I'm done with Football

There is a reason I love chess. There are only, really, two people involved (of course, when you deal with the championship, you can deal with the crazy K if you want, but that's another story). There is not an official that can walk up and say 'you didn't advance that pawn properly, two file penalty, opponents move' on you. Given that there are situations where you will see people who touch the wrong piece, or other rather obscure time problems, that is different, its solid, its in the rulebook, and we all stand equal. But last night, even Steelers fans that I watched the game with had to admit that the officiating calls were heavily against Seattle. I can't blame Seattle for being disheartened in the second half, although they played their hearts out, and I believe that they completely outplayed the Steelers. I want you to imagine that an official walks up to your board in the middle of a heated game were you have worked to double your rooks on an open file, and suddenly he says 'you shouldn't have this rook, it was moved illegally' when everyone in the room can see that is not the case. He removes it from the board. Can you imagine your frustration? That is why, I will never watch football again. When I play chess, and I lose, it is because I suck, and not because there is a third player in the game. I feel bad for the Seattle players and fans (being from the PacNW, I've been a fan since childhood). I feel even worse for Bettis, though, who will have only one Superbowl Ring, and it will be XL, the game that will hopefully be the catalyst for change in the way that American Football is officiated.

posted by psalcido @ Monday, February 06, 2006