ONE MILLION REASONS NOT TO THROW THAT PENALTY FLAG
A well-intentioned promotion has turned into a public relations disaster for the CFL while dramatically highlighting the effect poor officiating can have on the game.
Winnipeg’s Karen Kuldys has a legitimate right to feel ripped off after an unnecessary flag wiped out a kick return touchdown during Thursday night’s game between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts that would have made her a millionaire.
An official threw the flag for an illegal block by Toronto’s Llevi Noel as the Argos’ Martese Jackson scampered into the end zone for what looked like a 109-yard kickoff return.
The “infraction” happened eight yards behind Jackson and had no impact on the play and replays showed it was not even a penalty, as Winnipeg’s Mike Miller was falling before Noel touched him on the back.
Had the touchdown been allowed to stand, it would have been the second kickoff return major in the game and it would have made Kuldys a $1-million winner in the Safeway/Sobeys $1,000,000 Touchdown to Win Contest.
Winnipeg’s Ryan Lankford scored a 105-yard touchdown while returning the opening kickoff of the game.
A day later, Kuldys was still stunned by the turn of events.
“It has been a wild 12 or so hours … I don’t think I slept last night,” she said. “I had to get up for 4:30 (a.m.) to get to work for six so it’s been a long, long day. Emotions are going up and down, up and down.
“One minute I’m just happy and pleased and all of a sudden I think, ‘How close was I to a million dollars?’ ”
Kuldys also told CBC: “You got to be kidding me. My stomach is in knots just thinking about it right now.”
The league was in full damagecontrol mode Friday with new commissioner Randy Ambrosie, just five days into the job, issuing a statement that said, among other things, that the league has invited Kuldys and her family to attend this year’s Grey Cup in Ottawa as VIP guests of the CFL. She’ll also get season tickets for this season and next courtesy of the Blue Bombers, free groceries for a year from Sobeys and 500,000 miles from Air Miles, a Sobeys partner. The Air Miles have a $50,000 value in Cash Miles.
“We’re all fans and whatever team you root for, we would all love to see a CFL fan win a million dollars,” Ambrosie said in a statement. “So we all feel for Karen and what she must have gone through last night. I was in Winnipeg for the game and I spoke with her today. On behalf of the CFL, I invited her and her family to come to Grey Cup this year as our guests.
“We all know these things can’t compare to a million dollars, but we wanted to do something to let her and her family know that we all wished she could have won last night.”
While appreciative, Kuldys still couldn’t help think about the one that got away.
“I don’t think it makes up for it, but it sure was a great gesture on their part,” Kuldys said. “I don’t think it’s fair that a bad call cost me a million dollars, but that’s sports, right? You win some, you lose some. I’m trying to take it that way.”
Despite Ambrosie’s efforts, the situation has turned into a major embarrassment for the CFL, which has had problems with officiating for years, but has been working to try to bring the quality of the refereeing up to a higher level.
This qualifies as a significant setback.
“If there are any referees out there watching, who are reffing other games this week, this year, in your lifetime, do not, I repeat, do not ruin the game of football by throwing this flag,” TSN analyst Jock Climie said during Thursday’s halftime show. “This Jackson kid is unbelievable. The entertainment value he is providing in this football game and the effort he’s giving is incredible.
“Noel is hustling down the field. He is not hitting anybody, he is not intending to do anything and he is eight yards behind the ball carrier, who has already all but scored a touchdown. Why, oh why, does a flag need to be thrown in that situation? Not only does it cost the Argos, but what about Karen Kuldys?”
Ambrosie stood behind the official in question, who has not been identified.
“It was a very tough call made by our official last night, one that could have gone either way,” Ambrosie said. “There are tough calls made all the time in our game because these are world-class athletes, moving at tremendous speeds, and we ask our officials to make difficult judgment calls in the blink of an eye, and we have to respect their decisions.”
Kuldys did win a $25,000 entertainment system as part of the contest.
“We were thrilled that Karen won a $25,000 home theatre package after one kickoff was returned for a touchdown,” said Lyne Castonguay, executive vicepresident of Sobeys.
“And while we can’t reverse a referee’s on-field call, we are delighted to be able to offer Karen a year’s worth of free groceries in addition to the great football offers made by the CFL and the Blue Bombers.”
Kuldys and her husband Stan have had luck in the past. They won $675,000 in a lottery in 2007.
Karen is trying to take a philosophical approach to the whole situation. “Just walking down Portage Avenue this afternoon and looking at some of the people and I think, ‘Look, Karen, you have a beautiful home and wonderful kids and a good husband.’
“But then again, that million dollars and one bad call.”