The Pats played the Colts last week. I know, that’s old news by now. Heck, the Colts even played ANOTHER game since then (although I’d rather forget that game even took place). However, I just finished reading this little article by, well, you guessed it, Bill Simmons. You know, “The Sports Guy“. He wrote the only book I ever TRULY read (except, of course, for “The Velveteen Rabbit” and perhaps a few Dr. Seuss classics).
Anyway, he wrote this article about the piss-poor officiating during that blockbuster game last week. And, as usual, he hit the nail right on the head. (SIDE NOTE: I’d really like to use the phrase “officiating the officials” in here somewhere but I just can’t seem to make it work so I guess I have no choice but to leave it out.)
I should also add that I was rooting for the Patriots. And that’s not to say that I don’t like the Colts or that I was even rooting against them because I wasn’t. Quite the contrary. I like the Colts. In fact, my old lady is a pretty hardcore Colts fan so I can’t help but to support them too — at least a little bit — if for nothing else than to keep the peace. I was also VERY glad to see them finally win the Super Bowl last season. It’s just that the Pats are, after all, my team. So if I’m forced to choose between the two, I’m going to side with my boys.
In the end, my team won and I’m glad about that. BUT, I don’t like the way the game was called. It seemed to be BLATANTLY rigged in favor of the Colts. The officials kept calling rediculous fouls against the Patriots that didn’t even seem to occur, and at times, should have been called against the Colts. In summation, the Patriots were flagged for things they did, things they DIDN’T do, AND things the Colts did. A total of 146 penalty yards (a franchise record). Compare that to the Colts’ 25 penalty yards.
My point is this: Nobody wants to win that way. Not the Patriots. Not the Colts. Or the Red Sox. Okay, maybe the Yankees. But the fans certainly don’t want it. And I’m sure the players don’t like having all their hard work and effort discredited. Winning that way isn’t even really winning at all. It straddles the line between sports and sports entertainment — you know, “professional” wrestling, WWE, Doink the Clown.
Anyway, I’m rambling now so I’ll leave the rest up to Bill.
