Sports Perfection Can't Last Forever

So, my the great run of my favorite sports teams had to end at some point, and that was yesterday when UConn beat the crap out of Louisville. More on that in a minute.

1) Steelers win the Super Bowl!

So I went to a CHEGA (Chem Eng Grad Assoc) Super Bowl party decked out in my 1980's Steelers knit cap (complete with poof ball on top), Greg Lloyd jersey, and Starter Steelers windbreaker (the last two from my high school days). j and I were the only ones with team colors and an active cheering interest in the game at the party but it was lots of fun.

I don't know about the greatest Super Bowl ever, but it was a great 4th quarter and the return by Harrison has definitely the best defensive play I've ever seen in a Super Bowl. It was great to see Roethlisberger lead the Steelers back in the 4th quarter as he had several times this year (just ask the Ravens, Cowboys, and Chargers). It was also nice to see him pick a secondary apart in that drive as much as he did my Louisville Cardinals in the 2003 GMAC Bowl.

2) The Kurt Warner Fumble

I was surprise during the game that the play wasn't reviewed on the field, but I thought it was a fumble. I just figured they'd take a look in order to make it look good. They didn't, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that there are now all these conspiracy theories on how the NFL phoned it in for the Steelers.

First of all, if they had phoned it in for the Steelers, then the first TD would not have been called back and they would not have called a holding penalty in the endzone. Secondly, it was reviewed in the booth, by a veteran (retired on-field NFL official) official, whom I have met several times, during a long break between the plays due to the change of possession and the administering of the celebration penalty, he just determined that it was a fumble and didn't buzz the on-field crew. Nothing wrong with that, just would have looked better if they had look at it on the field to confirm.

Then I come home to this shit:

It was obvious even at full speed that his arm was going forward. I hate to be the “NO ONE CAN DISPUTE THIS!” guy, but honestly, no one can dispute this.

It is very easy to dispute. The VP of NFL Officiating, Mark Pereira, actually does a great job discussing that play and several others (like explaining how the officials missed the celebration using the ball as a prop). Basically, you see the ball shift in his hand when Woodley hits Warner. Even though his arm moves forward and the ball goes in the same direction, doesn't mean he has control anymore. More like a basketball pass (at least for me since I can't palm a ball).

It should have been reviewed, but the call would not have changed.

3) Louisville finally lost again last night to a UConn team that was way better. It was TWill and 4 guys playing like I would against a 7'3" center, clueless. I read some fans complaining about the discrepancy in fouls, but when you settle for forced, fadeaway, outside jumpers instead of attacking the rim, you are not going to get fouled. Louisville is still a flawed team, since we can't shoot all that well, and we're relying on so much youth in the post.

I'd like Scott Padgett to teach Samardo Samuals his jump hook while leaning into the shot blocker to take away the space that a shot blocker needs to operate. Padgett was only 2 inches taller than SamSam, but had far superior footwork and post moves. Then again, Padgett was raised by a basketball coach and Samardo has been playing organized ball about 5 years.

TWill still looks great. Clark still looks like he's trying to discover what he does best. I had hoped he figured it out during the NCAA Tournament run he had last year, but he still needs work. He had one really good drop step move yesterday, didn't finish, mostly he settled for long range jump shots.

Oh well, enough for now. I'm going to bed.