The List: Five worst officiating calls of 2008

2009-09-08T11:20:56-04:00

2008-12-16T15:11:57-05:00

2008-12-16T15:51:57-05:00

2008-12-17T13:50:38-05:00

stupidflanders19

Poway 611858

28 I have to agree that not only that another play in that same Denver / San Diego game was one of the worst officiating mistakes of the year. Since replay was introduced I have never heard a referee say, "the replay equipment is not working, so the challenge is not allowed." The officials are in charge of the replay equipment...and should have it set-up and tested several hours before the game. Despite all this, the Charges still choked away their season due to their own bad play, not one game fixed by the refs. 3687826

2008-12-17T12:37:46-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/581/560/thumb/Untitled-1.jpg 186 CA

assclownbush

Beverly Hills 582120

27 Ed Hochuli. The second biggest sports blunder behind the number one blunder....the Chargers hiring of born loser Norv Turner. 3686723

2008-12-16T23:45:40-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/629/811/thumb/images.jpg 149 GA

grandslam011

Macon 630451

Cry a river Andy or better yet get over it! You Falcon whiners act like you are the only team to be on the wrong end of a call, it wasn't even the only bad call of the game. Fact is what makes you think the Falcons would have even managed to score had they got the ball back, they had done very little the whole game. Everybody gets a bad call now and then, don't use it as an excuse.So MAN UP and quit CRYING.

18 Somebody's bitter. He was simply stating that the call was blown, kinda like the article asks us to do. He wasn't complaining and/or whining so get off of his back. 3681140

2008-12-17T10:31:22-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/494/688/thumb/StewieGriffin2.jpg 52 NY

Andrew1216

South Ozone Park 495128

Somebody's bitter. He was simply stating that the call was blown, kinda like the article asks us to do. He wasn't complaining and/or whining so get off of his back.

25 Thanks grandslam...and i'm actually not a Falcon fan sterculius. I'm actually a Jet fan 3684074

2008-12-17T10:27:51-05:00

ihateo-who

Spring 636540

24 The Joey Crawford no-call on the Brent Barry three against the Lakers in the playoffs. Crawford never should have been on the court for a Spurs game given his obvious inability to be objective. This is why the NBS is just one step above wrestling and why people believe in conspiracy plots for the Lakers and Celtics. 3684050

2008-12-17T10:25:16-05:00

ihateo-who

Spring 636540

23 The no call by Joey Crawford in Spurs vs Lakers. It is why the NBS is one step up from wrestling. 3683980

2008-12-17T09:01:52-05:00

dj4341

Glenshaw 636353

22 The UW/BYU call was iffy, but what did that have to do with the line blocking for the kicker? A college kicker should be able to make a 34-yard field goal. Besides it still wouldn't have won the game...it would have tied it. 3682482

2008-12-17T08:59:19-05:00

dj4341

Glenshaw 636353

21 The Wash/BYU call was iffy, but what did the call have to do with the line blocking for the extra point. A college kicker should still be able to make a 34-yard field goal. Besides the game would have been tied....it is not like UW would have won the game on that kick. 3682392

2008-12-17T08:07:14-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/662/98/thumb/seminoles_ogo.jpg 183 FL

FloridaBoy5

Greater Orlando 66598

20 There was a call during the World Series when the Devil Rays got hosed but this guy didn't mention that one. Regardless the Rays lost, but the umps made mistakes both ways. 3682103

2008-12-17T03:37:22-05:00

JAD55

Bonita 217427

19 The San Diego-Denver debacle was in a class by itself. The game was over if the call wasn't blown, period. It didn't matter what the Broncos had to accomplish after the gift. It. Was. Over. And let's not forget the "broken" replay equipment in the SAME GAME when a Charger fumble-that-wasn't couldn't be overturned on the field, although the correct call was obvious to the CBS broadcast team. It led directly to a Broncos score. And, barring a Bills upset this week, a phantom AFC West title. 3681681

