The fact that last play wasn’t challenged is mind boggling. 

Fumble or incomplete pass, no one – not even a Steelers fan – could argue that the call shouldn’t have been reviewed.  Had the call been overturned, Arizona would have had the ball on the Pittsburgh 29 with roughly 8 seconds left – time for a minimum of one attempt into the endzone.  Had the play been confirmed by replay then this conversation might be moot.  It’s not moot.

Or how about Santonio Holmes TD celebration?  (using the ball as a prop, he mimicked LeBron James’ chalk-toss)  …I guess the refs forgot that was a 15 yd penalty for excessive and/or illegal celebration.  …the outcome certainly WOULDN’T have been different had the Steelers had to kickoff from their 15 instead of the 30…

Wow.  Referees determining the outcomes of games.  Infuriating.

Even beyond the absurd ending, what about the almost consecutive unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against the Cardinals on a key Pittsburgh scoring drive?  One was a phantom roughing the passer call against Roethlisberger.  Funny too, I remember a very similar call in the Baltimore game a few weeks back.  (Lets not get into the phantom roughing the punter call in that same game or we will REALLY digress)  However, if that roughing the passer call wasn't enough, how about the 15 yard face mask penalty by an Arizona defender who coincidentally was having his very face mask twisted simultaneously by the same player he was deemed to have fouled?

Or how about the refs blatantly botching two calls in the Steelers favor that the Cardinals were luckily able to overturn thanks to replay?

We could also talk about the penalties – 106 yards by the Cardinals to just 56 by the Steelers. 

Listen, I know certain penalties or judgment calls are sometimes missed or botched by referees.  I understand they’re human and that the “human element” is part of the game.  But does anyone wonder why the Steelers always seem to be on the favorable end of such controversial calls?  And now for a second time in 4 years the Steelers have won a Super Bowl amid a myriad of controversial calls.  Does anyone think this is fishy?

I do.

The 2006 Super Bowl was a complete joke.  I don’t need to re-explain how terrible the officiating was in that game. 

Unfortunately, this game smells just like Super Bowl XL.  Does the NFL have a vested interest in seeing the Steelers win?  The Steelers do after all have by far the biggest fan following in perhaps all of sports.  Could the NFL be secretly pulling for the Steelers to get into the Big Game…and ultimately win it?  Just think of all the NFL licensed apparel, merchandise and ticket sales that will now certainly increase.  I’m sure the NFL doesn’t mind this at all. I mean, revenues are shared throughout the league.

One can only wonder.