Hi, I'm an NFL Ref.

[DoGGz]

Don't worry Steelers fans. Even if the Seahawks get near the endzone, We'll fuck them over!

[midas06]

Good game.

[ProZachNation]

Hi, I like to cry when things dont go my way.

[DoGGz]

Hi, I like to cry when things dont go my way.

Hi, I'm a realist.

[ProZachNation]

Hi, Im the Seahawks coach I suck, I dont know what I am doing.


Put blame where its due.

[DoGGz]

Hey, Matt Hasselbeck. YOU CAN'T TRY TO TACKLE. 15 YARDS!

[Fnord]

Hi, Im the Seahawks coach I suck, I dont know what I am doing.

I think he let the horrible replay call distract him in the end of the 1rst half.

It wasn't just that call, although it sure will make for good press. There were some really nitty calls that killed drives when Seattle made big plays.

[bigred]

Hi, Im the Seahawks coach I suck, I dont know what I am doing.


Put blame where its due.

Shouldn't you be doing your ex-gf's laundry or washing her dishes?

[ensign_lee]

Hi. I'm Mike Holmgrem.

I don't think I should kick a freaking field goal down by 11, with 30 seconds left to make the deficit 8 and thereby cover the OVER 23 for the second half.

I have horrible clock management skills. And the refs tried to fuck me over.

[vqc]

I have horrible clock management skills.

A good team will always find a way to win, regardless of how much the refs try to fuck them over.

THey lost becuase they just werent as good.

[DoGGz]

I have horrible clock management skills.

A good team will always find a way to win, regardless of how much the refs try to fuck them over.

THey lost becuase they just werent as good.

You clearly weren't watching Superbowl XL.

[ProZachNation]

Doggz, you do realize that there is already a thread for the super bowl right?

ohh wait you probably didnt see if just how you didnt see how the refs made the RIGHT calls.

[DoGGz]

Doggz, you do realize that there is already a thread for the super bowl right?

ohh wait you probably didnt see if just how you didnt see how the refs made the RIGHT calls.

Hi, I'm Matt Hasselbeck. Tackling players is now a 15 yard penetly.

[WildBobAA]

Being an impartial fan to both teams, that was one of the worst Super Bowls ever. Neither team played particularly well, both QBs threw bad interceptions and neither offense moved the ball well. The difference in the game was the three big plays by the Steelers. Take away those three plays and the game really was quite boring. There were some pretty horrible calls in the game, most notably the offensive pass interference early and Hasselback getting a personal foul for tackling someone, there was also the timeout by Ben after the play clock ran out. But what lost the game for Seattle was their inability to finish drives. They were able to move the ball at a somewhat consistant rate but only found the endzone once. (The Hasselbeck interception really killed them). Which is quite surprising, being the best red zone team this year. They also dropped some key passes that really would have changed the game.

Congrats to Pittsburgh, but man was that game ugly. I'd also like to hear what Porter says about the officating since all the key calls went in Pittsburgh's favor and he was bitching earlier about how the NFL fixes games.

[journey075]

hi im doggz and im a self presumptious faggot. my interests include circular logic and a dislike of common sense.

[midas06]

Being an impartial fan to both teams, that was one of the worst Super Bowls ever. Neither team played particularly well, both QBs threw bad interceptions and neither offense moved the ball well. The difference in the game was the three big plays by the Steelers. Take away those three plays and the game really was quite boring. There were some pretty horrible calls in the game, most notably the offensive pass interference early and Hasselback getting a personal foul for tackling someone, there was also the timeout by Ben after the play clock ran out. But what lost the game for Seattle was their inability to finish drives. They were able to move the ball at a somewhat consistant rate but only found the endzone once. (The Hasselbeck interception really killed them). Which is quite surprising, being the best red zone team this year. They also dropped some key passes that really would have changed the game.

Congrats to Pittsburgh, but man was that game ugly. I'd also like to hear what Porter says about the officating since all the key calls went in Pittsburgh's favor and he was bitching earlier about how the NFL fixes games.

Pretty much sums it up.

[vqc]

i hated both teams so there u go.

it was a hsitty 15 yd penatly on hasselback, i said WTF myself. And then I said it again on the replay.

learn to manage the clock andu can make up 15 yards easily.

