for the link to the article!

I thought the ball in the Steelers game crossed the plane right when it first hit the receiver. he was falling forwards out of the endzone (while keeping both his feet within the endzone) while making the catch & might have had the ball out of the endzone when he gained control of the ball.

Now, I can see a scenario where a TD happens & the ball is not in the endzone. If a receiver is right in the corner of the endzone closest to the field of play & extends out over the sideline & receives the ball while his feet are in the endzone, then it is a TD. Even though when the catch is made, the ball is actually over the sideline (say a foot out of bounds). The ball may have passed through a portion of the endzone while on its way to the receiver's hands, yet it did not end up within the endzone.

I wonder if this play was basically the same thing: If you catch a pass while both feet are in the endzone, it's a TD no matter whether the ball was actually in the endzone or not.

who said: 'The goal line extends around the world. The ball doesn't have to be in the end zone. It just has to break the plane of the goal line.'

Wasn't thinking about that. It actually extends on an imaginary line outside the field of play (on both sides of the field).

To twist my above scenario on the sideline catch a little, the receiver would be extending at a 45% angle out from the corner of the endzone closest to the field of play while keeping both feet in that corner of the endzone. Then, the ball would not have crossed the goal line when the catch was made (I'm thinking of a big receiver here, a Plaxico Burress or Terrell Owens).

I think the rules would indicate no TD in that scenario, but I expect it would be called a TD anyway.

I wish we could draw diagrams :-)

BaldHeadedHo said: 'I have to say that one of the reasons I am a huge soccer fan is the inexorable right of a referee to make a call, stand by it, and preserve the flow and momentum of a game, something COMPLETELY lacking in an NFL game.'

I'm sure the English side loved the fact that the 'flow & momentum' of their 1986 World Cup match against Argentina was not marred by having instant replay decide that Diego Maradone hand-balled in the winning goal.

understand your response. You are probably not an athlete or an ex-athlete. I want the team or person who has performed the best (within the rules) to win the game. I have been on the receiving end of some horrible decisions & it hurts to know you lost (in large part) due to an incorrect application of rules.

Taking the Argentina - England game as an example. The goal was illegal. It should not have counted. It is a shame it counted. Probably Argentina would have still won the game, but we don't know. You know, it sort of takes away from the Argentina athletes' win, this hand goal they received. English fans can point to it and delegitimize the Argentina win. If the goal had been disallowed & they still went on and won, nobody would question their victory.

As an athlete, I don't want a win I didn't earn.

It is not the money. I don't bet on games (I do on the ponies, however). It is my desire to have the outcome be correct (i.e. the team/person who executed the best within the rules of the sport be the winner) that leads me to favor instant replay. The replay process is certainly not perfect in its operation, but I think the sentiment is sound.

the fact that she's ('Hoping', that is) read numerous pages of letters opining that her brother is secretly gay &/or hoping to boink roommate himself & she does not touch on that point.

Stay classy.

I'm not happy with Pres.-Elect Obama's choice of Warren. I'm not looking for a refund of the $400 I sent him. He has valid reasons (I assume) for including Warren in the festivities.

I do think it is OK for someone to ask for a refund, however.

my condolences on your loss. Many great memories, I'm sure.

the CAP lady should not have written her own post. She could have written her points about Matt's post in his comments section.

This is the kind of stuff the RWA's do. Matt may now sub-conciously censor his posts on subjects where he knows he differs significantly from the CAP line.

tell your parents to eff off (on this point: your sexual orientation).

You need to live your life for you, not your parents. Humor Alert: Try & work on your dad first, you certainly have something in common ;-)

the fact that with the current 'bowl system' 34 good teams will end their year with a win. Contrast that to the NCAA Basketball tourney, where 63 good teams will end their year with a loss.

That is a BIG part of it, IMO.

Reilly that you made up above. The Fox crowd fears having a level playing field in life.

They know what a bunch of dipshits they are & are scared to death about having the U.S. become a true meritocracy (or closer to being one, we'll probably never become a real meritocracy in all aspects of civic life).

BTW, only time I have watched Fox News (in past 12 or so years) was for about 45 mins before Pres-elect. Obama started his victory speech in Chicago on election night. I was grinning from ear to ear.

Hope everyone (even our deluded trolls) have Happy Holidays & New Year.