What are the worst or most controversial calls in sports history?

none | 6-10-2003 | battleknight24

[battleknight24]

What have been the worst/most controversial calls (or non-calls) in sports history? * Hue Hollins calls a (phantom?) foul on Scottie Pippen- Game 5, 1994 Eastern Conference semi-finals, Bulls vs. Knicks. With the series tied 2-2, the Bulls are leading 86-85 when Hue Hollins calls a foul on Scottie Pippen with 2.1 seconds left in the game. Instant replays showed that Pippen lightly tapped Hubert Davis on the wrist, well after the ball was released. A foul by the rulebook, but the kind of foul officials NEVER let decide a big game. Davis sinks 2 free throws and the Knicks win a nail biter, 87-86. The Knicks ended up winning the series in 7 games (They would go on to lose the NBA Finals to the Houston Rockets in seven games.) What makes this so memorable is not only that I saw this game on TV when it happened, but that even ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY commented on it in their TV section.

* Thanksgving Day Overtime Coin Flip Fiasco- Steelers vs. Lions, Thanksgiving 1998. With the game going into overtime, the Steelers and Lions get set for the coin flip. Jerome Bettis of the Steelers calls tails, and it lands tails. The only problem was that the ref heard "heads." The Lions get the ball first and score on the first overtime drive to win the game.

* There are way too many others I can think of to go into great detail. Here are some suggestions.

- Jeffrey Maier assists Jeters home run.

- Colorado's fifth down.

- Soviet Union basketball team gets extra attempts and beats US 51-50 in 1972 Olympic gold medal game.

- Brett Hull's skate in the crease.

- Maradona's 'Hand of God.'

- Jordan bumps Byron Russell in the final seconds of the 1998 NBA Finals.

P.S. What did you guys think of the pass interference call made in overtime at this past years College Football National Championship (Ohio State vs. Miami)?

[Lawgvr1955]

Don Deckinger, American League umpire, rules Dane Orje of Kansas City Royals safe at first in game 6 of the '85 World Series game against the Cardinals. KC wins the game and goes on to win series.

Deckinger was only guy on the planet that thought he was safe. I heard that later he admitted blowing the call. Curiously, Deckinger lived in the St.Louis area.

[Mr. Mojo]

Soviet Union basketball team gets extra attempts and beats US 51-50 in 1972 Olympic gold medal game

The winner. ...I still get ticked off when I think about it.

[PetroniDE]

Here it is:

Dallas Cowboys versus Detroit Lions. Detroit Lions kick game winning FG in OT to win. One problem. Lions had 12 men on the field (and no one was trying to leave the field at the last second). Happened during the mid-70's.

Must have been a democrat referee from Florida. Couldn't count to 12.

[D.P.Roberts]

Showing my age: the Immaculate Reception.

[LaBradford22]

2002 NFL playoffs, Patriots/Raiders. The tuck rule. I defy anyone in the world to show me where in the NFL rules it says anything about the tuck rule. That one was made up on the spot by the refs. Worst call I've ever seen.

[MeSpikeLibs]

There were bad calls for both sides in the Ohio State/Miami game. The one that sticks out is the bogus foul at the end of the Michigan - Seton Hall 1989 title game.