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Phoenix teams and their fans are no strangers to poor officiating.

Many a time has a game, series or season turned on some questionable calls, which consistently seem to go against Arizona's teams.

Are we complaining too much when, in reality, our teams are just not better? Perhaps. But that doesn't change the frustration of what's gone down.

So, in no particular order, we present to you a rundown of some of the worst most questionable officiating ever seen.


May 12, 2007: Suns vs. Spurs, Game 3 of Western Conference Semifinals

The Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs split the first two games of matchup many thought was "the real NBA Finals," but things got shady when the series moved to Texas.


While many people will remember the Suns' Game 4 win -- and the subsequent suspensions after the hip check heard 'round the world, what gets lost in the travesty that was Game 3.

That night the Suns shot 27 free throws to the Spurs' 36, and while that may not have been unusual, one thing was:

One of the referees that night was Tim Donaghy, of fixing NBA games fame.

A collection of bad calls and no calls led to this being considered one of the worst officiated games you will ever see.

The Suns ended up losing the series, and possibly their best chance for a championship, in six games.


February 1, 2009: Cardinals vs. Steelers, Super Bowl XLIII

The Cardinals, in the Super Bowl? Yes, it happened.

We don't need to rehash what went down in Tampa Bay that night. Everyone knows the Cardinals got off to a slow start, took a late lead and then watched Ben Whatshisname lead a scoring drive for the win.


And really, losing the Super Bowl is bad enough, but when some highly-questionable calls go against you and directly contribute to the outcome? That's a little tough to handle.

Take, for instance, James Harrison's 100-yard interception and subsequent touchdown return. Yes, it was a great play, but what if he only ran 99-yards? The ref was not in position to see if his knee touched before the ball reached the goal line, and may have missed a key call.

Sadly, though, that wasn't the last of the controversy.


Take the game-winning touchdown pass, analyze it a bit more, add a touch of Cardinals homerism and what do you know, Santonio Holmes may not have got both feet in bounds. And, as we all know, that's kind of a necessity to rule a pass a completion.

And of course, who can forget the Kurt Warner fumble that may not really have been a fumble to end it? How many of us would like to?

Did the refs botch these calls? Perhaps, and while it would not be the first time an Arizona team got the short end of the stick with officiating (as this story goes to show), it is likely the most painful.


May 13, 15, 17...2012: Coyotes vs. Kings, Western Conference final



Shane Doan gets tackled
by Drew Doughty late
in Game 3. No call.
No, we didn't expect the Coyotes to be one series away from the Stanley Cup Final. And yes, the Kings may be the better team.

But really, do the refs have to be so blatantly bad?

Whether it's the consistent "embellishment" of calls, as Coyotes coach Dave Tippett calls it, or the absolute lack of consistency with which the games are being called, Phoenix certainly seems to be getting the, ahem, short end of the stick here.

And, sadly, the series isn't even over yet, so there's likely more to come. Oh goody.


March 26, 2005: Arizona vs. Illinois, Elite 8

History remembers this game as one of the greatest comebacks of all time. ASU fans remember this game as a glorious moment where the Wildcats choked.


Arizona fans remember this game as one where the refs failed to call a foul -- any foul -- as the lead was slipping away.

The Wildcats, up 15 with just over four minutes remaining, fell apart amidst a run of missed shots, turnovers and clutch hoops from the Illini.

But come on, refs, call a foul. You had plenty of chances, as there were even times when it looked like Illinois was trying to foul. Ugh.

9 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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  • Abuse
    moreno900 wrote...
    Thank you
    For making us remember all the woulda shoulda coulda. But in reality Its an arizona sports team job is to dissapoint fans of the valley all are Teams are good enough to make u enjoy them for a while at least untill The playoffs. After all is said and done u still feel empty inside as a fan, U see the opponent walk off into the sunset to basically rub it In our face, that all our owners are cheap boneheads and dont wanna win. Mediocre talent is not ok.(phoenix suns, diamondbacks) spend the money trust Me when i say this u want fans get good playerS
  • Abuse
    jescott3 wrote...
    Cardinals Steelers goes a bit far
    All of those calls we're booth reviewed. not like in the other sports where refs can / can't whatever they so choose.
  • Abuse
    Tennisgrandpa wrote...
    A Must Read
    David Stern, the worst and dirtiest commisioner in the history of pro sports has done his very best to keep Tim Donaghys book from ever seeing publication. Donaghy, who was busted for calling fixed games has some excellent excerpts on Deadspin(dot)com. He details things they did to give guys like Kobe an advantage. People are too quick to write things off to bad calls are a part of sports. Read those excerpts & it'll shine a whole different light. People say Donaghys just trying to get attention to make himself look better. Regardless of what he did, I believe what he wrote.
    Dale
  • Abuse
    azgbayfan wrote...
    Not Dirty
    Stern isn't dirty he is just pompous arrogant unlikable and so stuck on himself it is disgusting! A guy who has never played a minute and he thinks he is why the NBA is successful. The truth is there is probably no person on the planet in more need of an butt-kickin. He is worried about flopping. The game needs to be sped up. Teams are scoring in the 70's and 80s. Speed the game up take it out of the refs hands. In 84,85, and 86 probably the height of NBA popularity with Bird Johnson and Jordon teams Averaged 114, 110, and 110! Now they average about 90.
  • Abuse
    Tennisgrandpa wrote...
    Respectfully Disagree
    I do think he's dirty and it all ties into TV ratings. Sterns will do his best to get LA to the finals every year because otherwise every other city in the west is such a poor demographic that the TV rating will plundge lower than hockeys, the Spurs TV ratings for their championships is a prime example. How many smaller market teams get the games of the week on the NBA station? TNT? ESPN? Otherwise I totally agree on your comment AZG.
    Dale
  • Abuse
    Tennisgrandpa wrote...
    Con't
    After the Donaghy deal, Sterns came on TV with that solemn face and said that they were going to launch their own investigation into their refs. He later said that they found that 50% of the current NBA refs were in violation of the gambling policies set down by the NBA. Yet, not one ref was terminated or suspended and it's all been swept under the rug. Atern absolutely loves having the Clippers and OKC in the mix now because their apparel sales is up so it gives Sterns another option of a team from the west. Have the Lakers been gettingthose same old calls like the in the past?
    Dale
  • Abuse
    mva5580 wrote...
    Wow. Cry babies much?
    Losers find ways to lose. Winners find ways to win. Deal with it.
  • Abuse
    Tennisgrandpa wrote...
    Well
    Once the Lakers are eliminated from the playoffs by OKC which is one of Sterns new media darlings, you'll see Kobe not get the calls he normally got for his career. Face it, the NBA is about money, not who's better. Lakers are old news, they had their time in the Sterns spotlight. They're done. Sterns has to manipulate the system he's set up to maximize his profits. You don't think this is about basketball do you?
    Dale
  • Abuse
    HPB wrote...
    GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I am a dire hard supporter and fan of all of the Arizona teams but it is not the refs! The teams should not have put themselves in the position where one bad call costs them either chance to play for a title or win a title!
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