CFL SEASON STARTS WITH SPARKLES ON CANADA DAY

July 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The CFL kicked off the 2010 season on Canada Day with a rematch of last years Grey Cup final between Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

And it wasn’t without pure and raw excitement. The game was showered with end to end action culminating into an enthralling 54-51 overtime win for the Riders over the defending champs.

Two things about the highlights. One, at about the six minute mark, you will see one of the all-time great catches. Two, Saskatchewan was called for too many men at a critical junction that should have ended the game. Again.

Recall that last year the Grey Cup ended on a bizarre note after the Roughriders were called for, yup, too many men.

Really. Already it was insane when it first happened, but for it to happen again is just plain crazy-insane. The Als, naturally, scored and the game persisted. This time around, however, the Riders prevailed.

Not a bad start to the CFL season. Now to do something about Montreal’s secondary.


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NEW ORLEANS IS NO LONGER SINKING

February 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

By Alex

Saints, pick any of your choice, weren’t exactly keeping an eye out for its football club over the years. Even they, it seems, felt powerless to help a hapless organization moving along in a haze. In 1980, following 14 straight losses  fans were calling their team the Aints and showed their displeasure by pioneering wearing paper bags over their heads.

Since 1967 the New Orleans Saints have compiled a .421 winning percentage during the regular season. Prior to this season, they made just eight post-season trips with a 2-6 record. In a football made state, these weren’t flattering numbers.

But that’s all in the past now. Under head coach Sean Payton, the Saints are 14 games above .500 and most important, have a Super Bowl title to their name following a 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts. So much so that all Saints fans can do is but look to the future. And why not? With this core group led by QB Drew Brees, this team (in theory anyway) should be an NFC power for a few years to come. Even in a parity-driven era, it’s possible to carve a dynasty – just ask the New England Patriots – and fans believe their once anemic club can do just that.

In the context of their history, sure, the victory was improbable. But no more improbable than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning the Super Bowl. In the context of the last few years and especially this season, there’s nothing to be surprised about. The Saints were the best team in the NFC (although the Minnesota Vikings may want to dispute this) and entire NFL all season long. Indeed, the best two teams in football met in the finals and quite frankly, it was nearly impossible to pick a winner either way prior to the game they were so evenly matched.

This time around the Saints were smiling and sprinkling glory upon New Orleans. And don’t bet against the Colts making another trip to the Super Bowl before Peyton Manning’s career is over. Don’t be deterred by the predictable debates about his legacy and his mediocre playoff record. Manning, truly one of the all-time great quarterbacks has plenty of time to work on that.

Much has been written and said and sung about the plight of the people of New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina. It really is a remarkable story that rising from the ashes a football team in a sport so revered would signal a renaissance for the city. Mark this victory down for the ages. A team that will go down in traditional sports lore never to be forgotten by a people and perhaps a nation and yes, a continent filled with football fans.


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SAINTS AND COLTS REACH SUPER BOWL

January 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Vikings came, saw, but they could not pillage and conquer N’Orleans. Instead, they came, they fumbled and squandered a great chance to get to the Super Bowl for the 5th time in their history. For their part, the New Orleans Saints merely picked up the pieces left behind by Minnesota and found themselves in the big show for the first time ever.  A neat story considering Katrina.

Yet, the Saints must have been doing some hard praying prior to the game. For some reason, Minnesota had a very hard time holding on to the ball dropping it six times (twice by Adrian Peterson; one on a miscue on an exchange with Favre), three of which were recovered by New Orleans. All told, the Vikings committed five turnovers (including two interceptions by the hand of Favre) while their opponents turned it over once. That, as they say, was all she wrote.

Moral of this Minnesota story? Don’t. Cough. The. Ball. Up.

Slippery hands notwithstanding, the weirdest part of the game was when Brett Favre attempted a low percentage pass with seven seconds left leading to an interception. The Vikes were in a long field-goal range position and seemed to commit to the – gulp – run. Then suddenly, the pass from hell.  One thing leads to another, Saints win the coin toss, they march down field, get a lucky break on a completion and then convert a FG for the win. 31-28. Game over.

