Here’s some random ramblings created from watching this year’s Super Bowl. Let’s start at the beginning.
Aretha Franklin. The NFL could pick no better person to personify the image of the Super Bowl, and what it’s become, than Aretha Franklin. Bloated to the point of being unrecognizable, Aretha has become a caricature of herself, just like the Super Bowl and all it’s trappings. Images from the movie Rollerball and The Running Man kept flashing into my head. By the way, do you think Aretha caught and ate the thing that used to be in the fur that she was wearing?
ABC/ESPN Overkill. Who really is in charge of coming up with all of the nonsense that surrounds this game? Did every talking head that ABC/ESPN could fit into a blazer and shove behind a desk have to be at the game? The National Anthem, the half time show, the ridiculous Dr. Seuss-like lead in to the game made the whole spectacle a spectacle. A joke. What demographic are they going for? By the way, there wasn’t nearly enough hip-hop during the broadcast. What’s up with that? Is hip-hop on the way out?
The Rolling Stones. Most of my thoughts during the half time show had little to do with music. “These guys have been playing together for 40 years? I’ve heard better bands in dive bars.” “Mick has great hair for an old man.” “Who’s that old guy playing the drums?” “Where does Keith Richards get his head bands?” “I saw the Stones during their first farewell tour in 1984!” “Cool Stage!” “How does this whole thing fit into a football game?” “Where’s the remote control?”
Say Something Nice. At least ABC didn’t move kick off 'till prime time and really ruin the game. You know, like the networks have done with Major League Baseball.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - RogerMDillon
Worst officiating I've seen in years. Not just close calls, but blatantly wrong calls that even that buffoon Madden could see were wrong. It affected the outcome of the game and my future viewing. The NFL will never make another cent off of me.
2 - Matthew T. Sussman
I think if you focus on the refs, you'll find bad calls. You'll find them everywhere. I don't see it changing the game.
3 - RogerMDillon
You don't have to focus on the refs. They made their presence apparent throughout. Madden and Michaels more than once stated a bad call against Seattle was made.
They called back one Seattle touchdown on a pass interference call that would make Michael Irvin laugh at how inconsequential it was.
Another play that took Seattle to the one-yard line got called back on a holding play that didn't happen and they surely would have scored.
That's a 10- to 14-point swing in a game they lost by 11 and when they happened would have changed both teams' game plans. Pitt wouldn't have run the ball and ate up so much clock if they had been behind.
Explain how Hasselback gets penalized for a low block when he tackled the man?
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
That last one should have been overturned by the refs themselves. And I know which plays you're talking about on those others. They were questionable. Could have been called either way.
If I recall, there was an unnecessary roughness call that would have gone against a Pittsburgh d-back but was waved off. And the Hasselbeck fumble was retained by Seattle.
Honestly, I don't try to worry about officiating. Puts a level of paranoia on the game that doesn't need to be there. Clouds the fun.
5 - RogerMDillon
Could have been, but weren't. And if you were going to "help" in a game, wouldn't you do it on questionable calls to deflect suspicion?
As the replay showed, Hasselback didn't fumble. Michaels basically told the Seattle coaches to review it because the refs had blown it, once again in favor of Pitt.
That's fine and dandy if you just want to have fun and don't care if the game's integrity is compromised, but I want to see a fair game played and there were too many examples to make me question whether or not that is what I saw. What clouded the fun was the refs. That and most of the commercials sucked.
Gambling is a very big business. Google "point shaving" to see what a problem it has been or maybe watch Sayles' "Eight Men Out" to see it happen in a World Series. If Joey Porter thinks it can happen in the playoffs, then I certainly think it can happen in the SuperBowl.
6 - sal m
i think to say that the refs were making calls to help pittsburgh is just silly...
the offensive pass interference call on seattle is the same version of the BS call that defensive backs get called for 2 or 3 times per game...there's no contact allowed in the form of pushing off no matter how inconsequential.
the refs had a bad game just like many of the top players did...are officials somehow immune to the same forces that affect players?
and if hasselbeck doesn't throw a horrible pass that results in an interception he doesn't have to make the tackle that resulted in the penalty in question.
7 - Matthew T. Sussman
Oh puh-leeze.
Sure would. Good thing nobody suspected a thing.Seriously, where is all this outrage coming from? It was a freakin' game with a lot of close calls. They call them as they see them. They're not thinkin' "Well, the last close one went Pittsburgh's way, so let's give this one to Seattle now."
How dare anyone try to undermine the integrity of a football game, especially if the outcome didn't end up in their favor -- or worse yet, lost money on it.