2008-12-16T19:55:59-05:00

Sterculius

Columbus 409761

Week 8. Atlanta vs. Philly. Ref called a muffed punt on Atlanta returner though replays showed he didn't touch the ball. Philly put the game away. If Atlanta misses playoffs, and/or Philly is in...they can thank the refs for that one

16 Cry a river Andy or better yet get over it! You Falcon whiners act like you are the only team to be on the wrong end of a call, it wasn't even the only bad call of the game. Fact is what makes you think the Falcons would have even managed to score had they got the ball back, they had done very little the whole game. Everybody gets a bad call now and then, don't use it as an excuse. So MAN UP and quit CRYING. 3679263

2008-12-16T23:45:40-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/629/811/thumb/images.jpg 149 GA

grandslam011

Macon 630451

18 Somebody's bitter. He was simply stating that the call was blown, kinda like the article asks us to do. He wasn't complaining and/or whining so get off of his back. 3681140

<div class="photo_container image_right"> <div class="photo"><img title="Jamie Moyer" src="http://i.cnn.net/si/fannation/moyer-g3.jpg" alt="Jamie Moyer" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align: right;">This call nearly turned the World Series in the Rays' favor.</div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align: right;">Al Tielemans/SI<br /></div> </div> <p>For those who watched the replay of Pittsburgh wideout <strong>Santonio Holmes</strong>' catch that was mere inches from the goal line (beyond or behind the line -- no one knows) at least 25 times, you know where this is going. For those who didn't, just know that it was extremely controversial, was inconclusive by replay (many replays), cost the Ravens an important game and added to the already long list of contentious calls in sports this past year. Here's our list of the five other calls that may be worse than Sunday's:</p> <p><strong>1. Washington vs. BYU, Sept. 6: </strong>Granted, Washington lost every game this season, but they clearly had a shot to beat BYU in September. The Huskies' quarterback <strong>Jake Locker </strong>scored a touchdown with two seconds left to bring his team within one. After diving into the end zone, Locker <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbgOF71ORiw" target="_blank">threw his hands</a> -- and the ball -- into the air in, what appeared to be, a natural reaction of pure excitement. The ref, however, ruled the ball-flipping and jumping up and down to be "excessive celebration." As a result, kicker <strong>Ryan Perkins </strong>was placed an extra 15 yards back, his game-tying extra point was blocked and the Huskies lost.</p> <p><strong>2. 2008 World Series, Game 3:</strong> An error by the first base umpire in Game 3 of the Fall Classic nearly gave the Tampa Bay Rays a series-turning win over the Phillies. It was the top of seventh, Rays at bat. <strong>Carl Crawford </strong>led off and tapped a well-placed bunt up the first-base line. The Phillies near-46-year-old <strong>Jamie Moyer</strong> dashed down the line, dove to field the ball and, in one graceful motion, tossed it to <strong>Ryan Howard</strong> at first, who snatched out of the air bare-handed with his foot on the bag. It looked as though Howard -- with ball in hand -- stood on the base awaiting Crawford's arrival. The umpire thought otherwise. <em>Safe!</em> The Rays scored two subsequent runs to come back within one, but the Phillies managed to hang on to their lead for the win and, well, you know the rest.</p> <p><strong>3. Georgetown vs. Villanova, Feb. 11:</strong> Like Holmes' catch, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No5hnQ0JjUA" target="_blank">this one</a> was all about the line. With the score tied at 53 apiece and only a second left on the clock, Georgetown's <strong>Jonathan Wallace </strong>sped up the floor, dodging Villanova defenders. Still 70-something feet from the basket, Wallace heard the ref blow the whistle and, thinking there was no way a foul would be called in such a tight situation, Wallace assumed he stepped out of bounds. And when you assume you ... I won't go there. In short, the ref did the unthinkable and called a foul on 'Nova's <strong>Corey Stokes</strong>, gave Wallace two freebies at the line and handed Georgetown a 55-53 win.</p> <p><strong>4. Heat vs. Clippers, Nov. 29:</strong> Sometimes <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/recaps/2008/11/29/23609_recap.html" target="_blank">a bad call is any call</a>. With Miami trailing 97-96 and the clock reading 7.6 seconds, Los Angeles' <strong>Baron Davis</strong> inbounded the ball after a Miami score. With none of his teammates open, he heaved the ball down court, hoping a Clipper would miraculously take control. <strong>Dwayne Wade</strong> got it instead. As he grabbed the ball out of mid-air and was falling onto the scorers' table, Wade threw the ball toward the three lone Heat players near the basket. The ref thought Wade had stepped out of bounds but, after reviewing the play, the steal was upheld. Unfortunately, the breakaway play was cut off, and the Heat was forced to inbounds, which resulted in the Clippers fouling and, ultimately, the Heat losing.</p> <p><strong>5. Broncos vs. Chargers, Sept. 14:</strong> Here you go, Ravens fans. If you thought your call was bad, think about how the Chargers felt on <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/michael_lombardi/09/15/week2grades/?eref=sircrc " target="_blank">this one</a>. With less than two minutes remaining, the Broncos lined up on the Chargers 1-yard line with the chance to tie the game. As<strong> Jay Cutler </strong>dropped back, the ball slipped out of his hands and into those of San Diego linebacker Tim Dobbins. As soon as the ball touched the ground, referee <strong>Ed Hochuli</strong> quickly -- too quickly -- blew his whistle. Hochuli ruled an incomplete pass, though the replay clearly showed it was a fumble. So, Denver regrouped, scored a touchdown, followed with a two-point conversion and won 39-38. Hochuli later apologized for his error.</p> <p>What other awful calls did we overlook? Let us know below…</p> http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/976/28/thumb/nicki_jhabvala.jpg 5 NY

