It seems the infamous Lance Easley, that replacement referee responsible for the Fail Mary, is coming out of the woodwork yet again.
This time, he’s crying a sob story about how his life is unravelling in a variety of ways, including a divorce after a marriage of 28 years and an indefinite leave of absence because of psychiatric problems, including a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide ideation.
Up until this point, this despicable piece of human garbage has been pulling all the stops to extend his 15 minutes of fame. Or, more accurately stated, his 15 minutes of infamy. Instead of admitting he is responsible for arguably the worst call not just in NFL history, but in the history of sport, this man sought to profiteer off of the misfortune he caused the Green Bay Packers by peddling a ghost-written book, attending charity softball games sponsored by Richard Sherman, and showing up at venues catering to Seattle Seahawks fans — from local Seattle comedy shows, to cameo appearances at sports bars where displaced Seahawks fans congregate in California.
In this video, Easley goes before a bar of transplant Seahawks fans gloating about his call, and pontificating, with much pride and glee how his actions may be the genesis behind a Seattle Seahawks dynasty, similar to how the Immaculate Reception and the Tuck Rule game spawned dynasties for the Steelers and Patriots.
It all seems quite convenient to be coming out with this now, 15 seconds after the NFC Championship game was set, with the Packers traveling to Seattle to get another shot at revenge and redemption. Admittedly, staging a divorce after 28 years of marriage, a mental breakdown and a medical leave of absence is a bit far-fetched to extend that 15 minutes of infamy. All of these things are undoubtedly true, although almost certainly embellished to some degree so Easley can get his name back in the news.
I say there should not be one ounce of compassion or empathy extended to this man. Indeed, I regard it as most welcome news indeed that he is suicidal. After all, it is never too late to make the right decision, Lance.
Such animus, as righteous as it is, should only be set aside to explain how wrong Easley is in daring to claim that he is innocent or blameless.
“Nobody died,” Easley said. “There were no laws broken. It wasn’t scandalous. There was no sex tape. I didn’t do anything wrong. It just happened to be a contentious call right when everything was spiraling out of control.”
Wrong again. It was, in fact, scandalous and is still an unconscionable travesty and injustice to this day. And Easley did do something wrong, just as Roger Goodell and his band of cronies also did something wrong by putting those clowns out there in the first place. It is not necessarily that Easley made a bad call. It is that he had the audacity to claim all along that his decision was the right one, even in the face of incontrovertible evidence, and — above all — daring to profit off the misfortune he caused.
After more than two years, this pariah still does not get it. So let me offer a clue by offering one Jim Joyce for consideration: the umpire who blew what should have been a perfect game for Detroit Tigers’ pitcher Armando Galarraga several years ago. Unlike Easley, this man acted with integrity, admitting he “cost that kid a perfect game,” while expressing true regret for his actions and apologizing to Galarraga personally, with a hug and tears.
Had Easley just admitted his wrongdoing and apologized, instead of seeking to profit off the harm he did, all the blame and anger would rightly be directed against Goodell and his minions for putting Easley in that position to begin with.
Instead, Easley chose to repeatedly rub it in the face of every Packers fan across the nation, gloating about it and seeking to profit off the wrong he did. And now, after years of pandering to Seahawks fans and milking every last cent out of this infamy, he comes out of the woodwork once more with some boo-hoo, cry-me-a-river story about the difficulties he is suffering.
Having chosen not to take that correct path, may he reap the whirlwind and incur our wrath unto death and beyond.
Despite everything, there is still the possibility of a silver lining, at least for those who count.
As much of an unconscionable travesty as the Fail Mary is to this day, just as Lance Easley is vermin who deserves nothing but contempt, disdain, and loathing, it is still possible for this travesty to be rectified at long last. The Packers can do so by marching into CenturyLink Field and emerging victorious in the NFC Championship, exacting a certain measure of revenge in front of all those Seahawks fans.
And if this man carries out that darker proposition mulling about in his small, petty mind, there will be even greater reason to celebrate.
Didn’t do anything wrong? Burn in hell.