"Well it looks like we're pretty well caught up,Pete," said God. Do you see anything I missed?"
"Well there is one thing," said St. Peter...Back in 1976 when the New England Patriots were on the verge of beating the Oakland Raiders and winning the super bowl. Then Al Davis, their owner, made the deal with the devil that caused the Patriots to lose the game and the raiders went on to win the Super Bowl. You DID get Davis back with that "Hail Mary Pass" that gave the Steelers the game BUT the poor Patriots were never compensated for losing out THEIR Super Bowl victory."
"You're right, Pete," said the Lord. I remember...The infamous "roughing" the passer call that referee Ben Dreighth called against the Patriots "Sugar Bear" Hamilton that, very clearly, was NOT a correct call. Photos later showed Hamilton was flying through the air as quaterback Ken Stabler still had the ball in his hand. It was fourth down and the Pats WOULD have won that game."
"You know, Pete," said the Lord.... I'm going to have to come up with a real good one to compensate the Patriots and all their long suffering fans....Got any ideas?"
"Well yes, Lord," replied St. Peter.....The Raiders are playing the Patriots in the playoffs and, this time, they're playing in New England. If you could "customize' some scenario that would clearly send a message to that pesky Devil that THIS was a make-up for THAT injustice he just might stop trying to mess around with You."
"Okay, Pete," here's the plan," said God, (who very clearly had his "game face" on.) We give the Raiders a small lead then, in the last seconds of the game, we have the referees ROB them with an incredibly ridiculous call against THEM and the Patriots go on to win the game, then the Super Bowl. This'll be a beauty " he concluded, very pleased with himself.
"Sounds good, said Pete but what's the call? "
"Well, Pete, I'm going to dust off the old "tuck rule."
"The WHAT?," said Pete.
"Trust me, replied God, you'll love this one. Practically nobody will understand it but nobody (except Raider's fans) will fight it. AND, it will be poetic justice. By the way, didn't you say they were playing it in New England?...hmm.....Let it Snow. That'll make it even more memorable."
AND, as they say,.....The rest is history. Stay tuned for more "God, St. Peter stories right here.