A couple of doozies

I was glad that the Patriots were on a bye this weekend, because it meant that I could virtually ignore the NFL in favour of the free-for-all CFL divisional semifinal games. (Although I did watch some of the Packers against the Vikings, and damn did that game surprise me. And I have to say that I called the Colts losing to the Chargers.)

Both the East and West semifinals were fantastic, wide-open games.

It was near freezing and windy in both Winnipeg and Regina today. Perfect football-playing weather.

In Winnipeg, the Blue Bombers started the game well - scoring a touchdown on their first possession - but the Alouettes scrabbled back and actually controlled most of the rest of the game. The trip to Toronto to play the Argonauts next week in the East final came down to a clutch field goal kick made by Bomber kicker Westwood with only four seconds left in the game.

And that play was set up by the Bomber defense's second line-of-scrimmage stand that forced the Als to turn the ball over on downs. An earlier wall of Bombers at the goal line prevented the Als from scoring a touchdown. The boys in blue owe their win today to their defensive linebackers.

Final score: Blue Bombers 24, Alouettes 22.

In the West semifinal, the Saskatchewan Roughriders started strong and stayed in control for the entire first half. The Green men scored an early touchdown, faked a field goal to keep another drive alive, and left the Calgary Stampeders gasping. The only spark the Stamps showed in the first half was an exhilarating defensive play near the end of the half. A pass from Kerry Joseph to Andy Fantuz at the Stampeder's end zone line bounced off the receiver's shoulder and into the hands of Stamps D-back Dwaine Carpenter, who scampered three quarters of the way down the field and, as he was about to be tackled, lateraled the ball back to Trey Young, who clambered in for the TD.

I thought that the Stampeders would have put in a better effort, but I suspect they needed an extra game or two with Burris back in the lineup to have been truly ready for today's game. Too many mental errors by the Stamps, too, who seemed a bit arrogant about it all. Not good when you're headed into Regina - and having to face those fans - for a playoff game.

I also wasn't sure that the Roughriders would play as well as they did. While they started the year gangbusters, they were a bit off in the second half of the year, and seemed like they were only able to win games against teams who were starting their backup quarterbacks.

Final score: Roughriders 26, Stampeders 24.

So next Sunday it'll be the Bombers in Toronto to play the Argonauts and the Roughriders in Vancouver to play the B.C. Lions.

That means by Friday, the streets of Vancouver will be flooded with a bunch of drunk prairie folk. Watch out, Vangroovyites.

LUNCH: Hot dogs and potato chips. Hey, I was watchin', like, eight football games.

Football round-up

Well, Tom Brady clearly won the battle of the quarterbacks when the Patriots crushed the Cowboys on Sunday. Too bad, Tony Romo.

Tom, don't give up your day job, though, cause an actor you are not, and you proved that in the funny bit about why you are always listed as "probable" on the NFL injury report because of that lingering shoulder injury.

Henry Burris showed why the Stamps need him so bad, and the Eskimos were, for all intents and purposes, officially eliminated from the CFL playoff picture. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Ha!

Finally, over at Twelve Men on the Field, a look at how B.C. Lions president Bob Ackles is trying to save the CFL.


LUNCH: Really average mall Thai food, ginger beef and orange chicken. Mmmm, sweet

Thanksgiving Classic football

All CFL today, with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Montreal to play the Alouettes and the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Calgary to play the Stampeders.

Montreal walked all over the Ticats. Cavillo never missed hitting his receivers, who walked through the Ticat defense like they were standing still.

I haven't been quiet about what I think about Casey Printers, and while my attitude hasn't changed, it has softened. I saw Printers laser the football and watched him scramble and run, so I understand that he has some measure of talent. More important, though, he has been humbled by his experience so far. His new-found humility gets him a few points in my book.

Just a few. I still hate the guy.

But the Alouettes, who exploded in the first half and looked to blow out the Ticats, fizzled in the second. Even so, the Ticats only ended up with one touchdown. The rest of their 19 points came from field goals. Printers ended his day 15 for 39, with two interceptions.
In Calgary, the Stampeders are clearly missing Henry Burris, as they dropped their third in a row.

Akili Smith started the game for the Stamps, and couldn't generate any offense at all. Ben Sankey came in in the third quarter and at least got some points on the board, including a great last-minute drive (which was pointless because the Riders were too far ahead).

Burris claims that he'll be ready to return for next week's game against the Blue Bombers, but that's an awfully quick return from a dislocated shoulder. Tough call for a coach to make, but I'd give him another week, unless my playoff chances were in jeopardy.

Come to think of it, they might be.


LUNCH: Well, yesterday was turkey day at my house, so today was - wait for it - turkey sandwiches!

CFL, NFL, a little golf

On Friday night, the Toronto Argonauts took another step toward securing a playoff berth, and the Eskimos came another step closer to elimination.

Bad news for the Eskimos, too, as Ricky Ray left the game with a separated shoulder. Now I may hate Ricky Ray, but I don't wish injuries on anyone. Except maybe Rex Grossman.

More on him later.

What does it mean that quarterbacks in the CFL are dropping like flies? Burris? Out. Ray? Out. Printers? Out.

