Is it just me...

Hi Mark,

Glad you're still involved in the hobby. I'm just getting back to it after years mostly away, and I just joined teh MFCA a couple of months ago. It's nice to know that some familiar and welcome names and faces are still to be found upon my return.

To address your first question, I think Holmes had both feet in. I was rooting for the Cardinals, but the Steelers showed their mettle, no pun intended. However, in my opinion, the MVP should have gone to Big Ben. He was the difference maker throughout the game, along with Harrison's big play.

To address your second point, I think it has some validity. Over the years, I noticed the same about the Cowboys and getting calls to go their way. Now, I'm a Packers fan and dislike the Cowboys with a passion, particularly the 90's era 'Boys. I recall distinctly the Packers leading in the 1995 NFC Championship game going into the fourth quarter only to be devastated by a pass interference call involving Michael Irvin, where, in my opinion, it had been Irvin who pushed off and was guilty of offensive pass interference. Fat chance of that being called against the Cowboys anytime, let alone in Dallas.

However, over time, I've come to realize a few realities of the game, which I think are true in all sports for the most part. One is, that the way the champions play becomes, in the officials' minds over time, the way the game is played. If Michael Irvin did indeed push off (and I realize I'm biased), then that's OK because that's the way champions play. You see what I mean? Another point is, the NFL and the media favor big market teams. The mid-90s Packers and the late-90s Broncos for example, were "novelty" stories to the media. They made great play for the moment -- "Storied franchise reclaims it's greatness -- gunslingers Favre and Elway win their way -- small market team pushes the big boys around, etc.", but the bread and butter for sports writers are the teams with the most fans, meaning those in major metro areas. Plus, ever since the Cowboys got dubbed "America's Team" by NFL films they get extra attention regardless.

Does the media attention reinforce my first point about "that's the way champions play"? Well, it certainly may have some effect. Refs watch TV and read newspapers, too, just like the rest of us. It's probably unconscious, but then again it might not be. After all, the NFL makes a lot more revenue from the licensed merchandise sales made by big market teams. That's just a bottom line fact.

We all hope those biases aren't the case, and that perhaps, in truth, it's just our own biases that color our perceptions , especially when our team comes out on the short end of the stick. But, in my opinion, it's possible that it happens, if only unconsciously and unintentionally. And, either way, it's not just you.

Take care buddy,

Ben