Of course, it wasn’t all Favre’s fault. 12 men in the huddle that cost them crucial yards? Dudes. Let’s just call them the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

It’s not the first time Favre closes out a playoff game with an INT. Recall, he did the same thing when, as a hurler for the Green Bay Packers, he threw a pick against the New York Giants a couple of years back.

It’s as if Venom (evil Spiderman) overtakes Brett Favre late in playoff games.

Classic case of what could have been for the Vikes.

Where the Vikings failed to seal the deal, the Indianapolis Colts capitalized on their chances and sent the upstart New York Jets back to New Jersey following a 30-17 win. With it went the forced 41 year-old analogy to Super Bowl III.  Good riddance.

We always hear about the apparent lack of running acumen in the Colts offense. Yet, each time they go against a supposed superior running team (both defensively and offensively) they seem to beat them at their own game. You heard it, “the Colts can’t run, they can’t stop the run, the Jets (and whoever else. Chicago Bears in SB XLI anyone?) can run and stop the run therefore…”

Stuff the “therefores.” Just like they outran the Bears in 2004 (191 yards to 111 led by Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai), the Colts spurred the Jets on the ground with 24 carries for 101 yards to 29 carries for 86. Though it should be noted the Jets lost Shonn Greene in the second half – although by that point the Colts were holding their own in the running game.

So. When will Joseph Addai – who chipped in with 80 yards for an average of 5 yards per carry – get his due?

For the next couple of weeks millions and millions of people and pundits alike will be weighing on their thoughts about the Saints-Colts showdown. If someone says the Colts can’t run, run away.

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Alouettes Win Grey Cup In Dramatic Fashion

November 30, 2009 By 1 Comment

That was some ending to the 97th Grey Cup, eh? Heck, it was so crazy it even got a mention on ESPN’S Around the Horn. A record six million viewers on TSN/RDS clicked in to catch the game and they were treated to a great football battle.

The Montreal Alouettes, the best team in the CFL with a 16-3 record, overcame a 16 point deficit with under 11 minutes to go in the 4th quarter to beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 28-27 earning its 6th Grey Cup title.

Saskatchewan dominated the first half and were in full control of the game both on offense and defense. For Montreal fans, it was a disturbing deja-vu all over again. Another Grey Cup loss was on the way under the Alberta sky. We kept hearing about nerves. But this is a team in its seventh Grey Cup final since 2000! By now one would think they’d be over the stage freight.

160 bc grey cup 091129 Alouettes Win Grey Cup In Dramatic Fashion

Finally. Redemption.

At 27-11, it looked like the Riders were going to win their 4th Grey Cup while the Als were on their way to dropping a whopping sixth final since 2000. Then, the defense led by safety Chip Cox, held the rest of the way. QB Anthony Calvillo suddenly became “money” as he orchestrated two key touchdowns, with the help of Avon Colburne, and a two-point convert (another two-point convert was thwarted by Saskatchewan even though it looked like interference took place) to bring the score to 27-25. In fact, he couldn’t do it alone as the entire offense stepped up and converted big plays. One more drive was needed and he delivered setting up a possible game winning field goal from 43 yards out for kicker Damon Duval.

Solid all year with a sure foot, Duval struggled all night – even shanking a seven yard punt in the first half. It was all on him with seconds to go in the game.

He missed. Jubilation in Saskatchewan! Break out the ‘Corner Gas’ DVD’s! But wait! Flags were hurled all over the field! Penalty against the Riders! Oh no! 10 yard penalty! 13 men on the field!

Duval got a second chance this time from 33 yards. And this time he buried it. Celebration in Quebec!

It was one of oddest ending to a sports final as they come. Sports is filled with heartbreaking, heart-wrenching, gut splitting moments. However, how many ended on such a note to determine a championship? Not many, if any. The closest thing is the infamous “toe in the crease” back in 1999 permitting the Dallas Stars to win the Stanley Cup at the expense of Buffalo Sabres. The Tennessee Titans coming within inches against the St.Louis Rams in the Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000 is another.

images Alouettes Win Grey Cup In Dramatic Fashion

Not meant to be

Yet, I don’t think it quite measures up to what we saw on Sunday. I mean, too many men on the field in such a critical moment? It was hard to watch. Listening to shell shocked Riders head coach Ken Miller after the game made clear of the devastation his team was dealing with.

