World Series Obstruction and the Top 5 Blown Calls in Sports
Worst Blown Calls in Sports
Despite the fact that they aren’t actually playing, referees may have the most difficult job in all of sports. However, despite their zebra-esque appearance, not all calls are black and white. There are several instances in the history of sports that prove that point, including several in the past year.
The main reason that point is valid is these blown calls range from a variety of sports, including boxing, but that doesn't include all the flops that resulted in absurd foul calls in basketball, especially during the 2013 NBA Finals. We're looking at you, LeBron.
But the zebras make their jobs harder by calling really sketchy and rare fouls at the most crucial moments, which leads many to believe conspiracy theories and judging by some of these wacky calls, that's not off base. So let’s take a look at the top five blown calls in the last few years to see which referees are black, white and red…in the face.
Kozma-ic Error
In Game 1 of this year’s World Series, with runners on first and second, second-base umpire Dana DeMuth called Dustin Pedroia out at second as Cardinals shortstop Pete Kozma failed turn a double play off a David Ortiz grounder. Although it was obvious that Kozma never grabbed the ball, Pedroia was initially ruled out. Fortunately, however, the umps huddled up and reversed the on the field faux paux.
Extra Down
In September’s matchup between the 49ers and the Packers, both Green Bay linebacker Clay Mathews and San Fran left tackle Joe Staley received dead-ball penalties which should have offset each other, bringing up fourth down and an expected field goal attempt. However, the boys in stripes blew this one by instead calling for a replay of third down, which resulted in a 49ers touchdown. Oops.
Pacman: Game Over
In his June 2012 bout with Timothy Bradley, Manny Pacquiao dominated the fight, landing more punches in 10 of the 12 rounds, only to see the fight ruled a split decision in favor of Bradley. The World Boxing Organization had five judges re-score the fight and they collectively scored Pacquiao as the winner. Sorry, Pac!
Fail Mary
At No. 2, we have the Packers in their infamous Monday Night Fail Mary loss to the Seahawks last season. On the game's final play, Russell Wilson threw a jump ball to the end zone that was ruled a touchdown by the then-replacement referees even though Packers defender M.D. Jennings clearly caught the pass for an interception.
Suspicious Obstruction
And our most recent example of zebras acting more like jackasses can be found just a few nights ago as the third game of the World Series ended in the most bizarre fashion. After being tripped up at third base and subsequently thrown out at home, Cardinals base runner Allan Craig was ruled to have scored the game-winning run as third base umpire Jim Joyce called obstruction on Red Sox third basemen Will Middlebrooks for tripping up Craig as he dove for an errant throw to third. While some have deemed it a fair ruling, the last time an obstruction call ended a baseball game was in 2004, and that game was definitely not during a World Series. Suspicious? Not at all…
