A Reading From The Book Of Crazy

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter is on the fast track to replace former Braves reliever John Rocker as professional sports' most insane sound bite. A week after criticizing the Indianapolis Colts for thinking too much, Porter has yet again flipped his lid. Following the bizarre AFC divisional semi between the Colts and the Steelers--which the Steelers won--Porter told the New York Times that the NFL's referees were cheating in order to allow the Colts to win.

"I felt they were cheating us. When the interception happened, everybody in the world knew that was an interception. Don't cheat us that bad. When they did that, they really want Peyton Manning and these guys to win the Super Bowl. They are just going to straight take it for them. I felt that they were like 'We don't even care if you know we're cheating. We're cheating for them.' "

Porter said he was relieved in more ways than one when Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt missed a 46-yard field goal try with 21 seconds left that would have tied the score.

"The way the refs were going, I wouldn't have trusted them in overtime," Porter told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. "If we hadn't won, they would have cheated us in overtime."

While I agree that the refs call on the interception by Troy Polamalu late in the 4th quarter was egregiously erroneous, I wouldn't go so far as to suggest an NFL conspiracy. Well, that isn't true. I would, and I have. But since the Patriots lost to the Broncos the night before the Colts-Steelers tilt, Porter's claim doesn't make much sense. I mean, no one wants to see the Broncos and the Colts in the divisional championship. And contrary to Porter's claim, nobody likes Peyton Manning. Even his own teammates dislike the guy. I don't know why, but they do. So why would the league try and screw over the Steelers?

This whole incident reminds me of that Saturday Night Live skit where Tracy Morgan is Harry Belafonte on Chris Matthews' Hardball.

Chris Matthews: Dear Lord. Belafonte! Hit me with a quick one!

Harry Belafonte: The war in Iraq is in a minstrel show!

Chris Matthews: Fantastic! Another!

Harry Belafonte: Winston Churchill was a house Negro!

Chris Matthews: One more time!

Harry Belafonte: Poodles are the black man of the dog world!