Sports Perspectives

Grrr...whimper

I haven’t done a stats corner in a while.

So…

Let’s bring closure to the CFL season.

In an earlier post I was hard on the Montreal Alouettes calling them chokers. In this one I’ll bring some perspective by pointing out the success this franchise has enjoyed since its return to the league in 1996.

The Als are far and away the best regular season team in the CFL between 1996 and 2008. Over that period, they’ve won 150 games for a .643 winning percentage.

That’s 15 games better than the next best team. That being the BC Lions who won 135 games for a .577 mark.

For added value, the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Eskimos won 125 games and a .534 percentage while the Calgary Stampeders triumphed in 121 games or a .517 winning percentage.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Saskatchewan Roughriders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats are at the bottom feeders. That’s as far as I’ll go there.

Now let’s take a peak at the Grey Cup records since 1996:

Stampeders 3-1
Argonauts 3-0
Eskimos 2-2
Lions 2-1
Alouettes 1-5

Tiger-Cats 1-1
Roughriders 1-1
Blue Bombers 0-2

As you can see, the Als have gone to the prom more times than anyone else but have won as many titles as the Tiger-Cats who are presently a basket case along the lines of the Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions.

They call the Als the “Beasts of the East.” I suppose the term “beast” is relative. The East is not exactly a powerful division. All the best teams reside in the West.

Maybe their Grey Cup run isn’t flattering but the Als have talent. Enough of it to win more Grey Cups. It’s a well-run organization that consistently finds ways to remain competitive.

When the team returned to the league they had trouble getting past the divisional hurdle. They got past it. Now they have to overcome the Grey Cup demons.