"I hurt my poor little finger!"

First, terrible news that Anthony Calvillo has decided to take the rest of the year off to care for his wife, who was just diagnosed with lymphoma. It's a courageous and respectable decision, and the Alouettes are to be commended for allowing him to take a leave of absence.

Practically, it means that Jason Maas will start as quarterback when the Als take the field at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Saturday.

As for Friday nights games, the B.C. Lions surprised nobody by beating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Lions locked first place in the West Division, and Dave Dickenson even took a few snaps, threw a touchdown, the usual.

Even better was that Casey Printers left the game in the first half because HE HURT HIS FINGER.

I swear I could hear him wailing as he walked to the sidelines to have his hangnail looked at. "WAAAAAAH! My finger! WAAAAAAH!"

Of course, as soon as he was off the field, the Ticats scored a touchdown. How to take it to those B.C. Lions who done you wrong, Casey.

Then, with Saskatchewan playing a bunch of second stringers, the Edmonton Eskimos did their best to win a game and keep their slim playoff hopes alive. They had the lead - a good lead - heading in to the fourth quarter, but just didn't have enough to wrap it up. So the Eskies are out for the season.

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!

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