Oh Look, A Soap Box

I am a man of few vices: cards, video games, and NFL football. It's tough for me, as a man who despises the emphasis this country puts on celebrity, to start spouting off about the problems with the NFL. It is after, just football. But, I'm going to do it anyway because I can, and because it's stupid.

It took me watching all of 5 games over the weekend to find the glaring example of how a multi-billion dollar organization is sticking it to it's fan base. Yes, I've been on this soap box before, but for whatever reason it I just can let it go. And the NFL just ignores it. Sort of like the rain at the Superbowl last year. (Rain? What rain? It didn't ran at the Superbowl. How could it possibly rain at the Superbowl.)

If you haven't guessed already, it's the officiating. Did anyone see the end of the Ravens/Bengals game Monday night? The Ravens got "jobbed" by some part-time zebra who thought that offensive pass interference was when the offensive players jersey wouldn't let go of the defenders hand. Yes, that's right. Not only did Todd Heap not push off to catch the game tying touchdown, but he was being held (and interfered with) by the defensive player. Yet he drew the flag, was called for interference and the TD was taken off the board. The Ravens ended up not being able to put it in the end zone again, and lost by a touchdown. Can anyone say...(cough)..."I'll take the under for $10,000."

Here is an example of a team that was robbed of a chance to win a game against a division opponent on the road. When is the NFL going to get serious about officials and hire full-time people. There is no way these part-timers are investing the time necessary to prepare for games week in and week out. They are too busy saving the lives of coke-addicted starlets and defending hip-hop rap "gangsta's" from gun possession charges.

What's it going to take before someone realizes that big business requires big commitment. Are we going to have to wait until some whacked out Ravens fans stalks down the back judge and shanks him while he's collecting from his bookie?

Full-time officials. Off-season training and work programs. During the week preparation. Is it really that hard? If you're not going to fix it, then at least open these "judgment call" decision up to instant replay. No replay official in the world would have called that offensive pass interference.

Hell NFL, why not just off-shore it or hire some of that "illegal" labor that's so popular in the states. It wouldn't be any worse than the travesty that is NFL officiating.