[a500lbgorilla]

A game I was not proud of but a result I am pleased with. I was shocked with Big Bens perfomance early and on that second pick which was absolutely disgusting.

I was acutely aware of the fact that though Seattle was basically dominating the game, we were winning. The only reason was becuase Seattle wasn't cashing in on any of their ncie drives (of which there were many.)

The reason why was becuase of a lot of calls that tilted our way.

Just seemed like every time I went "Shit!" I heard "Holding. blah blah, 10 yrd penalty."

[a500lbgorilla]

Also, don't get me wrong. I'm fucking stoked but so damn tired right now.

[dthorne04]

this is just the beginning of how ugly this thread is going to be.

granted, i think a few of those calls were fucking horrible...but man. talk about a shitty fucking game.

[a500lbgorilla]

Also, Fire Mike Holmgren. WTF is wrong with that guy with his clock managment? He sucks.

[a500lbgorilla]

Hey, bad game, yes. But cool highlights like the bomb on 3rd and forever, the trick play, the big run.

And hilarious beer commercials.

[midas06]

All we got were shitty soccer commercials.

[a500lbgorilla]

All we got were shitty soccer commercials.

Bwned!

[midas06]

Also IRC quote of the day by the watching Euros:

<Estrop> it's called football but I don't see any feet hitting balls

[WildBobAA]

But cool highlights like the bomb on 3rd and forever, the trick play, the big run.

These were the only exciting plays though. Compare this with the New England/Carolina game 2 years ago when the whole 2nd half was full of great plays. Some people might say that the interceptions were exciting but not me. Those throws were so ugly that it would be a crime if they weren't intercepted.

[midas06]

[journey075]

hahahahahahhahahahah

k, i love you.

[dthorne04]

Best commercial was the Fed Ex one where the caveman got obliterated by the dinosaur at the end.

[DoGGz]

[sykotik489]

Wild bob summed it up nicely. Ugly ugly game that someone had to win. Refs sucked, period. They aren't the absolute 100% reason that Seattle lost, but they were horrid, and this is supposed to be the NFL's best crew.

[a500lbgorilla]

It just caps off what has been the worst officiating in post season history.

[WildBobAA]

No best commercial was the Hummer one where the 2 monsters have the baby.

[lambchopdc]

I can honestly say after watching this game I have lost my faith in the integrity of my favorite game in the world. Reasons:

A. Pittsburgh was favored - how the fuck does the #6 seed get favored against the #1 seed?

B. Pre-game shows - I watched 6 hours of pregame shows, 4.5 hours in my gf says to me "when are they gonna talk about the Seahawks?"...I had already been wondering the same thing. 80% of the pre-game talk surrounded the Steelers and how Bettis had to win this one cuz it was in Detroit in his last game.

C. Ticket Sales - Never bofore has a team had a "Home Game" superbowl. 80% of the tickets made it to Steelers fans. Kinda ironic considering almost every other superbowl has had an even fanbase....and this was Seattle's first superbowl.

D. ABC advertising....if you paid attention during the first half of the game...whenever it came back from commercial....with a player holding the Super Bowl Trophy talking some BS about winning it...it was almost always a Steeler....I didn't start seeing a large amount of Seahawks until shortly after the INT return in the 3rd quarter, when the momentum swung back their way.

E. The game - After watching the game I wanted to vomit. After every single big play by Seattle, yellow on the field. And to top it off....every call was either horrible or AT BEST marginal. The pass interferance was BS, holding was called constantly and the replays showed jack, the only excuse for the 1st Pittsburgh TD is the "indisputable evidence" technicality....even tho the ref original signaled down on the 1, then changed his mind. The Pittsbugh 2nd half INT off Hassleback shouldn't have even happened....cuz the ball should have been at the 1 the play before. The only good call of the game was overturning the horrible fumble call. The part that cracked me up was even Madden was in disbelief, every time i went "wtf" he said something to the effect of "thats not what u call 'pushing off'" or "i don't see how that was a hold."

