Pittsbugh's Steelers renamed "Stealers"

The Super Bowl started out great, and then it was like watching the Hindenburg disaster.

There were penalties that were called, but shouldn't have been. There were plays where there should have been penalty calls, but weren't. Then there was Brett Roethlisberger's infamous "clearly-not-a-touchdown" touchdown.

These refs are the "best of the best"? C'mon. I can see a mistake or two. But this was a whole different level. I'm not saying it's certain that Seattle would have won this game, but I am saying the refs created opportunities for the Steelers that they shouldn't have. I don't blame the Steelers or their organization. I think this goes much higher than that.

I'm not much for conspiracy theories, but it really seems like the NFL helped the Steelers win as one gigantic marketing campaign for themselves. Think about it. Most of the NFL's teams and audience are on the eastern half of the US.

And which team had all the hyped-up heroes?

By far the Steelers...for being the first 6th seed team to win a Super Bowl, for Roethlisberger being the youngest QB to win a Super Bowl and it being the much loved Bettis' last season playing.

And whose fans filled up Ford Field?

Those "terrible towel" wielding-Steeler fans, by a huge margin.

Anybody who is a football fan should be absolutely outraged right now (except Steelers fans, who obviously can't). The refs manipulated the Super Bowl. The national media isn't talking about it, except in opinion pieces, or in an offhand remark permanently paired with the observation that Seattle didn't do enough to win even with these questionable rulings.

Why is it so taboo to question the officiating and hold them accountable for their actions? Are Americans so under stimulated that everything needs to be bigger than life? Do we need to be spoon-fed our heroes? Is the NFL the next domain for reality television?

I'm proud of the Seahawks that they were able to keep up the fight, despite the refs kicking them in the nuts every 5 minutes. They deserve much more respect than they're getting right now. I'm still calling them the Chickens, though.