The cheating continues...

Um...

Er...

Well...

I'm kind of at a loss for what to write about today. Sure, there are plenty of available local topics, but nothing that's really inspiring me. Nonetheless, it's my job to at least write something, and since I've consumed only Super Bowl related news and food over the last 24 hours, I just want to say a few things about the game.

First, congratulations go to the Steelers; I can go back to hating them now.

Second, Seattle's fans and apologists in the media have really blown out of proportion the "questionable" officiating. As a Terps basketball fan, I'm very sensitive to such matters, but the conspiracy theories over the Super Bowl outcome have just gone too far. It's kind of sad, really. As far as I can tell, the only "bad" call was the illegal blocking penalty on Matt Hasselbeck, which occurred after he threw an interception. The Big Ben touchdown was legit (remember you need indisputable evidence and the goal line camera wasn't even perfectly aligned). The offensive pass interference, though ticky-tack, was a good call--watch the replay and you can clearly see Darrell Jackson push off his defender, which, in case you didn't know, is illegal. As for the phantom holding penalty called just before Hasselbeck's interception, from what I can gather the refs called the wrong number when announcing the infraction (dumb, not conspiratorial).

In short, everyone needs to shut up about this. It is demeaning to the Steelers, who rightfully won the game, and their fans, who don't deserve to have these good times marred by a bunch of poor losers. If you're upset with the outcome, you should have won the game.

Third, there was nothing sweeter than watching Joey Porter--Pittsburgh's supposed Star Linebacker--do absolutely nothing to help his team win. Sure, he was close to a lot of plays, but didn't make any (except a horse collar tackle that didn't get called--further evidence of Porter's dirtiness). Superstars show up for big games; Joey Porter failed to show up for the biggest game; Ergo, a superstar Joey Porter is not. Got it? Good. Let's all move on and forget this idiot even exists.

Finally, if people want to talk about injustices at the Super Bowl, there was none bigger than the fact that the Rolling Stones headlined, while the truly great Stevie Wonder was forced to play warm up. What's more, Stevie had to play his songs with a bunch of johnny-come-latelys more interested in making their mark (read: oversinging) than sounding good. Joss Stone, India.Arie, and John Legend? Puh-leaze. Put Stevie on stage with a piano and leave it at that.

I know I said I'd write something intelligent today, but it's Monday and life is full of disappointments (and the lack of a new Hayduke post for today--besides this one--has to be low on the disappointment scale). Tomorrow, I promise.