Now the question being asked is whether Saskatchewan lost the game or Montreal won it. The answer is obvious: Montreal won it. They put themselves in a position to win. They never gave up. They responded like champions. Saskatchewan, for their part, went Houston Texans on everyone and failed to seal the deal.

Fret not, Saskatchewan fans. The future looks bright for the Riders. They have a nice young core of players starting with QB Darius Durant and receiver Andy Fantuz. They can, I would think, easily come back to the final next year. The Alouettes have some off season decisions to make. With Anthony Calvillo and receiver Ben Cahoon uncertain to return, Als dominance could be challenged. However, one thing should be kept in mind, manager Jim Popp always has something up his sleeve. He has kept the Alouettes organization the class of the CFL since 1996.

And so ends this classic, if not somewhat tarnished, match. One that will be talked about for quite some times.

Ireland and Riders fans should hook up on message boards and talk about the raw deals handed ot them but in the end, hopefully, they will come to the realization they had destiny in their own hands.

Notes: Head coach Marc Trestman, who’s name was rumored in connection with the job vacancy with the Buffalo Bills, won his first Grey Cup in just his second year as head coach of the Alouettes. He reached the finals in 2009…The Alouettes have been to the Grey Cup seven times this decade winning twice… Saskatchewan are 3-14 in Grey Cup finals…Als receiver Ben Cahoon (the surest hands I’ve ever seen) surpassed former Al Hal Patterson for all-time receiving yards. Cahoon tops the list at 620 yards. The record of 580 yards stood since 1964…Running back Avon Coburne, who caught and ran his way around the field, won a deserved MVP….the game was mentioned on Monday Night Football.


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The Alouettes And Roughriders Meet In Grey Cup

November 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

The CFL has confirmed its final two guests for the 97th Grey Cup.  The 16-3 Montreal Alouettes will take on the 11-7-1 Saskatchewan Roughriders at McMahon Stadium in Calgary (Hi Lina).

Both teams took advantage of the home field edge they earned as the Als reached the finals by crushing the cross over BC Lions 56-18. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan nailed the defending champs Calgary Stampeders 27-17.

one t 42064 The Alouettes And Roughriders Meet In Grey Cup

Somebody is gonna lose a finger

Here’s an interesting tidbiting (a tidbit worth biting into) stat. In 97 years, this is the first time these two clubs will meet in a final. Remarkable considering the size of the league – average about eight teams.

Equally incredible, to me anyway, is despite Montreal’s net dominance in regular season play since returning to the league in 1996 (if not a .700 winning percentage or more damn close to it. I have to check up on that one of these days), they are a miserable 1-5 in Grey Cup games. This is not a legacy they want to be remembered for I’m sure. Mind you, it’s not like the ‘Riders are burning up the trail with their 3-13 (.188 winning percentage) all-time record in the finals. Les Alouettes are not that much better at 5-11 (.313). That’s a 8-24 record for those keeping tabs at home.

This is the year the Als, who defeated the Riders in both encounters this year, should pull off their sixth Grey Cup in franchise history. They were far and away, head and shoulders above, every single team in the league this year – including Saskatchewan earning a 2-0 head to head record against them in the regular season.

That means little in a one-off game, but it would be quite the stunner if the Als, a nine point favorite with oddsmakers, loses this one.

Blue Rodeo, for those looking for a free concert, will be performing at half time.

Image from TSN.


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Did The Better Team Win?

September 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

By Beaker

We often hear the question in the title being asked by journalists, pundits and fans alike. It comes whenever a team dominates another but still loses.

On Monday night, the Miami Dolphins held ball possession for a stunning 45 minutes while the Indianapolis Colts had it for just about 15 minutes. Expressed in percentages, that’s 75%  of the time! But it was the Colts who prevailed 27-23.

The only other major sport that gauges ball possession is soccer. And soccer (and hockey for that matter) deals with the same sort of debate too. How many times have we seen a team dominate only to lose? Which raises all sorts of questions, if you win despite being dominated (described as ball possession and shots on goal here)  does that make you lucky? Not necessarily. It could be a deliberate game plan; a calculating strategy. Or it could simply mean you’re more efficient; more opportunistic.