Not to mention the Lions, but they always seem to have depth in the quarterback position, and Jarious Jackson is playing like a starter.

Note to Hamilton: Need a quarterback? Talk to Wally Buono.

The Lions crushed the Stamps on Saturday, solidifying their hold on the West. The Riders helped the Bombers and the Argos by taking a game from the Als. Next week's Thanksgiving games will likely set the playoff picture.

In the NFL today, I'll be watching the Bears against the Lions, more to see if Brian Griese can put the final nail in the coffin of Rex Grossman. Today, everyone is a Bears fan.

And I can't be the only one excited about what Favre is doing in Green Bay. After last year I thought he should just retire, but he seemed to know that another season would give him a chance to leave on a high note. This season, everyone is a Packers fan.

Finally, as I settle in for a day of watching football and golf (so glad that the weather stinks so bad today), I can only say this: Go, Mike, go!


LUNCH: probably pizza

What a game!

Lots happened in Hamilton last night, where the Calgary Stampeders took on the Tiger-Cats.

The game starts with the Stampeders hitting Casey Printers and forcing a fumble. The Stamps convert the turnover into a touchdown, and on the kickoff Sandro DeAngelis attempts an onside kick.

And it works!

And Casey Printers, who thinks he's so great, is absolutely sucking. Even with Jesse Lumsden - who is a great running back, by the way - Printers was 9 for 16 and 73 yards when he left the game because of a "hamstring injury."

Isn't that what some players say they've got when really they just want out of a game in which they are sucking?

The Ticats decide to throw Richie Williams to the Stamps, instead of Timmy Chang.

That's when things started to go wrong for the Stamps.

Williams actually gets the Ticats rolling. And Joffrey Reynolds fumbles twice. And suddenly the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are actually in the lead.

The, as Burris leads the Stamps on a late drive to win back the game, he gets hammered, and leaves the game with a shoulder injury.

Watching the replay, it looked like it might be separated. We'll see. The point is that his shoulder injury actually happened. Unlike some vague, unconfirmable muscle strain suffered by some other quarterback earlier in the game.

So the Stamps drop the win, the Ticats pick up some pride, and Printers? This is what Printers has to say: "I'm happy for these guy. 'Boy, I was out there cheering and I'm kind of hoarse right now. But this is a great team win.''

A team win, for sure. But a team that doesn't include Casey Printers. What a knob.

Move over, Ricky Ray. Make some space in the "I hate you" box for your new best friend, Casey Printers.

Meanwhile, in Montreal, Jason Maas might get to start against his old team, the Edmonton Eskimos, who are in town for a game today. Play nice, boys.


BREAKFAST: oatmeal

Stamps are rolling, Ticats are sucking

Burris and the Stamps just may muster together a season after all. Over at Twelve Men on the Field, a great rundown of the crushing defeat they laid on the lapsing Roughriders.

But the best story in the CFL this weekend is how badly the Hamilton Tiger-Cats stank in their game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. They barely managed to find 4 points. Tom Canada, Bombers defensive end, personally sacked Printers four times.

Ha, ha ha! How's that, Printers? What do you think of your sleazy agent now?

Given his arrogance in the press conferenes last week, when he puffed up his chest about coming in to "lead" the Ticats, I'm pleased as punch that Printers' pride was bruised.

You can't just step back into the CFL and expect that because you spent a few months in the NFL, people are going to sit back and revel in your glory. Remember, you were ignored while in Kansas City, Printers. Maybe now we know why.

Still hoping the Leos can heal themselves up before we get too far into the second half of the season. Even though they stomped all over the Argos this weekend, as it stands now, the Stamps look to be chasing first place in the West.


LUNCH: hot dogs

Separated at birth?

Just saw the TSN "This is my Sportscentre" promo with Henry Burris, from the Calgary Stampeders.

Is it me, or does he look and sound suspiciously like Tiger Woods? What's up with that?

I have to say that I'm very impressed with how Burris led the Stamps back from halftime deficits, to clobber the Eskimos twice last week. Twice.

I still don't think the Stampeders have enough to make it out of the West, but at least Burris has his game going.

Eskimos' season over

With a 3-6-1 record on the season, the Eskimos lay back and watched the nail be driven into the coffin of their 2007 season.

For the second time in under a week, the Eskimos went into half-time leading, and managed to come out in the second-half as dry as toast. Dry toast.

And they allowed their arch-rivals, the Stamps (who aren't so great themselves again this year with a 5-4-1), to heave the hammer.

Those Edmonton boys must be hanging their heads this morning. I bet Ricky Ray is in his underoos, watching cartoons while eating Frosted Flakes, and blubbering like a baby.

Have I mentioned how much I hate Ricky Ray?

The big games this weekend, though, are B.C. at Montreal and Saskatchewan at Winnipeg. Those games will start getting the divisions sorted out as we head into the second half of the season.


BREAKFAST: coffee, coffee, and toast. then some more coffee.

While watching the Labour Day Classic, western edition

I just realized why I hate Ricky Ray.

It's because his name is that of an obscure cartoon character from a 1930s animated soft-core porn experiment, not that of a head quarterback, CFL or otherwise.

Ricky Ray. Pfft.

LUNCH: hotdogs, Cheetos Puffs, and a beer