Illegal block penalty costs CFL fan $1-million
A simple penalty flag in the CFL game between the Toronto Argonauts and the Winnpeg Blue Bombers turned out to be costly for one lucky fan who’s now out of a million dollars.
The fourth week in the CFL started with controversy, and the officials are right in the middle of it.
Winnipeg native Karen Kuldys had a chance of a lifetime after Toronto Argonauts kick returner Martese Jackson ran a kick off for a touchdown. However, that was turned back thanks to a penalty.
The call? A “Phantom illegal block” on Argos receiver Llevi Noel. It has now started a major trending topic on twitter with the hashtag #WhatAboutKaren.
Here's the $1 million penalty that will haunt Karen forever. #Argos #Bombers #CFL pic.twitter.com/Djwxg0Acht
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) July 14, 2017
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The contest is sponsored by Safeway Canada, a supermarket chain. Before the game begins, Safeway picks one lucky winner for a chance to win $1 million. The only way to win the cash prize is if there are two kickoff returns that are returned for a touchdown.
Blue Bombers returner Ryan Lankford opened up the game with a 75-yard kick return. However, it was Jackson’s return that would have done the trick.
It’s fair to say once the touchdown was called back and fans realized that Kuldys lost the money, they took to twitter to express their reaction.
THAT FLAG JUST TOOK AWAY A MILLION DOLLARS!?!??
— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) July 14, 2017
WAY TO GO WHOEVER TOOK THAT PENALTY on the return TD. You just cost some nice lady $1M. Wow. #bombers #argos #cfl
— Malcolm Kelly (author of SPROG) (@sportsnag) July 14, 2017
Man, Martese Jackson should have a second kick-return TD. That's a bogus penalty
— Joey Alfieri (@joeyalfieri) July 14, 2017
CBC News and Sports reporter got a hold of Kuldys during half time. He tweeted out his conversation with the selected and potential contest winner. It’s heartbreaking to see what her reaction was to the called penalty.
I'm on the phone with Karen right now. She started by saying "I'm sick to my stomach. What a horrible call" More to come. #CFL
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) July 14, 2017
"I'm going to watch the rest of the game and hopefully it happens again. I can't believe this is happening," says Karen. #CFL
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) July 14, 2017
I'm taking to Karen's husband Stan now. He's not happy. "I should contact the CFL office about this."
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) July 14, 2017
As the time went on during the match up, fans headed to twitter to express their frustrations and it’s fair to say the support for Karen is strong after her loss.
I think the Safeway touchdown to win contestant needed to throw the challenge flag #CFLGameDay
— Clay Chisholm (@AllKindsOfClay) July 14, 2017
If I'm the @CFL, Safeway and TSN I pay poor Karen her $1 million anyways. Would be just and make for great promo. #CFLGameDay
— Donnovan Bennett (@donnovanbennett) July 14, 2017
Seriously, if I were @Safeway's PR person, I'd be telling them to give Karen a million. #CFL
— Jeannine (@OttawaJay) July 14, 2017
Plain and simple, that had to be one of the worst flags to be thrown in what has been a penalty filled games.
It’s not necessarily because of the fact that Kuldys lost a million bucks. The defender who was trying to catch up to Jackson, just lost his balance and fell in front of Noel.
Of course to the official, it looked like Noel had committed the block to give Jackson more space for the touchdown. Regardless, Jackson had enough room to escape the defenders around the time of the committed foul.
There was still time for that elusive kickoff return to have come at any point in the second half. However and unfortunately for Kuldys, the game came short.
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The game itself had tons of question marks as mentioned in terms of officiating, even to a point where officials announced the wrong down. None the less, the CFL fanbase feels for Karen Kuldys.