Chargers vs. Steelers Controversy
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In the last two weeks my inbox has been flooded with emails from outraged bettors with their NFL licensed Zubaz© panties all in a bunch over the controversial ending to the Week 11 Pittsburgh / San Diego game. Sixty-six percent of the estimated $100 million wagered was bet on the 5-point favorite Steelers. Sadly, this means the vast majority of bettors were swindled by the refs for tens of millions of dollars. Consequently, I won’t be giving the NFL Referees Association another novelty-sized blank check this year!
The Chargers seemed a lock to cover while trailing 11-10 in the closing seconds when they commenced a series of lateral passes more farcical than Smokey and the Bandit 3. That’s when our homeric hero, Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, swooped in to recover a botched lateral and barreled into the end zone for a miracle, spread-covering touchdown. After initially awarding Pittsburgh the score, the officials convened and then errantly disallowed it, only to admit afterwards that the TD should’ve counted.
“The first pass was the one that was illegal, but it only kills the play if it hits the ground,” referee Scott Green said. “The rule was misinterpreted.”
Never mind that the play in question appears perfectly legal on replay. I find it downright befuddling that no member of this officiating crew knew this rule and that their ignorance of said rule was the basis for overturning a score they initially, and correctly, allowed to stand. Clearly, the fix was in. It’s evident that the NFL is trying to distance itself from Vegas, no doubt a fallout from the NBA’s recent point-shaving scandal. And what better way to discourage gambling than by fixing games in favor of teams heavily bet against?
Fans, rest assured I won’t let the NFL fleece you out of your hard-earned winnings! These are volatile economic times. How will you buy your boss’s plumbing business that you can’t afford if you can’t rely on legitimate touchdowns to count? As the foremost lobbyist in sports handicapping, I pledge to speak out on behalf of the most special interest of all, the sports betting enthusiasts!
