Leagues/officials issuing apologies

The apology after Saturday's Nugents/Mavericks game by the NBA got me wondering how many other times that's happened.

I know Ed Hochuli apologized for the Broncos/Chargers mistake. But did the NFL?

And have there been other league-issued apologies for officiating blunders that I'm just not remembering?

 

the nfl should apologize for the detroit lions

 

There was one season that the league office apologized to the Steelers for errors by officials at least twice, including one in which blown clock management by the refs cost them the chance to kick a tying field goal as time ran out in Cleveland. I think it was 1998, the same year as the infamous coin toss with Jerome Bettis and Phil Luckett before overtime in Detroit on Thanksgiving day.

 

From what I recall, the NFL did apologize to then Indianapolis cornerback Ellis Hobbs for an erroneous pass interference call a couple of year ago.

 

That had to be 2000. Browns didn't return to the league until '99, and I think the only home game they've won against Pittsburgh since coming back was in 2000.

 

it was against the Colts while he was with the Patriots ... in the 2006 afc championship game

 

The USTA apologized to Serena Williams in 2004 for an umpire missing a call in the final set of her quarterfinal loss to Capriati.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/09/sports/tennis/09serena.html

 

The ICC (cricket) apologized for suspending a Sri Lanka-Australia 2007 World Cup match for darkness, then returning the players to the field to finish the final three overs "in virtual darkness."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2007-04-30-3273711029_x.htm

 

And I remember a Browns game in Pittsburgh at Three Rivers, during The Jinx. Think it was 1978, Larry Anderson fumbled the opening kickoff in overtime at about the Pittsburgh 20 and the Browns recovered.

Of course there was an inadvertent whistle or some other bullshit call, Pittsburgh keeps possession.

A few plays later, Bradshaw hits someone on a fleaflicker from midfield to win it.

Every replay in the world showed Anderson fumbled the ball... and not a word from the league was ever uttered.

So, as Robby Benson said in "One on One," you can take your apologies and...

 

That's what I get for trying to go from memory. Had to be 2000 then.

 

Didn't the All-England Club issue a "My bad" after Venus lost to some Jane Doe-jevic (Karolina Sprem) because the umpire lost track of the score?

 

That wasn't just any World Cup match, it was the final.
I remember watching it (yes, the entire thing), and it was ridiculous making Sri Lanka finish their overs.
It was a foregone conclusion they had no shot to reach Australia's runs.