Worst Calls In Sports History

[Meatball]

Re: Worst Calls In Sports History

Reggie Miller's "push-off" of Michael Jordan to hit the game winning 3 in the playoffs in '98.

Supposedly, Reggie had a "bum" ankle, but then was dancing and prancing around like a little school girl who has a crush on her teacher.


I know people will say "Dude, what about Michael's push-off against the Jazz??" Yes, he did.

But 2 things: 1) I am a biased, homer Bulls fan. 2) Don't compare pushes, 'cause reggie 2 handed him like you would do if you were pissed at someone. It wasn't even close.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: Worst Calls In Sports History

As for worst calls...how bout non-calls...like Nebraska vs. Missouri, 1997...NU ties it on a late TD that should not have counted since the ball was kicked up into the air...no call.

Does the kick up negate it though? I thought as long as the ball never touched ground its live?

Either way I loved it.

[Herbsinator]

Re: Worst Calls In Sports History

As for worst calls...how bout non-calls...like Nebraska vs. Missouri, 1997...NU ties it on a late TD that should not have counted since the ball was kicked up into the air...no call.

It's not like he meant to kick the ball on purpose.

[Acid]

Re: Worst Calls In Sports History

That makes no sense at all, lol.

Yeah..I misread what you wrote.

[PdiddyPop]

Re: Worst Calls In Sports History

I just thought of one:

Chris Webber vs UNC in the 93 National Championship. Before he called the timeout, he had the VERY obvious walk coming up the court after the inbounds but apparently every ref was looking the other way.

Had Michigan gone on to win that game, that could've easily been one of the biggest blown calls in Sports history.

Not only that UNC fans would keep bragging about the 1924 Helms Trophy as a NC. Some still do to this day.... As for the topic.............


72 Screwjob by the Soviets, and Hull's skate goal against the Sabres.

[MachoMyers]

Re: Worst Calls In Sports History

Here's a list I just found on Page 2:

http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/worstcalls/010730.html

1. Denkinger calls Orta safe
In arguably the most controversial call in World Series history, Don Denkinger calls the Royals' Jorge Orta safe at first base in the ninth inning of Game 6 of the 1985 Series against the Cardinals. TV replays show that St. Louis pitcher Todd Worrell had clearly beaten Orta to the bag, but Denkinger's call sets the stage for a two-run Royals rally in a critical 2-1 victory. Kansas City goes on to win the Series in seven games.

2. Colorado's fifth down
Colorado comes from behind to beat Missouri 33-31 in 1990, scoring the game-winning touchdown on "fifth down." Officials fail to count a down when the Buffs spike the ball to stop the clock and mistakenly give CU five cracks at the end zone. Colorado's score comes on the final play of the game.

3. Soviets get extra time in 1972 Olympic hoops
The U.S. men's basketball team suffers its first loss in Olympic history when officials put time back on the clock twice in the final seconds, allowing the Soviet Union to score a basket at the buzzer and win the gold medal with a 50-49 victory in the final of the 1972 Games.

4. Jeffrey Maier assists Jeter home run
The Yankees beat the Orioles 5-4 in Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS when 12-year-old fan Jeffrey Maier reaches over the fence and catches Derek Jeter's flyball to right before Baltimore right fielder Tony Tarasco can make a play. Umpire Rich Garcia, who has run out to the right-field wall, fails to call fan interference on the play and rules the ball a game-tying homer. The Yanks go on to win the game on Bernie Williams' homer in the 11th.

5. Brett Hull's skate in the crease
In a play that will live in Buffalo infamy, Brett Hull gives the Stars the Stanley Cup when he beats Dominik Hasek for the series-clinching goal in the third overtime of Game 6 of the 1999 finals. Of course, every Sabres fan in the universe has been screaming ever since about how Hull's skate was in the crease before the puck, but the refs fail to make the call or ask for a replay. Before the next season, the NHL will change the "skate-in-the-crease" rule in reaction to the play.

6. Maradona's "Hand of God"
In what Argentinians refer to as the "Hand of God" goal, Diego Maradona rises up between two defenders and punches the ball into the goal to help Argentina beat England in a 1986 World Cup quarterfinal. The referee doesn't notice the hand ball, and the goal stands. Maradona gives the play its name later when he says the goal was scored "partly by the hand of God and partly by the head of Maradona."

