A few more bad calls...

I knew I'd start thinking of too many of these things...

Can't get some of the SC stuff out of my mind. Some of these simply get classified in the "Bruce Bellyache" column, but a few of them are worthy of all-time ranting...

1) Just two months ago, Matt Leinart's last-second TD at Notre Dame. I was so busy screaming (or was it praying?) at the time that I didn't notice what Reggie Bush did until I took a look at the replays. But if there is indeed a penalty on the books for illegal "assisting" a player into the end zone, Bush was guilty as could be. It brought to mind Chuck Mercein in the Ice Bowl vs. the Pack on Bart Starr's TD dive, remember Mercein (who thought Starr was going to hand him the ball) came flying into the pile with his hands in the air, not to signal TD, but to make sure the ref didn't flag him for illegal assistance. Those Ivy Leaguers are always thinking!

2) Also just over two months ago, A.J. Pierzynski, and Josh Paul's passed ball in Game 2 of the ALCS. Though I don't necessarily think that was an improper call by the umpire, his procedure was terrible. I know, the Sox still had to steal second base and then get the game-winning hit, but that passed ball will not appear on any ump highlight reel.

3) More SC (can't resist). Though these won't make any all-time lists, I can't help myself.

a) Last year, there were three badly-blown calls in SC games, all at crucial junctures. In the opener vs. Virginia Tech, that bogus offensive pass interference call on the Hokies, midway in the 3rd Q, when they were controlling the game 10-7 and threatening to take real control. Instead of a first down inside the 5, they were pushed back to their side of the 50, and were looking at a 3rd and long instead of a 1st-and-goal. It was a terrible call, and turned the momentum of the game completely in the favor of Troy, which ended up a 24-13 winner.

b) In the fog game at Oregon State in early November, the Beavers came out swinging, and were up 12-0 in the 2nd Q. With the crowd berzerk, the Beavs hit for a 50-yard TD pass to go up 18-0, but the TD was nullified by a phantom holding call. Soon after, SC regained momentum and went on to a 28-20 win. But down 18-0, or 19-0, up there on that cold, foggy night, in front of that hostile crowd, might have been too much to overcome.

c) In the UCLA game last year (certainly not this season), Bush fumbled and Spencer Havner returned the ball 80 yards for a score at the end of the first half, which would have tied the game 17-17. However, it was ruled that Bush was down, and it was a terrible call. (Note: I only saw this on replays, as I was driving back with Paul. Dr. Al, and their cousin Al from Army-Navy at the time).

d) Here's one that is closer to being an all-timer, at least in the SC-Notre Dame series, as bad as the non-fumble call on Paul McDonald in 1978. Michael Harper fumbled two yards out from the end zone on his winning TD dive in the final minute of the '82 game. The Irish recovered at the 2 and would have run out the clock to win the game, but, unbelievably, despite all of the TV replays confirming it, and still- photo pictures from the next day's paper highlighting it, no ref noticed the fumble, and the TD was allowed to stand. It was egregious, and had replay been in place for the '82 season, Notre Dame wins that game 13-10 instead of losing 17-13 in Robofat's finale for his first tour of duty at SC.

4) To be fair, Bronco fan or not, Lytle's fumble has to be listed with the all-time bad calls. I rate that one in the same boat as Charles White's fumble at the 1979 Rose Bowl. Both terrible calls, but each came with a lot of time remaining in the game, so I cannot classify either in quite the same category as Drew Pearson's non-pass interference, or Ray Hamilton's roughing the passer, each which came in the final moments of those games.

5) A special mention should be made for Tom Brady's infamous "tuck" in the Jan. 2002 AFC playoff snow game vs. the Raiders. Mark has made sure to mention that to me in an email to even the score for Hamilton's roughing the passer in '76. Brady's "tuck" deserves place in a special category, however, because by rule, the ref probably made the proper call. It's just that the rule is ridiculous. That should have been a fumble.

6) Finally, opening up old wounds for Phillies fans (sorry, guys), but the 1977 NLCS Game 3 still rankles Dodger haters and Phillies fans alike. No, Steve Garvey has yet to touch home plate. And Davey Lopes was OUT (close, but out) at 1st with two outs in the 9th when the tying run was allowed to cross the plate. By me, that probably an even closer call than Denkinger/Orta, but Lopes was OUT, and that one could have ended the game (and changed course of that series). Whereas the Denkinger play was only the first out (albeit in a potential close-out World Series game).

More to come, I would assume...