Superbowl XLIII Tampa Florida

[Riff Raff]

VXR; well said, thanks for putting CIRCMAND in his proper place!!! As was stated earlier; the Steeler's did not deserve to win SB-40, as it was totally "rigged" by the cheating zebra's. It was probably one of the worst officiated games in all of NFL history; and undoubtedly, "THE WORST" Officiated "Super Bowl" ever in NFL history!!!

We; devoted Seattle Seahawk fans, will never ever forget how we were cheated out of that SB-40 victory. All of us Seattle Seahawk fans are totally rootin' for the Arizona Cardinal's to kick the Steeler's @ss in this year's SB as part pay-back for that unworthy victory of SB-40.

May the Steeler's highest honor this year remain only as AFC Champions (and as this year's SB loser's)!!! Go "CARDINAL's"!!!

[circmand]

stating the calls upon review were correct and that the 4 most questionable calls went 2 against each team put me in my place? The whole article must be read otherwise you may jump to conclusions that are incorrect. I understand 2 birds being against it Ravens and Seahawks but I forgive them because I know they are just upset they got beaten by a better team. Though I have to admit had the Ravens been healthy it may have been a different game. But as for SB 40 officiating aside the Seahawks played very poorly.

[Triathlete]

So, what does anything that the REF's did in SB40 have to do with the Steelers team that is going to win the SB this year. The Steelers simply played the game they didn't make the calls. Blame the officials not the teams. Bad calls happen all the time...its not the teams fault.

[circmand]

Kevin Blackistone, a columnist with the Dallas Morning News, expressed this view on ESPN's Around the Horn: "The litmus test for this is the fact when you talk to the Seattle Seahawks after the game, they didn't talk about the referees. They talked about problems they had of their own making."[4]

In response to the criticisms leveled at the officials, the NFL, just two days after the game, released a statement defending the officials' performance. "The game was properly officiated, including, as in most NFL games, some tight plays that produced disagreement about the calls made by the officials," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in a statement. [5]

[VXR]

Kevin Blackistone, a columnist with the Dallas Morning News, expressed this view on ESPN's Around the Horn: "The litmus test for this is the fact when you talk to the Seattle Seahawks after the game, they didn't talk about the referees. They talked about problems they had of their own making."[4]

one guys opinion

In response to the criticisms leveled at the officials, the NFL, just two days after the game, released a statement defending the officials' performance. "The game was properly officiated, including, as in most NFL games, some tight plays that produced disagreement about the calls made by the officials," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in a statement. [5]

really an NFL spokesman really what did you expect them to say???

OK I will help you. Here is a poll ESPN did. Notice the amount of people who voted. A few more opinions than your two guys (one of whom did not give his opinion on the calls themselves and the other who said only two were bad). oh ya and the NFL guy

Do you think officiating mistakes affected the outcome of Super Bowl XL? (103,167 votes)
61.7% Yes
38.2% No

Which played the biggest role in determining the outcome of the game? (118,130 votes)
57.5% Officials missing calls
28.3% Seahawks not making plays
14.2% Steelers making plays

What grade would you give referee Bill Leavy's officiating crew for Super Bowl XL? (118,130 votes)
50.6% F
24.8% D
13.9% C
8.8% B
1.9% A

Do you think the official made the right call on Darrell Jackson's offensive pass interference in the endzone, negating a Seattle touchdown in the first quarter? (118,130 votes)
73.8% No
20.5% Yes
5.7% I'm not sure

Do you think the football broke the plane of the goal line on Ben Roethlisberger's touchdown run in the second quarter? (118,130 votes)
59.3% No
25.9% Yes
14.8% I'm not sure

Do you think the official made the right call on Sean Locklear's holding penalty in the fourth quarter, negating an 18-yard reception to the one-yard line by Jerramy Stevens? (118,130 votes)
74.3% No
15.3% Yes
10.4% I'm not sure

[Triathlete]

You are right it is not the Steelers fault that two refs born and raised in Pittsburgh called the game. Maybe they were 49er fans growing up.

So, the Steelers hired the refs?

[circmand]

So what a buch of people who dont know crap about the rules and who were probably drunk and watch only what was shown on TV is more accurate than want a team of trained officials and an experienced sports writer and the crew at around the horn think?

I just love conspiracy enthusiasts:

We did land on the moon

Lee Harvey acted alone

We have not been visited by aliens

Elvis is not alive and working as a pin stter in New Jersey

And there is not a vast international conspiracy to give the Steelers more SB wins

[Triathlete]

Elvis is not alive and working as a pin stter in New Jersey

Nope, he's alive and performing in Tombstone, Az....i saw him there a few months ago!

[circmand]

didnt suck. It did. What I am saying is analysis afterwards show there was no bias towards or against any team. Any time officiating is bad uninformed people feel it is only the losing team that the calls against. As far as an opinion poll that was done ESPN did not use any approved form of scientific polling. They posted a poll and anyone who wanted to vote could, anyone who wanted to vote multiple times could. As it is human nature to complain when unhappy but let things go if you are satisfied it is only natural that Seahawk fans would call and Steeler fans would not. Even had the game been fixed Congress has shown a willingness to get involved and investigate. Now I appreciate that Seahawk fans are upset they lost the only chance to win a super bowl and currently it does not look like they will get another chance any time soon. So I know if God himself came down from heaven and said the game was honest they would accuse him of being a Steelr fan and lying about it. Being unhappy with the results does not make the results incorrect.