Oh, and I was very pleased to hear that the ESPN analysts decided at halftime that Seattle did in fact score that touchdown in the first quarter. I was kind of surprised to see that they didn't update the score to reflect their sentiment.
8 - Susan R-G
I'm not going to get in a discussion about the game or the officiating. I do want to ask -- what was that nonsense with Harrison Ford and former players reciting some sort of Dr.Suess-ism thing? Those men should have been embarassed to show their faces on national television, uttering those words, in green screened animated Suess-land graphics, for no reason or purpose. It was ridiculous!
9 - Vic R.
OFFICIATING? Is that what they are calling it? Either all of the officials need to have their eyes checked or maybe I do. One referee evidently decided he missed playing football and decided to jumb in the pile. What was that about? -- should not be allowed!
I am not partial to either team, but Seattle was down right robbed. If this is what football is turning out to be (especially the super bowl), then I will not waist my time watching bias Referees. I am grateful I did not spend (waist) money traveling to see that poor excuse of officiating, not to mention the very lame half time show in person. I actually changed the channel during the half time show in pure disgust and embarressed that the whole world was watching. I do believe when it comes to the Super Bowl, the NFL can produce a "quality half time show", which they have dropped the ball on for the past 3 years. Hey guys within the United States there are quality artist!
The very short pregame show was the only part of the whole event that was worth watching.
GO Arethia, Aaron, & Motown!
10 - MCH
Say, did Mike Holgrem ever go out and congratulate Bill Cowher after the game? It appeared that Cowher was waiting at midfield for the customary post-game handshake and I don't recall Holgrem actually making it out there.
11 - MCH
...or is it Holmgrem...(?)
12 - Vic R.
Wouldn't everyone agree that a mistake was made when nameing "MVP" of the lame 2006 Superbowl? After watching that whole game I would have bet they would have named Ben Roethlisberger for that spectacular Quater Back Sneek touch down he made!
;)
13 - Matthew T. Sussman
Holmgren was replaced in the second half by his stunt body double, Wilford Brimley.
14 - Shark
Matthew T. Sussman: "...How dare anyone try to undermine the integrity of a football game, especially if the outcome didn't end up in their favor -- or worse yet, lost money on it."
Jeesus fucking christ, you wrote that with a straight face!?
It's actually a lot funnier than your flaccid "wilford brimley" remark.
15 - Shark
Oh... and did I mention that you're a buncha naive motards if you think ALL professional sports aren't fixed?
Imagine a multi-billion dollar industry in America where the outcome is up-for-grabs.
~AHAHAHAHAHA~!
You're welcome,
Shark (The guy on the grassy knoll)
16 - Vic R.
Yes Mr. Shark, I do believe your right. I now put the NFL in the same league as what they call "Professional Wresling".---I quit watching that years ago!
17 - Matthew T. Sussman
Oh yeah? Well I think your nuts are fixed. I have no proof but someone said it so it's gotta be accurate!
18 - Kevin L
I thought the refs. made so many dad calls that the Steelers didn't win the game, the refs. gave them the game.Maybe the refs. bet on the Steelers to win and knew they wouldn't without some help.
19 - sal m
picking on the officiating is the loser's lament...all of your conspiracy stories are very funny...but you make absolutely no case as to why the league would care why one team would win over another, or what motivation the league would have to fix any games....pure folly.
also, did the refs throw any interceptions? were the refs responsible for the seahawks woeful clock management and play calling at the end of the first half?
20 - Matthew T. Sussman
You didn't see it, Sal? Referee Bill Leavy shanked two field goals because his eyes were full of glare from a tinfoil hat in the stands.
21 - Paul
The only truly bad call was the blocking below the waist on the interception since Matt was going for the ball carrier not the blocker. The offensive pass interference in the end zone is football 101, you can't push off at all.
Why was the half time show not Motown? I could have done without the Stones.
22 - RogerMDillon
"are officials somehow immune to the same forces that affect players?"
No, and thanks for making my arguement. That's why they are just as susceptible to payoffs. To say, that cheating would never take place in the Superbowl is the fool's lament. It's happened in the World Series, boxing, college basketball, even elections. What makes your precious football insulated from the possibilty? Even Joey Porter thinks the refs cheat.
Plus, I never said the league was involved, but are you trying to tell me with all the billions of dollars gambled legally and illegally that no one has an interest to see a game massaged a certain direction?
"How dare anyone try to undermine the integrity of a football game, especially if the outcome didn't end up in their favor"
I won money on the day and had no rooting interest, so spare me your outrage. You seem to have no problem with the refs undermining the integrity of the game by taking an active part in the outcome.