Long story short, I felt like i was watching a WWE PPV event, not the Superbowl. Everything played out into a perfect storybook ending, just like it was talked up to be. And everytime reality strayed from the story, the officials were there to push it back in the right direction. As much as I hate the Steelers I will admit when they play well. I admit they outplayed and destroyed the Browns this year, so please don't think my bias is affecting my analysis of this game. The truth is I simply didn't feel right watching the game. It didn't feel real. And if the Steelers truely did deserve the NFL Championship, its a disgrace to all you fans and the players that this is the way it went down. This game wasn't like the 4 superbowls u dominated in the 70s...this one was tainted, dirty if u will. Just my .02 on this, if anyone has any objective replies please let me know.

EDIT: And before anyone asks, yes I am saying i think the refs were intentionally changing the outcome, for what reason I don't know. Pick one. Bribery...set up....not for me to say.

[bigred]

No best commercial was the Hummer one where the 2 monsters have the baby.

My friends and I voted that worst commercial of the night.

We were split between two bud light commercials. The one where they're hidden throughout the office or the refrigerator with the secret door. Both classics.

[tcpj4]

Best commercial was the Fed Ex one where the caveman got obliterated by the dinosaur at the end.

Yes!

That was awesome.

[Muxy]

Hi, Im the Seahawks coach I suck, I dont know what I am doing.


Put blame where its due.

Shouldn't you be doing your ex-gf's laundry or washing her dishes?

SFO
(so fucking owned)

[midas06]

Saying that the Superbowl is rigged is equivilant to saying that online poker is rigged.

[bigred]

Saying that the Superbowl is rigged is equivilant to saying that online poker is rigged.

It's not rigged?

[lambchopdc]

Saying that the Superbowl is rigged is equivilant to saying that online poker is rigged.

That is so far from the truth. Not like professional sports has ever been rigged before....cough cough....Pete Rose....cough...cough...Shoeless Joe Jackson....cough cough

Think about it....have the Steelers favored by 4 when they should clearly be the dog going in.....any intelligent sports bettor puts their money on the Seahawks cuz the spread is so fucking good. Pay off the refs so the Steelers win....who makes out? The house. It has happened before, nothing says it can't happen again.

[Blinky]

I don't gamble on sports so I don't really care about who was favoured prefl - er, pregame, but one must think that the line was set as it was, in part, to balance the heavy betting that was going to go on the steelers?

As for the game itself-kinda bleah. Nothing really special and Wildbob's post sums it up pretty much.

Though I don't think the refs were the deciding factor in the game, every single marginal call went the Steelers' way...

- Off PI in the end zone was a joke
- the "hold" when Seattle would have had 1st and G on the 1 was very very very picky; I wouldn't have called it
- I don't believe the personal foul on the Hasselbeck pick

- for Rothlisberger's TD - the Head Linesman ran in and got to within 5 yards of the ball before he signaled "touchdown"... which was about 90 sec after the play ended

(though in fairness the replay could not have overturned the field call - just no conclusive evidence).

- PS - I'm glad all the Bettis cocksucking is over.

[ProZachNation]

Saying that the Superbowl is rigged is equivilant to saying that online poker is rigged.

MIDASSSSSSSSSSSS I SAID THAT ON IRC YOU STOLE IT DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bigred]

Saying that the Superbowl is rigged is equivilant to saying that online poker is rigged.

MIDASSSSSSSSSSSS I SAID THAT ON IRC YOU STOLE IT DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT's a stupid comment, he was doing you a favor by taking credit for the statement.

[samsonite2100]

who makes out? The house. It has happened before, nothing says it can't happen again.

That doesn't make any sense. Do you understand how vig works?

Anyway, who cares about football? It's boring, homoerotic, and the games take way too fucking long. College basketball is the only sport worth a shit.

[lambchopdc]

Anyway, who cares about football? It's boring, homoerotic, and the games take way too fucking long.

Do me a favor, run to the bathroom and verify that you have a penis.

[samsonite2100]

one must think that the line was set as it was, in part, to balance the heavy betting that was going to go on the steelers?

That is, in fact, how lines are set--to balance betting as equally as possible. It has nothing to do w/ which team is a 6 seed or which team experts think is superior, or whatever. A peewee football team could have played the Seahawks, and if people were heavily betting on them, the line would have represented that.

[gabe]

i laugh at you

[lambchopdc]

That doesn't make any sense. Do you understand how vig works?