Soccer has the added subjective dimension of having certain fans speak of playing “beautifully.” It’s not uncommon for fans to apply the logic of “winning isn’t everything.” In some cases, it goes as far as believing a losing team that plays beautiful is more respected than one who wins “ugly” or what is termed “negatively.”

Alas, in the end, the measure of greatness is by how many trophies you have and this is determined by how many times you put the ball in the net. You don’t get marks for playing pretty. Pro sports are result driven. It may not be philosophically cool, but it’s a reality.

Who’s better? The team who has the ball 60% of the time shoots the ball at the net 15 and hits the target four times and scores once or the team with 40%, shoots the ball seven times, hits the target three times but scores twice?

I know what I’d choose.

Miami did everything they could except, well, win. Yet, some will say the “better” team lost.

They outplayed Indy in most categories except in the place where it counted most: the final score.

That doesn’t mean in some cases, the better team does indeed get the shaft I know I’ve been a victim of being both on a team that dominates and loses and is dominated but wins. I’ve lost to teams who, despite greatness, were a bunch of assholes. It is what it is. One thing I learned, rhetoric and excuses aside, is a loss is a loss is a loss and a win is a win is a win.

So yes, while Miami deserved a better fate for their efforts, they didn’t execute as well as Indianapolis. The Colts remained calm, cool and collected and did what they had to do to win.

And in the end, that’s all that matters in this dirty, rotten, evil world.

My next post: Do you play better when you’re angry?


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Stats Corner: Forgotten Stampeders Were Perfect In 1948

September 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

A couple of years back, the New England Patriots came within whiskers of becoming the second team in NFL history to go undefeated after the ’72 Miami Dolphins. The Pats from Boston had to settle for going 18-1 with their only loss coming where it counts and hurts most: In the Super Bowl against the New York Giants.

Before the Super Bowl era, the ’34 and ’42 Chicago Bears flirted with perfection only to lose to the New York Giants (them again) and Washington Redskins. The legendary Cleveland Browns of the AAFC did go undefeated in 1948 with a 15-0 record. In fact, they won 27 games without recording a loss between 1947 and 1949.

stampsta 300x300 Stats Corner: Forgotten Stampeders Were Perfect In 1948

Perfection Canadian Style: '48 Stamps Celebrate Grey Cup Win

The talk and mystique of undefeated seasons really is restricted to football. Can you see any baseball, hockey or basketball pro team – 162, 82 and 82 game schedules respective  not including the playoffs-  going through a season without a loss? Of course not.If you have these visions, consider yourself delusional and seek help immediately. You have realism issues.

So it’s a football thing.

However, the Fish and Browns aren’t the only ones to have gone undefeated. In the CFL, the Calgary Stampeders did it in 1948 and for some reason are rarely, if ever, discussed. Marketing never was the CFL’s strong suit. Anyway, under the guidance of the great head coach Les Lear, the Stamps went 15-0. Today’s teams, by contrast, would be required to go 20-0 0r 21-0 (depending if you get a bye).

The closest any team has come to that mark is when the Edmonton Eskimos went 14-1-1 in 1981. In fact, the Esks have gone 14-2 three times in 1955, 1957 and 1979.

Close but no cigar.

For now, in the annals of perfection, the Miami Dolphins and Calgary Stampeders stand alone.

Image from Calgary Herald.


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Alouettes Great QB Sam Etcheverry Dies

September 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

d7c52dda47d1840f40e2fbe4e475 248x300 Alouettes Great QB Sam Etcheverry Dies

Etcheverry celebrates 1970 Grey Cup victory

Sam “The Rifle” Etcheverry, who wasn’t just a-very good quarterback but a great one with the Montreal Alouettes, died of cancer in late August at the age of 79.

Born in New Mexico and of Basque heritage, Etcheverry played for the Als from 1952 to 1960 and had a two-year stint in the NFL with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1961-1962.

Despite winning three ‘Most Outstanding Player’ awards for the East division, he never won a Grey Cup as a player. The Alouettes reached the finals in three successive years between 1954-1956 but succumbed before their fierce rivals the Edmonton Eskimos in each. Edmonton, it should be noted, were led by the sublime Jackie Parker.

