There are many variables involved in a sporting event that coaches and players can control. These variables include their preparation for the game, their play on gameday, and the effort they give during the game. However, there are some variables in sports that as much as players and coaches would like to they just can’t control. One of the more well known uncontrollable variables in sports is the “human error” aspect of officiating.

Coaches, players, and fans have to rely on a group of fellow human beings who have a firm grasp of the rulebook to make judgment calls about what is fair or unfair and legal or illegal. They preside and rule over sports greatest events such as the World Series, NBA Finals, and the Superbowl. I talk about officials and the human error aspect of officiating because one official has recently candidly spoken about his performance refereeing a past Superbowl and his comments have sparked a lot of controversy.

Bill Leavy was the head official of Superbowl 40 between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks. It was a game the Steelers went on to win 21-10 giving the franchise their fifth Superbowl; or as many Steelers fans called it at the time “one for the thumb”. The day after the big game sports fans all across the country didn’t want to talk about the play on the field but rather about several questionable calls that were made by Leavy and his crew.

The talk of bad officiating and missed calls only intensified after Seahawks Head Coach Mike Holmgren blasted Leavy and his crew by saying “We knew it was going to be tough going up against the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Holmgren told the fans at Qwest Field. “I didn’t know we were going to have to play the guys in the striped shirts as well.” As is with most of these issues though time cured everything and everybody eventually forgot about the questionable officiating in Superbowl 40, well everybody except head official Billy Leavy.

Just recently at a rule changes production in Seattle Leavy finally spoke about the game that has haunted him for more than four years.

“It was a tough thing for me. I kicked two calls in the fourth quarter and I impacted the game and as an official you never want to do that. It left me with a lot of sleepless nights and I think about it constantly. I'll go to my grave wishing that I'd been better. I know that I did my best at that time, but it wasn't good enough. When we make mistakes, you've got to step up and own them. It's something that all officials have to deal with, but unfortunately when you have to deal with it in the Super Bowl, it's difficult.” Leavy said.

While the reaction to Leavy’s announcement has mostly been positive and accepting, some Steelers are furious with the head official’s decision to make these comments. Their feeling is that these comments may taint their Superbowl accomplishment and leave doubt in people’s mind over the possible legitimacy of the victory. Pittsburgh offensive lineman Max Starks in particular had a strong suggestion for what Leavy should do.

“He should go ahead and retire if he feels so bad about it,” Starks said Saturday. “Just do us all a favor and not referee anymore.”

Those words are probably a little over the top for a referee that just admitted a mistake he made over four years ago that has caused him to lose sleep, a mistake that Leavy says he will take to his grave. Max and the other Steelers who were a part of that Superbowl victory shouldn’t worry anyway aside from some bitter Seahawks fans this will not affect history or the public’s memory of Superbowl 40.
Even Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselback who was Seattle’s starting QB for Superbowl 40 said that you can’t blame an official for Seattle’s inability to beat the Steelers on that day.

“We lost the game,” Hasselback said. “Like I said, Bill Leavy, like all of our officials, is a stand-up guy. It happened a long time ago. We lost the game.”

Truer words couldn’t have been spoken, at the end of the day Bill Leavy did not allow Pittsburgh to convert over 50% of their 3rd down attempts, Bill Leavy didn’t give up 181 rushing yards, and finally Leavy didn’t allow a 75 yard Willie Park touchdown run or a 4th quarter 43 yards Hines Ward flea flicker touchdown pass.

Yes, bad calls were made and I give Leavy enormous amounts of credit for owning up to what he felt where his mistakes but the Seattle Seahawks still have no one to blame but themselves for losing Superbowl 40.
On another note you have to give Bill Leavy credit for making these public statements about his errors. I’m not sure if Bill consulted with anyone from the NFL referees association or anywhere else similar before making these remarks. I have to think if he did tell them about his plan to admit to making errors in his officiating of a Superbowl he would’ve been politely advised to keep those comments to himself, that referees do not need this kind of story to come out, and to “let sleeping dogs lie” so to speak.

In the past it seemed that any questioning of an officials ruling was replied to by saying something along the lines of I called what I saw on the field. I love the transparency and the openness in admitting mistakes that goes along with Leavy’s admission and earlier this year umpire Jim Joyce’s admission of missing the call that took away Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga’s perfect game. Instant replay is now for the most part the norm in sports and there is nothing wrong with that. I see nothing wrong with giving human beings, not robots, or computers another look at an important call in slow motion so they can make the best decision possible.

Everyone is always so quick to nitpick the performance of officials and scream and curse at them. It should be remembered that these are just men and women trying to police games that are being played at breakneck speed. Bill Leavy, Jim Joyce, or any other official shouldn’t be scolded or be told to consider retiring. They are doing the best they can and the “human error” aspect of officiating is just one of those things that make sports so great.

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