"They call them as they see them."
That's crap. On Ben's "touchdown", the ref ran in and didn't signal a TD until after Ben was on the ground and the ball broke the plane. Also, on Hassel's "fumble" if you see the replay, a ref in the background has a clear view of the Pitt player touching him on the back.
Seattle made plenty of mistakes and played poorly and Pitt made plays when they needed to, but the score was affected and this had an impact on the game plans of both teams.
You are certainly entitled to your low standards for what you accept in the SuperBowl, but please don't complain about how lame movies, music, politicans, society, et. al. have become because you are part of the country's problem by setting such low expectations.
23 - sal m
This theory is ludicrous...on ben's touchdown the official on the field had a much clearer view and the replay was not conclusive.
you are just rambling as evidenced by your final statement.
"You are certainly entitled to your low standards for what you accept in the SuperBowl, but please don't complain about how lame movies, music, politicans, society, et. al. have become because you are part of the country's problem by setting such low expectations."
just what are you talking about? what does this have to do with anything?
and by the way, there's no way you can keep the nfl from making another cent off of you...they are everywhere...don't you see? they can control the game, make coaches call bad plays, make qb's throw interceptions...they pick the officials who are prone to make calls for the team that vegas wants to win...they can do everything but get joe montana and terry bradshaw to show up at the super bowl...but they'll get your cents, they'll get 'em, you'll see...
24 - Paul
Roger,
I don't care when the ref signaled the TD for Ben. The ball broke the plane, therefore TD.
The damn offensive linemen for Seattle pretty much molested the Steelers when they blitzed used basic take down wrestling moves. You can find fault both ways.
25 - Matthew T. Sussman
Roger, with all due respect, none of those calls stand as substantial proof for the game being fixed, so take the entertaining but classless conspiracy theory to Oliver Stone and make a movie about it.
You can keep pointing at questionable calls, and all you have is nothing more than a sum of the parts: a set of questionable calls. Does that say that the NFL needs to improve its officiating? Perhaps, and that's a completely different argument. Personally I think human error is a part of the game, and if the games were in fact fixed then bookies are a bunch of shit-for-brains because Seattle still could have and would have won the game had Josh Brown made both field goals. Had Hasselbeck not thrown the interception to Ike Taylor. Had Jerramy Stevens not had paddles for hands. Had Kelly Herndon stayed on Hines Ward on the reverse toss. Had Roethlisberger take one more step back before diving for the end zone. Had Jerome Bettis fumbled his last carry. Had Roethlisberger stepped over the line of scrimmage on the 3rd-and-28 line.
(Oh, wait, I almost forgot. The game was fixed, so that wouldn't have made a difference.)
So when you question the integrity of a game, you are inherently putting into doubt the integrity of everyone who writes about it and watches it on TV, and that sure as hell includes me. Personally -- and I think every columnist, beat writer and casual drunk would say the same thing -- I will not stand for such high accusations with absolutely no fucking proof of foul play.
Find me some proof, then we'll talk. But you got nothing but a set of questionable calls. That's it.
You think you can do better? Go to referee school. Maybe when you start off at the high school ranks and have parents jeer you because you made a call against their son, you'll read Zach Baker's thoughtful post defending the varsity zebras and realize they're doing the best job they're being paid to do -- paid by the league and nobody else.
As for my standards? They're far from low.
This is one hell of a hobby for me. These bloggers and I sure are creating something fun here on Blogcritics. When I came to this site there was very little sports. Now it has its own goddamn section. So many great writers and sports fans have built that third tab from the right into a fun forum of arguing over the best teams, how teams should do to get better, to share memories of games past. It's a beautiful thing.
But to come in here, without any abso-fucking-lute evidence that the game is fixed, and say "Hey, all of you are naive suckers. Why can't you see that?"
Gamblers who compromise the beauty of the game get what come to them. Everyone involved on the 1919 White Sox team was excommunicated from baseball. (It didn't take too long to snuff that scandal out in a time before radio transmitters made it easy to "squeal.") If Pete Rose ever bet against his own team, then he too deserves nothing more than a giant blackball out of Cooperstown.
But there is no -- and I repeat, NO -- proof that any of the 40 Super Bowl outcomes were altered by the agenda of Las Vegas moneychangers.
So do you have the balls to say that what I'm writing is simply a wrapper on a game whose outcome is decided by bettors, unbeknownst to me and every other blogger, columnist and jersey-donning nacho-lover? Fuck that. Take that goddamn classless shit out of this site.
Or say it again. I dare ya.
Have a nice day.