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

[RooMorgans]

It's funny how the best teams get the breaks, it would seem.

Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.

I'm not going to rehash every call - it's been debated here and I'm kinda sick of reading/hearing it. People can judge for themselves at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Sunday, when NFL Network re-airs the whole game.

But the bottom line is this. No one, none of these cats were complaining when Joe Nedney did a swan dive on a game-winning field goal attempt, drew a penalty on the Steelers, and then kicked the Titans on to the next round in 2003 (I believe it was '03). No one was complaining in the AFC Championship Game when Roethlisberger was leveled from behind well, well, well after he threw the ball, causing his famous rib/back injury, with no penalty. No one was complaining when Fitzgerald came in from out of bounds (making contact with an out of bounds player, no less) to make the tackle on Harrison on his touchdown.

And everyone seems to forget that the Patriots were totally caught cheating. Why? Because they only went 11-5 this year and missed the playoffs. If they had gone 13-3 and won the Super Bowl, there'd still be whispers about it.

People see what they want to see. There are a lot of people in this world that don't like to see the Steelers win Super Bowls - just the same as it is for the Cowboys, 49ers, Patriots, Giants, etc., and for Duke basketball, and the list goes on. Hell, I root for the Steelers (since 1979); Kentucky basketball (since 1991); the Cubs (since 1984) and Manchester United (since 1991). I long ago stopped giving a rat's backside what anyone thinks of my favorite teams.

But if you really want to start having a conversation about blown calls and how they go for/against the Steelers - or any other team - you need to sit down, watch all that team's games for an entire season from start to finish, then come back and analyze it.

No one would ever do that - so their perception of how things work for/against teams is jaded, whether they admit it or not.

Ed

[Silverhorse 228]

I just logged on and I can't believe we are still talking about this...Steelers are champs...Congrats to all Steeler fans out there and I am happy for the city of Pittsburgh...can we move on to something more critical...especially for Cowboy fans...Jessica's weight gain could cost Tony Romo his life...that is if she rolls over on him in bed!

[bigdawg43]

I still wouldn't kick her out of bed!

[TVsCHACHI]

Originally Posted by bigdawg43

I still wouldn't kick her out of bed!

Heck Yeah.



I think she's hotter now.


Reminds me of my first trip to Amsterdam...

That's a whole-lotta woman!