In the 1955 Grey Cup loss to the Eks, Etcheverry threw for a record 508 yards that still stands today.

However, despite these setback, Etcheverry did eventually win a Grey Cup in 1970 (over the Calgary Stampeders) but as a coach with the Montreal Alouettes, now led by QB Sonny Wade. His coaching record was an underwhelming 14-24-1. Still, during his long career, he became a Montreal sports icon.

From the CFL official website:

Etcheverry set nearly every quarterback record in Alouettes history, finishing with 30,303 passing yards and 186 touchdowns while becoming one of the franchise’s most revered players. He also holds league records for most passing yards in a Grey Cup game (508, in 1955) and most consecutive games with a passing touchdown (34, from 1954-56).

In addition, he still holds many University of Denver Pioneers college football passing records during his time there between 1949-1951.

What was remarkable about Etcheverry’s passing exploits is that it was accomplished during an era dominated by the running game.

TSN ranked Etcheverry #26 in their Top 50 CFL Players list. Six QB’s rank ahead of him – as, you know, a point of interest.

Fittingly, the Montreal Alouettes organization honored their QB by retiring his number 92.

RIP, Mr. Etcheverry. May you and football fans Basque in all your football glory.



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Quick Tidbits: CFL Says No To Pac Man; Heatley Still In Limbo; Alouettes Suck Out West

September 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

By Beaker

My how they fall.

You know you’ve hit rock bottom when the CFL – once home to Lawrence Phillips and Ricky Williams – decide you’re bad news enough to not be signed. That was the case when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, upon further character review, opted against bringing the violent head case with a criminal record into the organization.

I guess we’ll be seeing more and more teams decided talent isn’t always worth the trouble,

***

This just in: Dany Heatley remains a douche. Interesting that teams have not come hard for one of the best snipers in the world.

***

What is it with the Montreal Alouettes and their inability to win consistently in the West? They couldn’t even beat a struggling BC Lions team last night falling 19-12.

And spare me the “time difference” angle. It’s a lousy three hours. If this were a legitmate excuse we’d see a pattern with a bunch of pro sports teams regarding this.


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Brett ‘You Know Who’ Act Wearing Thin

August 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

By Vince Mullins

When I saw Brett Favre’s latest cry for help, I just. couldn’t. take. any. more.

brett favre si cover 225x300 Brett You Know Who Act Wearing Thin

You don't bring me flowers anymore

Peter King of SI, who has enjoyed excellent access to Favre for most of his football career, printed this today from his interview last week when he decided to retire (bolded by me):

Brett Favre sacked in 2007, now sacked by public opinion.

“Favre was down. He just sounded beat, like he had nothing left to give, and a little depressed. “I’m sure I’ll regret it down the road,” he said.

I asked him about the toll this had taken on his reputation. “Two years ago you were ‘Sportsman of the Year’ and an American folk hero,” I said. “Now there are kids and adults who are sick of you, who don’t love you anymore. How does it feel?”

“Well, then they really didn’t love me in the first place,” he said. “Whatever. Nothing I can do about it. This whole situation, if I had it to do all over again, there’re a few things I’d do different. But wouldn’t we all? I don’t expect everyone to like what I’ve done the last two years. That’s life.”

I loved rooting for you when you played, you embodied the joy and passion that we all want to see from our pro athletes. It kinda brought my dad and I closer as we watched Packers games all the time and Packer gear made for a layup of a Christmas present. That seems so long ago now, almost as if you were still playing for Southern Miss and just beat FSU.

Brett, I understand you.  I will bet you surround yourself with a team of sycophants so far up your arse they know what you had for breakfast. No one tells you straight what you need to hear. Lemme give it a try…

You are a whore for attention -OR- you have intertwined your personal worth into your job performance so tightly that you cannot objectively tell when to walk away. Neither is particularly attractive at your age. Now Joe Montana and Michael Jordan think you hung around too long.

Go radio silent if you can and let this blow over. Let your fans’ minds marinate on a erratically fantastic career and not your erratic commitment skills.

OK, back to college football.


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