My example was not meant to be my serious thoughts on what happened. It was just an example of possible reasons to pay off refs. I'm sure someone that knows more about sportsbetting than me could come up with a realistic situation where paying off refs would be profitable.

[samsonite2100]

Do me a favor, run to the bathroom and verify that you have a penis.

OK, I checked, and yes, I do have a penis.
Now, do me a favor, run to the intertrons and verify that you know how sportsbetting works.

[DaNutsInYoEye]

Saying that the Superbowl is rigged is equivilant to saying that online poker is rigged.

That is so far from the truth. Not like professional sports has ever been rigged before....cough cough....Pete Rose....cough...cough...Shoeless Joe Jackson....cough cough

Think about it....have the Steelers favored by 4 when they should clearly be the dog going in.....any intelligent sports bettor puts their money on the Seahawks cuz the spread is so fucking good. Pay off the refs so the Steelers win....who makes out? The house. It has happened before, nothing says it can't happen again.

The Black Sox scandal happened almost 90 years ago. Pete Rose bet on baseball and there is no evidence that he ever bet against his own team. Horrible examples.

As long as roughly equal amounts of money are spread on either side of the line the house doesn't give a shit who wins. Your argument has little merit unless you can prove that disproportionatly more more money was put on Seattle.

[lambchopdc]

Do me a favor, run to the bathroom and verify that you have a penis.

OK, I checked, and yes, I do have a penis.
Now, do me a favor, run to the intertrons and verify that you know how sportsbetting works.

See above post.

[lambchopdc]

Saying that the Superbowl is rigged is equivilant to saying that online poker is rigged.

That is so far from the truth. Not like professional sports has ever been rigged before....cough cough....Pete Rose....cough...cough...Shoeless Joe Jackson....cough cough

Think about it....have the Steelers favored by 4 when they should clearly be the dog going in.....any intelligent sports bettor puts their money on the Seahawks cuz the spread is so fucking good. Pay off the refs so the Steelers win....who makes out? The house. It has happened before, nothing says it can't happen again.

The Black Sox scandal happened almost 90 years ago. Pete Rose bet on baseball and there is no evidence that he ever bet against his own team. Horrible examples.

As long as roughly equal amounts of money are spread on either side of the line the house doesn't give a shit who wins. Your argument has little merit unless you can prove that disproportionatly more more money was put on Seattle.

The example was simply to point out that midas's comment that sports being rigged was similar to poker being rigged was dumb. Because 90 years ago or not....it has happened.

[dthorne04]

Anyway, who cares about football? It's boring, homoerotic, and the games take way too fucking long.

Do me a favor, run to the bathroom and verify that you have a penis.

That's amazing.

[samsonite2100]

Yes, it has happened, but not because the house or bookies profit from one team being disproportionately favored. The house, in fact, gets fucked when this happens.

[lambchopdc]

Yes, it has happened, but not because the house or bookies profit from one team being disproportionately favored. The house, in fact, gets fucked when this happens.

Stop connecting two totally seperate points together.

[samsonite2100]

Pay off the refs so the Steelers win....who makes out? The house. It has happened before, nothing says it can't happen again.

[journey075]

refer to av.

[lambchopdc]

Pay off the refs so the Steelers win....who makes out? The house. It has happened before, nothing says it can't happen again.

That doesn't make any sense. Do you understand how vig works?

My example was not meant to be my serious thoughts on what happened. It was just an example of possible reasons to pay off refs. I'm sure someone that knows more about sportsbetting than me could come up with a realistic situation where paying off refs would be profitable.

[lambchopdc]

refer to av.

Your posting of this is equivalent to the fish on the table that says "well obviously I made the right play cuz I have more chips." Donk.

[DaNutsInYoEye]

Saying that the Superbowl is rigged is equivilant to saying that online poker is rigged.

That is so far from the truth. Not like professional sports has ever been rigged before....cough cough....Pete Rose....cough...cough...Shoeless Joe Jackson....cough cough

Think about it....have the Steelers favored by 4 when they should clearly be the dog going in.....any intelligent sports bettor puts their money on the Seahawks cuz the spread is so fucking good. Pay off the refs so the Steelers win....who makes out? The house. It has happened before, nothing says it can't happen again.