Nicki Jhabvala

New York 97928 32921 <div class="photo_container image_right"> <div class="photo"><img title="Jamie Moyer" src="http://i.cnn.net/si/fannation/moyer-g3.jpg" alt="Jamie Moyer" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align: right;">This call nearly turned the World Series in the Rays' favor.</div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align: right;">Al Tielemans/SI<br /></div> </div> <p>For those who watched the replay of Pittsburgh wideout <strong>Santonio Holmes</strong>' catch that was mere inches from the goal line (beyond or behind the line -- no one knows) at least 25 times, you know where this is going. For those who didn't, just know that it was extremely controversial, was inconclusive by replay (many replays), cost the Ravens an important game and added to the already long list of contentious calls in sports this past year. Here's our list of the five other calls that may be worse than Sunday's:</p> <p><strong>1. Washington vs. BYU, Sept. 6: </strong>Granted, Washington lost every game this season, but they clearly had a shot to beat BYU in September. The Huskies' quarterback <strong>Jake Locker </strong>scored a touchdown with two seconds left to bring his team within one. After diving into the end zone, Locker <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbgOF71ORiw" target="_blank">threw his hands</a> -- and the ball -- into the air in, what appeared to be, a natural reaction of pure excitement. The ref, however, ruled the ball-flipping and jumping up and down to be "excessive celebration." As a result, kicker <strong>Ryan Perkins </strong>was placed an extra 15 yards back, his game-tying extra point was blocked and the Huskies lost.</p> <p><strong>2. 2008 World Series, Game 3:</strong> An error by the first base umpire in Game 3 of the Fall Classic nearly gave the Tampa Bay Rays a series-turning win over the Phillies. It was the top of seventh, Rays at bat. <strong>Carl Crawford </strong>led off and tapped a well-placed bunt up the first-base line. The Phillies near-46-year-old <strong>Jamie Moyer</strong> dashed down the line, dove to field the ball and, in one graceful motion, tossed it to <strong>Ryan Howard</strong> at first, who snatched out of the air bare-handed with his foot on the bag. It looked as though Howard -- with ball in hand -- stood on the base awaiting Crawford's arrival. The umpire thought otherwise. <em>Safe!</em> The Rays scored two subsequent runs to come back within one, but the Phillies managed to hang on to their lead for the win and, well, you know the rest.</p>