But, before I can speak about that historic drive, I must first tackle an issue that has plagued the message boards and radio-talk-show phone lines across the nation. I am sure that you have heard about it, read about it, and/or seen videos about it on Youtube.
Obviously, that to which I am referring is... the commercial for the new G.I. Joe movie. Seriously, I have waited twenty-five years to see Snake-Eyes battle Storm Shadow. And, I know that I am not the only one who is salivating about this match-up of uber-ninjas. I mean, we are talking about Snake-Eyes!!!... the action figure whose only equal is Han Solo. Oh, and the Baroness... she use to be my least favorite action figure... but, now... uh... from the looks of the commercial, I think she just earned my MVP vote.
Alright, alright... I will actually break down the game. Alas, before I can discuss the excellence that is Ben Roethlisberger, I must first clear the air by rebuking, retorting, and replying to several complaints from certain journalist and fans alike, who have droned on and on about the officiating in the Super Bowl. To put it simply, these bellyachers are coming off sounding like the Cobra Commander: whiney, nasally, and down-right obnoxious. That said, their plaints (and their billions of snide emails) deserve an answer.
First up is the infamous Karlos-Dansby-roughing-the-passer penalty. For whatever reason, the referees will allow a defender to run full-force into Roethlisberger (see: Brian Leonard, in the AFC Championship Game, smashing into Big Ben a full second after the pass is thrown... and bruising Ben's ribs in the process). That said, a defender has to lead with his shoulder and "act" as though his momentum carried him into Ben. Because, if a defender extends his arms and/or pushes him as he is running into him (which is what Dansby did), then the referees are going to throw a flag every single time.
In other words, defenders have hit Ben much harder than Dansby did, and those defenders did not draw a penalty; but if a defender extends the arms and pushes the quarterback after the ball has been released (which, again, is what Dansby did), a flag is sure to follow. To reiterate, hitting a quarterback is often allowed (even at full speed), but pushing a quarterback (even gently) is a no-no.
Second up is the "Kurt Warner fumble." I have watched the Woodley strip-sack at the end of the game about fifty times, and each and every time, Warner fumbles the ball. "But the ball went forward," I have heard the malcontents whine. Please, allow me to use an analogy.
If one holds a spoon firmly in their left hand with a pea in the concave part, and then using one's right hand, pulls back the top of the spoon... when one's right hand let's go, the pea will indeed fly forward. That said, one's left hand did not actually propel the pea; rather it was the force of one's right hand, transferred to the spoon moving backwards and then snapping forwards, that caused the pea to launch.
Using this analogy as a reference while looking at the strip-sack, as Warner's arm is going backwards, Woodley smacks both the ball and Warner's arm... moving them both backwards. Then, like a pea in a spoon, the ball was popped forward. In other words, in no way did Warner throw that ball; Woodley pushed the ball and Warner's arm backwards... and then the ball "sprung" forward due to a catapult/spoon effect. Hence, it was a fumble.
And, as far as reviewing the fumble goes, the booth official had ninety seconds and sixteen angles at his disposal. In that amount of time, which was actually double the normal amount of time between plays, he saw that the ball had been knocked from Warner's hand, and then, as the ball came forward, it was not in Warner's control. Hence, the booth official did not buzz the on-the-field referee for a review, because the replay official saw enough evidence to deem it a fumble. In other words, as head of officiating Mike Pereira stated, "The ball got knocked loose and was rolling in Warner's hand before it started forward. He had to have total control; he did not."
Last up is the infamous "James Harrison punch." It is a shame that a certain segment of the media has decided to focus upon this penalty, instead of remembering one of the greatest individual efforts by a player in Super Bowl history: James Harrison's 100 yard interception return for a touchdown. [Note: As I have stated numerous times: give me ten James Harrisons (eleven would be an unfair advantage to the other team), and I will give you a championship.] Again, truly, it is a shame.
Furthermore, I am not sure why the penalty has become such a big deal to people (especially to Browns and Ravens fans). My guess is that people are simply jealous of James Harrison; hence, they will gladly jump at any opportunity to defame the man.