Seahawks' decision to pass latest call to create controversy

Posted February 01, 2015 10:00 pm

By ARNIE STAPLETON

New England Patriots strong safety Malcolm Butler (21) intercepts a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette (83) during the second half of NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) The Associated Press

The Seattle Seahawks had both the Lombardi Trophy and greatness in their grasp with 36 inches and 26 seconds to go.

They watched their coronation as a modern day dynasty slip away with the decision not to put the ball in Marshawn Lynch's hands.

In what some are viewing as one of the great miscalculations in sports history, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, backed by head coach Pete Carroll, called for a pass play, leaving Lynch - and ultimately the rest of the Seahawks - stunningly empty-handed.

When Malcolm Butler stepped in front of Ricardo Lockette and picked off Russell Wilson's pass, the undrafted and previously unheralded rookie sealed New England's 28-24 Super Bowl win.

It also added Bevell and Carroll to the long list of sportsmen whose decisions backfired so spectacularly so as to haunt and taunt the also-rans and their crestfallen fans.

Some choices that stand out for their deleterious results:

MEADOWLANDS MIRACLE: In the final seconds of a 1978 NFL game, all the New York Giants had to do was take a knee and they had the Philadelphia Eagles beaten. But they inexplicably called a running play and quarterback Joe Pisarcik botched the handoff. Defensive back Herman Edwards scooped up the loose ball and scored the winning touchdown.

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POOPED PEDRO: Just five outs from guiding Boston to the World Series, manager Grady Little left an exhausted Pedro Martinez in Game 7 of the 2003 AL Championship Series. Martinez had just given up three consecutive hits and was clearly done. After Little returned to the dugout without his ace, Jorge Posada hit the game-tying double and the Red Sox went on to lose. The curse lived on for another year.

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BEST BENCHED: While Al Michaels was shouting, "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" Soviet hockey fans on Feb. 22, 1980, were asking, "Why isn't Vladislav Tretiak between the pipes? No!" Soviet coach Victor Tikhonov benched the world's best goaltender with the score tied at 2 after the first period. The American team made up of mostly college kids capitalized against backup Vladimir Myshkin to beat the mighty Soviets 4-3 in the "Miracle on Ice."

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VEXED VAN de VELDE: Needing just a double bogey to win the 1999 British Open, Frenchman Jean Van de Velde decided not to play things conservatively and triple bogeyed the 18th hole, forcing a three-way playoff with Paul Lawrie and Justin Leonard that he lost. The lasting image from golf's biggest implosion was Van de Velde slipping off his socks and shoes and stepping into the knee-deep water to reclaim his third shot

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FAB FIVE FAIL: Chris Webber's Michigan Wolverines trailed North Carolina 73-71 in the closing seconds of the 1993 NCAA men's basketball championship when he found himself double-teamed and called a timeout. Because Michigan had no timeouts left, Webber was assessed a technical foul and the Tar Heels cruised to the title.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton

FILE - In this 1980 file photo, Soviet goalie Vladislav Tretiak allows a goal by the U.S. team in the first period of a medal-round hockey game at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. A big reason the Americans were able to upset the Soviet Union in the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" at the Olympics was the benching of goaltender Tretiak by Soviet coach Victor Tikhonov with the score tied at 2 after the first period. Backup Vladimir Myshkin surrendered two goals and the U.S. won 4-3, then went on to capture the gold medal. (AP Photo, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In a Oct. 16, 2003 file photo, Boston Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez talks to manager Grady Little in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the American League Championship Series in New York. Just five outs from guiding Boston to its first World Series appearance in nearly 20 years, Little left an exhausted Pedro Martinez in the game in the 2003 ALCS and Jorge Posada hit the game-tying double, and the Red Sox went on to lose. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this April 5, 1993, file photo, Michigan's Chris Webber (4) stands by as North Carolina's Eric Montross celebrates during North Carolina's technical foul shots in the final seconds of their Final Four championship game at the Superdome in New Orleans. Webber called a time out Michigan did not have, and under the rules at the time, Michigan was charged with a technical foul and lost possession of the ball. Donald Williams made all four free throws, and North Carolina won another national title that was sealed by another major mistake by its opponent. (AP Photo/Susan Ragan, File) The Associated Press

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