What if "circus competition judges" were held to this standard of accountability??

NEW YORK (Sept. 15) - Ed Hochuli's acknowledgement that he erred on a call late in Sunday's San Diego-Denver game will mean lower grades for one of the NFL's highest profile referees.

Everybody loves Ed Hochuli. Well, maybe not everybody anymore as the ripped ref makes one of the worst calls of all time in any sport and leaves San Diego supporters howling.

"Officials are held accountable for their calls. They are graded on every play of every game,'' NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Monday. "Ed has been an outstanding official for many years, but he will be marked down for this call. Under our evaluation system, an official's grades impact his status for potentially working the playoffs and ultimately whether or not he is retained.''

The play occurred with the Broncos at the Chargers 1-yard-line in the final minute. Denver quarterback Jay Cutler dropped back to pass, the ball slipped out of his hands, bounced off the grass and into the arms of San Diego linebacker Tim Dobbins.

Hochuli ruled it an incomplete pass. Replay ruled it a fumble, but it was spotted at the 10-yard line, where the ball hit the ground, and given to Denver because the rules did not permit possession to be awarded to San Diego because the whistle had blown.

Denver went on to score, convert a 2-point conversion and win 39-38.

The play will be reviewed in the offseason by the league's competition committee, which normally reviews all controversial plays. "It is going to require a great deal of discussion," said Jeff Fisher, coach of the Titans, co chairman of the competition commitee.
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"Imagine a competition committee to keep everything honest and on the up and up, let alone judges posting how they voted. It might validate goofy things like the Black Pool Tower awards, Circus Fan , Producer/Show owner awards, and Burgermeister Proclamations, and the coveted Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Is it a competition, or a private paper hanging production, at the expense of valid talent/achievements?"