Unabated Sports

For all the Pittsburgh fans (and players) who accused the NFL and it's officials of trying to manipulate the final results of the post-season... the shoe is now on the other foot. Less than a month ago, fans of the Black and Gold across the nation called up radio talk shows and accused America's elite sport league of fixing a playoff game. Joey Porter not only said the league office would have preferred media darling Peyton Manning and his Colts moving on, but that they were active in securing that. Well, then. how do you like these apples? What did Bill Leavy and his crew give us? Touchdowns overturned, crucial first downs called back, even players penalized for doing nothing more than making a tackle! If I follow the logic of Porter and Steelers Nation, Super Bowl XL was either payback for such horrible officiating in Indianapolis or the conspiracy that tried so hard to knock off the Steelers now hitched their wagon to Jerome Bettis's farewell homecoming celebration. More than likely, it was just godawful decision making by the men in stripes. The Super Bowl is a pop culture event, regardless of the two teams involved. So I can't imagine anyone feeling the need to tweak the Nielsons with a "hot" match-up. When I look at this post-season's officiating and see either fixed games or inept referrees. More than likely it's the crappy refs. At least, I hope it was. Wait, I'm hoping for innefectiveness from a squad of professionals who are supposed to be at the top of their game?! How sad is that?