#WhatAboutKaren? Bad CFL officiating costs woman a million dollars

By Drew Edwards

Crappy CFL officiating just cost Karen Kuldys of Winnipeg a million dollars.

Kuldys is the contestant in Safeway’s Touchdown to Win contest – which pays $1 million if two kickoffs are returned for touchdowns in the same game – and looked have the money in her pocket after Bomber Ryan Lankford took the opening kickoff 105 yards for a score and Argonaut Martese Jackson followed that up with another one late in the second quarter. But just as Jackson crossed the goal line after 109 yards, out came a penalty flag.

The call was an illegal block on Llevi Noel, No. 84 in the GIF above, who is run into by Winnipeg’s Mike Miller (No. 24.) Miller promptly falls down and draws a flag. Jackson, meanwhile, is already well past Miller and on his way to the end zone.

Reaction on the broadcast was swift and critical.

“Oh, they called that,” said TSN play-by-play man Chris Cuthbert.

Colour man Glen Suitor went back and reviewed the play.

“Miller is just going to kind of fall forward and that’s where common sense comes in,” Sutior said. “That wasn’t a block attempt. It wasn’t a block in the back, it was a player falling in front of him.”

The TSN panel echoed those sentiments at halftime.

“Do not ruin the game of football by throwing that flag,” said Jock Climie.

Former Bomber Milt Stegall had a good line.

“Karen went out there and bought a Lamborghini. The money was spent.

“What about Karen?”

That phrase is now, as of 10:30 p.m. EST, trending on Twitter and CBC reporter Devin Heroux says he’s spoken with the almost-millionaire.

Must Read