person, though. Very nice. You and Mul apparently have that in common. Completely different personalities depending on verbal versus typed exchanges. Ah well.....

I am a little surprised that the nation seems to be picking up on this officiating thing. As a Seattle fan and a sportsman, I wasn't going to say anything. But that officiating was abysmal. Beyond embarrassing.

I played cornerback and safety, and have to vigorously disagree with those who support the end-zone offensive pass interference call. Even though I was a defensive player myself. Putting your arm around the receiver's waist and spinning them gently while the ball is in the air is VERY common and VERY effective, even in pro ball. Happens all the time. Watch. Receivers inexplicably turning AWAY from the ball as it approaches. Basically forces the receiver into using only one hand to make the catch. Okay, I digress. The push was not interference, since the Steeler defender had no chance at the ball itself. Was it a push-off? Hardly. It was barely a tap. And it came at the end of a bunch of pushing by both players. The Seattle receiver, entangled with the defender, had every right to place his forearm and hand where he did, and was actually rather reserved in the "push off." Really really bad bad call. Nowhere close to offensive pass interference.

The QB tackle that was flagged as a chop block. Give me a break.

And signaling a TD as you are running toward the ball to make the spot, where there had been NO blocking of the official's view at any time during the play, was inexcusable. If he saw a TD, fine. He clearly did not. What was clearly, on its face, inappropriate was for the official to NOT see a TD, NOT have any obstructed view, run toward the ball spot, and then seconds later, signal a TD when, several seconds after the end of the play he sees the ball moving across the goal line. That call could NOT have been properly made within those circumstances. That official, at a minimum, should never be allowed to officiate another game.

But hey, at the end of the day, the Steelers had more points than Seattle. I think both teams made some good plays. I like the way my team played, compared to Pittsburgh. But the World Champions are the Steelers, and they have my congratulations.

[teenerted1]

Latest NFL Ref vehicle of choice

[scottmandue]

Originally posted by jorian
I was sanding drywall on Sunday and missed the game. Glad I made the right choice.

Actually the Stones put on a pretty good show... you did miss that.

[tabascobobcat]