The Odyssey, Part II: Return of the Refs

Okay, so we may not have had to wait for twenty years like Penelope and Telemachus did for Odysseus, but diehard NFL fans will argue that the three weeks they had to wait for the glorious return of the professional referees felt like twenty years. And the only battle that will take place once the refs return to the field will be between the two NFL teams playing each other.

However, the return of the professional refs will feel as glorious as it did when Odysseus returned to his kingdom of Ithaca after the Trojan War. Finally, NFL teams won’t have to worry about blatantly missed calls and officials with subpar knowledge when it comes to what is required for the quick paced speed at which pro football is played.

Despite remarks from Commissioner Goodell that said the agreement that has just been reached has been in the works for the last two weeks, it is hard to argue the fact that the result of, in particular, the Seattle-Green Bay game didn’t help push it along. A final Hail Mary heave by Seahawks QB Russell Wilson was ruled a touchdown despite it blatantly appearing to be an interception. The Seahawks won the game, possibly the most controversial finish to a football game in the history of the league. You would have thought it was the Super Bowl based on how much coverage the game got on Sports Center the next day!

Luckily we won’t have to worry about this anyone; photo from steelersdepot.com

This undoubtedly pressured the deal with the actual refs to get done, which it did. The professional referees made their 2012 debut to ref the Ravens-Browns game, which took place just three short days after the fiasco in Seattle.

Referees, who are often the focus of much hate, were greeted by a standing ovation when they took the field. Paparazzi met them when they entered the stadium and the reunion concluded with a hug from Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

Now fans can let out a long sigh of relief as their team’s fate is back in the hands of competent officials, which is to say they don’t have to worry about the refs altering the games’ outcomes.

I’m no expert, but this seems like a reunion that even Homer would be eager to tell the story of.