Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site decwrl.DEC.COM Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-dosadi!pannell From: pannell@dosadi.DEC (Roger D. Pannell LTN1-1/D03 226-6893) Newsgroups: net.sport.football Subject: Re: Bears, Pats, Refs, Ditka Message-ID: <845@decwrl.DEC.COM> Date: Fri, 31-Jan-86 12:47:47 EST Article-I.D.: decwrl.845 Posted: Fri Jan 31 12:47:47 1986 Date-Received: Sat, 1-Feb-86 20:36:27 EST Sender: daemon@decwrl.DEC.COM Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation Lines: 71 Congratulations to the Bears, their fans and especially to Walter. The Bears were truly the most powerful team, BY FAR, this season. If they keep the proper attitude, then I think they have a chance to become one of the greatest teams of all time. Unlike last seasons "one of the greatest teams of all time", the 49ers. Where the hell did they get those REFs??? I always thought that referees who were chosen to work playoff games were done so based on merit. If that team of refs for the Super Bowl was the best of the bunch then there is certainly something wrong in the NFL. Although they had NO effect on the final outcome of the game (or which team would beat the spread), they did have a lot to do with the high score. The plays that I can think of that MIGHT have added to the score were the non-call on the clip that would have moved the ball out of touchdown range and possibly out of field goal range. You might remember that play as the one that set up the first Bear touchdown and left Merlin Olsen in a state of disbelief. Then there was the field goal at the end of the half in which the refs admitted they made a mistake. The other play was a third down and 9, in which McMahon threw a pass to his "out-of-bounds" receiver, but was then ruled complete and placed on the 1 yard line. Of the 3, only the alleged clip was not completely obvious. As I said, these plays would have had NO effect on the outcome or the winner vs the spread, but it is a shame that the NFL could not field a team of officials that could handle the pressure of the Super Bowl better. I am surprised that I have not heard any comments about the officiating, even though it was SO bad. That is probably because everyone who watched the game knows the Patriots had no hope in this game. In all the years I've watched football I don't think I have ever seen a coin toss that was so botched-up. I couldn't believe it took as long as it did to determine who won the toss of the coin, but then it should be easy to know who will win a coin toss if it is tossed, lands on the ground and then it is called. I think the refs probably had as bad a day as the Patriots. Now to answer a question posted by a Bear fan.... Yes, I do think the Patriots had a bad day, but not 36 points bad. They still would have lost, but they would have given up less points and probably scored a few more. You had to know things weren't going to go right for them when they lost their starting tightend on their first play from scrimmage and on a play in which he wasn't even hit by a Bear. Also, I think 8 times out of 10, Blackmon would intercept a pass that is right into his hands and probably the same percentage of the time Morgan would catch that sure TD pass, Singletary or no Singletary. A comment about Mike Ditka.... I have lost some of the respect that I had for Ditka, because of some of the remarks about the Patriots that have been attributed to him since the game. Such things as, the Patriots do not deserve to be on the same field with the Bears, Grogan is lucky he escaped with his life. He also said some things about the Pats being cheap shot artists (and I agree there were a couple), but he failed to mention that McMahon threw the ball at Roland James after one of his TDs, or that the Bear offensive line retaliated against anybody who tackled McMahon, even though they were clean hits. Ditka appears to be a good coach/motivator but he needs to learn more about being a gracious winner. A look ahead to the '86 Bears.... They have a real good shot at repeating this years regular season performance, even if they get fat, dumb and lazy like so many other champions. They play 2 teams that had a winning record in '85 and 1 that went 8-8, the rest are below .500. If they keep their '85 attitude they'll probably repeat, but if they get fat, dumb and lazy.... -- Roger Pannell ARPA: pannell%dosadi.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA, pannell%dosadi.DEC@Purdue-Merlin.ARPA UUCP: {allegra, decvax, ucbvax}!decwrl!rhea!dosadi!pannell