7. Thanksgiving Day coin flip flap
The easiest call in any football game is the coin flip, right? Well, for referee Phil Luckett, the coin flip is a nightmare during a 1999 Thanksgiving Day game between the Steelers and Lions. As the game goes to overtime, Steelers captain Jerome Bettis calls "tails," but Luckett hears "heads." The Lions win the toss and go on to win the game. The NFL will change its procedures for the coin flip after the snafu on national television.

8. Mike Renfro ruled out of bounds
Officials rule Houston wide receiver Mike Renfro is out of the end zone on a fantastic catch at Pittsburgh in the 1980 AFC championship game. Replays show Renfro was in-bounds, but officials rule the pass incomplete, and the Steelers go on to a 27-13 victory that sends them to their fourth Super Bowl.

9. Eric Gregg's wide strike zone
Umpire Eric Gregg rings up Fred McGriff to end Game 5 of the 1997 NLCS on a pitch from Livan Hernandez that appears to be a foot outside. The Marlins beat the Braves in the series and go on to win the World Series.

10. Charles White's TD and fumble in 1979 Rose Bowl
USC beats Michigan 17-10 in the 1979 Rose Bowl, thanks to a controversial ruling on Charles White's 3-yard TD run in the second quarter. Just as he is entering the end zone, White is hit hard and loses the ball. Wolverine linebacker Jerry Meter comes up with an apparent fumble recovery on the 1-yard line. However, the line judge determines that White had crossed the goal line before losing control of the ball and signals for the touchdown -- the score proves to be the difference for the Trojans.

Thankfully someone mentioned Colorado's 5th down, Easily the worst call in sports history.

[LiquidCrash]

Re: Worst Calls In Sports History

Gotta go with the 5th down. I still don't see how anyone could miss that. It's not like it's a judgment call like most of these other ones, it's simply being able to count to four. Didn't someone notice on the Mizzou sideline?

Oh, and if Webber had gotten away with the travel and they had won that game, I don't know what I would have done. I literally jumped out of my chair when they let that slide. Ref was looking right at him too.

[vinny]

Re: Worst Calls In Sports History

72 usa hoops team got scammed big time. Still cant believe it. Too this day, watching it still makes me sick.

Same, gotta be #1 for me.

[vinny]

Re: Worst Calls In Sports History

Music City Miracle, hands down. I don't care what ANY of you say, it was an ILLEGAL FORWARD PASS!!

Sorry, I care little to none about either of those teams, but it was parellel, not forward.

[TJdaSportsGuy]

Re: Worst Calls In Sports History

Sorry, I care little to none about either of those teams, but it was parellel, not forward.

ILLEGAL FORWARD PASS!!!







Please Note: You've just gotta accept the fact that I'm going to be stubborn about this for the rest of my life. Screw the Titans. I hate Frank Wycheck. Go Bills!!

[SportsTop]

Re: Worst Calls In Sports History

ILLEGAL FORWARD PASS!!!







Please Note: You've just gotta accept the fact that I'm going to be stubborn about this for the rest of my life. Screw the Titans. I hate Frank Wycheck. Go Bills!!

Really TJ....let it go. If anything, you should be thanking Wychek and the Titans, otherwise the Bills would have gone on to get blown out of a fifth Superbowl.

[Skyboxer]

Re: Worst Calls In Sports History

Even though I'm a Yankee fan:
The Non call on obvious interference on Reggie Jackson. He pushed his hip out to deflect a sure out. Yanks went on to win the series.

[SPTO]

Re: Worst Calls In Sports History

Really TJ....let it go. If anything, you should be thanking Wychek and the Titans, otherwise the Bills would have gone on to get blown out of a fifth Superbowl.

If I remember correctly that was a Wild Card game. The Bills were an ok team that year but they would've lost eventually before the SB.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Worst Calls In Sports History

If I remember correctly that was a Wild Card game. The Bills were an ok team that year but they would've lost eventually before the SB.

The Jags would have gone to the SB after beating the sorry Bills.

Damn Music City Miracle.

[nyisles16]

Re: Worst Calls In Sports History

well my "non -call" would be that no ref was looking at WR Don Beebe's feet when he cleary went out of bounds, then back in, when he caught a tD pass in the "miracle game" against the Oilers in the playoffs a decade ago...