The Black Sox scandal happened almost 90 years ago. Pete Rose bet on baseball and there is no evidence that he ever bet against his own team. Horrible examples.

As long as roughly equal amounts of money are spread on either side of the line the house doesn't give a shit who wins. Your argument has little merit unless you can prove that disproportionatly more more money was put on Seattle.

The example was simply to point out that midas's comment that sports being rigged was similar to poker being rigged was dumb. Because 90 years ago or not....it has happened.

I could be wrong, but I think 90 years ago there might have been one or two people around that marked cards, worked in teams, paid off dealers, dealt off the bottom or otherwise "rigged" poker games.

If you want to compare the two in current times though I think you'll find that, although possible, the logistics and possible ramifications make rigging either of them highly unlikely.

[lambchopdc]

I could be wrong, but I think 90 years ago there might have been one or two people around that marked cards, worked in teams, paid off dealers, dealt off the bottom or otherwise "rigged" poker games.

If you want to compare the two in current times though I think you'll find that, although possible, the logistics and possible ramifications make rigging either of them highly unlikely.

Well either the game was rigged or the "best refs in the league" were just complete fucking idiots who happened to consistently make the wrong call against one side. Take your pick.

[samsonite2100]

Complete fucking idiots.

[lambchopdc]

Complete fucking idiots.

Fair enough.

[gabe]

lol

[DaNutsInYoEye]

If the refs were going to throw the game in favor of Pitt why would they would flag them twice for false starts within their first four plays? Was Holmgren paid off too and hence his poor clock management? The officiating was pretty bad. I think that's the end of the story.

[dthorne04]

this is just the beginning of how ugly this thread is going to be.

[lambchopdc]

If the refs were going to throw the game in favor of Pitt why would they would flag them twice for false starts within their first four plays? Was Holmgren paid off too and hence his poor clock management? The officiating was pretty bad. I think that's the end of the story.

The poor clock management was much less relevant to the outcome of the game. The bad calls by officials had about a -15 point differential in the outcome. (Thats an estimate based upon A. the steelers would have kicked the field goal instead of their first TD (-4) B. The Seahawks would have got a TD with 1st and goal on the 6" line (-7) and C. the different between the PI touchdown and the eventual Field Goal (-4))

The poor clock management most likely cost the seahawks 3 points in the first half, assuming they would have got closer and made the field goal. And assuming the end of the game management would have been relevant, realistically they would have gained a max of 8 points for a TD and a 2 point conversion.. So a total of a -11 point differential for bad clock management.

So considering the Steelers eventually won by 11 points, the bad clock management would be irrelevant for multiple reasons. A. the 11 points from the clock management, which, these points were a longshot at best, whereas the ref's calls were almost guaranteed points. The 15 points difference from the ref's calls were enough to decide the game. Period.

EDIT: False starts are obvious calls, too obvious. Its a dead ball foul...no way they could get away with missing them. Had to call them to save face.

[ekillian]

Though I don't think the refs were the deciding factor in the game, every single marginal call went the Steelers' way...
.

Not the overturned fumble.

[lambchopdc]

Though I don't think the refs were the deciding factor in the game, every single marginal call went the Steelers' way...
.

Not the overturned fumble.

That wasn't marginal, that was obvious. It wasn't even close. The fact that they had to make Seattle waste a challenge over it proves the point even more.

[gabe]

if you complain enough to us, we will reverse the outcome.

[dthorne04]

hahaha.

[DaNutsInYoEye]

Did major sportsbooks stand to lose significant money on the game pending Seattle beating the spread? Again, there is no point in debating this unless they did because there would be no incentive for them to do so. Did you lose money on the game lamb?

[ProZachNation]

if you complain enough to us, we will reverse the outcome.

[WildBobAA]

Interesting article

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5310192

[Greedo017]

ugly game, almost boring. calls were bad, not game changing to me though. i think seattle was the better team but you can't go all year long playing well and then play like shit in the super bowl, which i'd say they did. just couldn't get anything accomplished, which i'd blame on bad luck/bad refs/bad day/bad game. but you lost and its over, nobody will remember the bad calls just that its steelers win #5, best start getting over it.