Former NFL replacement official Lance Easley is battling depression and post-traumatic stress disorder since making the infamous "Fail Mary" call in 2012 at Seattle.
During a regular-season game in 2012 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, Easley, a replacement official working the game as a side judge, ruled that a final-play Hail Mary pass by Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was caught by wide receiver Golden Tate for a touchdown, despite another replacement referee signaling a touchback, meaning he thought it was an interception by Packers safety M.D. Jennings (Arkansas State). Seattle beat Green Bay 14-12 in a game that was televised nationally on ESPN.
Easley, 55, said he's been plagued by panic attacks, depression and suicidal thoughts over the past year.
"Right now, I'm just trying to keep my life together," Easley told Yahoo! Sports. "It's really difficult. It's almost like a funeral. In the days around it, you have a lot of support and you make it through. But as time goes by, you still have to process [the loss of a loved one].
"I felt like I didn't want to be here anymore. I never acted on it. It was horrible to have those thoughts. I hated having those thoughts."
Easley's 28-year marriage ended in September, and he's been on doctor-ordered medical leave from his job at Bank of America since June. He has met with medical experts and counselors, taken doctor-prescribed drugs and entered an acute psychiatric facility as well as making two visits to a mental health rehab center.
Pay up
A furniture company in Ohio will give away up to $1.5 million in free furniture, thanks to Ohio State's 42-20 victory over Oregon on Monday night in the College Football Playoff national championship game.
Morris Furniture Company, based in Dayton, Ohio, ran a promotion at its 15 Ashley Furniture HomeStore and Better Sleep Shops in Ohio and northern Kentucky for people who bought $1,999 or more of furniture between Dec. 17 and Jan. 1. The company planned to refund the money customers paid if Ohio State won by at least seven points.
Rob Klaben, vice president of marketing and advertising at Morris Furniture, told ABC News that about 500 customers qualified for the promotion. Morris Furniture Company isn't an Ohio State sponsor and the promotion isn't affiliated with the university, but Morris won't be paying the $1.5 million. An anonymous third-party company will.
Hashtag fun
The hashtag #FiveWordsToRuinADate was popular on social media website Twitter on Tuesday, and several sports teams and organizations took part in the fun:
• From the Philadelphia Phillies: "The Phanatic isn't THAT funny."
• The College Football Hall of Fame: "I don't watch college football."
• Major League Baseball: "Spring training doesn't excite me."
• Los Angeles Angels: "Who is Mike Trout again?"
• Philadelphia Eagles: "I'm a Dallas Cowboys fan."
SPORTS QUIZ
What team did the Seattle Seahawks beat in their first NFL playoff game?
ANSWER
The Denver Broncos. The Seahawks won 31-7 on Dec. 24, 1983, in an AFC wild-card game at the Kingdome in Seattle.
Sports on 01/14/2015