$1M mistake sends league into damage control
WINNIPEG A well-intentioned promotion turned into a public relations scramble for the Canadian Football League 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 likely 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.
The league was in full damage-control mode on Friday with new commissioner Randy Ambrosie 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.
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.