It may have already been discussed, but I don't have time to read 40 posts. I thought the officiating was very poor and calls went largely against the Seahawks, primarily the push off and the holding calls.

However, replays on the pylon play showed that the same foot that landed in bounds was the one that hit the pylon, hence he only had one foot in bounds. His right foot never touched the pylon and only landed out of bounds. Thus only one foot inbounds and incomplete pass, correct call.

I paid close attention to this, because the first time I saw it, I also thought the second foot had hit the pylon. Replays showed I was mistaken.

I don't really believe in the conspiracy that the refs were intentionally jobbing Seattle, but I was seriously disappointed that the game was decided by penalties. (I was rooting for Pittsburgh, but I hate bad officiating either way.) It's to the point now that every time I watch an NFL game, I have to wait a few seconds to celebrate a big play, because you never know if a penalty will negate it. It's a stupid an annoying way to enjoy a game.

But to add ammunition to any conspiracy theorists, did anyone notice that every one of the arty Lombardi trophy photo montages during the first half featured people from Pittsburgh? They showed so many of them in a row, I asked myself if maybe they were doing all Pittsburgh players the first half, and then Seattle players the second half, but that's not what happened. Most of the players in these promos were from Pittsburgh. Besides the sickening display of these men making love to a trophy they hadn't earned yet, it sent a message to me that the league (or ABC) really wanted Pittsburgh to win the trophy.

So many, I lost count. At a crucial juncture, 3d down with the Steelers trying to run out the clock, Steelers are guilty of delay-of-game. Right after the play clock reaches 0, Roethisberger calls a time out. But the refs give it to him anyway. That 5 yard penalty could shure have made a difference.

February 5, 2005 is the date when the NFL went from being a legitimate sport to become another "sports entertainment" enterprise like professional wrestling and roller derby.

One other bad (non)call. I believe it was the play right after the pass to Stevens to the 1 was called back. Hasselbeck was sacked by a rusher who was clearly offside on the play. The next play was the interception if my memory is correct.

I guess the point is that there were a number of ticky-tack or questionable game changing calls and they pretty much all went the Steelers way. It ruined the game.

One of the reasons I like Baseball so much better is that there are no penalties. What you see is what it is. The last time I saw a home run "called back" on a penalty was the pine tar game in 1985 and that was reversed upon further review.

"It's such an odd juxtaposition - our fascination and acceptance of violence and abhorrence of "sex" (or anything that even barely relates to sex)."

Did you really think that ABC was going to allow/should allow the Stones to sing the line "you'd make a dead man c*m"?

There's been a lot of back and forth on the officiating here, but not much discussion of what in God's name Holmgren was doing right before the half and at the end of the game. His time management was atrocious, and that's putting it mildly.

Putting aside all the time the Seahawks wasted at the end of the first half, at the end of the game they looked like a bunch of guys playing pickup. It was stunning to watch the incompetence on display at that moment.

The most rock-solid rule of football in that particular scenario is to give yourself a chance. Doesn't matter how far-fetched, just give yourself even the remotest of opportunity for the miracle. Especially at the Super Bowl. Homlgren stepped all over it. Kicked it away.

As Madden was pointing out even before time was clearly ticking away, get yourself the field goal first if the situation warrants (which it did) and then do the onside kick. Holmgren clearly should have done that but his team looked utterly, totally, and completely discombobulated on that last play. It was if it suddenly dawned on them and Holmgren that they had no time outs left. It was embarrassing.

A 42 yarder, indoors, should not have been difficult. The onside is certainly a long shot, but at least it's a shot. Holmgren gave them zero chance at the end. While the odds weren't great, at least there were odds. The way he played it, there were none at all.

And I've read two stories about how the night before the game, Holmgren wheeled in a huge stack of bills (the take for each winning player) to motivate his guys. Screw the pride. Screw the long-suffering fans. Screw the Gipper. Show them the money! Mind you, I know this business is about as crass as it gets, but that's just beyond the pale. If you've got to cart in a huge wad of cash to motivate your guys, you're doing something wrong, period, end of story.

Certainly Holmgren's work at the end of the half and end of the game were not defining moments, but they say a lot about his coaching. It was truly -- pun intended -- Bush-league.

I just have to say how utterly dissappointed I am with you, King. As the foremost champion of trying in vein to hold the NFL accountable for it's crap officiating, I certainly expected some sharp criticism from you this morning. Your readers have picked up the slack I see, thank you readers!

The Seahawks poor execution was most apparent on the two out of bounds catches in the first half. Dammit! You've got to know exactly where you are on the field at all times at this level! But beyond that, Seattle had drive after drive taken away by the refs.

The game was horribly marred by calls that directly neutered gathering Hawks momentum. The holding call--crap. The "blocking" call against Hasselback--major crap! The Rothlisberger TD--minor crap (I could see how it would be inconclusive, but the ball never crossed the plane).

Whether or not the Seahawks could have won without crap calls all afternoon we'll never know. But that shouldn't even have to be a question at this level. The NFL is derelict in its responsibility to its teams and its fans. There is simply no excuse.