...and by bucket, I mean Stampeders' offence. Offensive line mainstay Jeff Pilon has retired.
Pilon isn't an unexpected departure; he was drafted waaaaaay back in 1999 (man, I'm getting old) and has been around long enough to play in three different pro leagues - NFL, XFL and CFL. He was openly mulling retirement after the 2008 season, but came back. Still, in the immediate aftermath of the playoff loss to Saskatchewan, Stampeders.com had a blog entry saying Pilon "still has the drive."
With Dmitri Tsoumpas also gone, not to mention Jeremaine Copeland and George Cortez, the Stamps' braintrust has a lot of plugging to do.
Thanks, Jeff. We'll miss you around here.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
2010: The year we make contact
The movie 2010 is about civilization at a crossroads. The mission to investigate the monolith discovered near Jupiter, depicted in 2001, was a failure - I mean, the people in the sequel hadn't actually seen the first movie, if you follow me. They didn't know about the Ballad of Hal and Dave; as far as they knew, things just went bad.
In 2010, a joint USA/USSR (dated, but still) team sets out to investigate the fate of the first investigation. This is a big deal, as tensions between the two superpowers are extraordinarily high - war seems likely. The irony of being on the verge of a huge and profound discovery about the nature of life and the universe, while moments away from blowing ourselves up, is humbling. It rings true even today, the "real" 2010, even if it's no longer the Russians who might push the button first. Or second.
What does that have to do with football? 2010 is a pivotal season for the CFL, which also finds itself at a crossroads. Just as mankind was on the verge of Something Big while simultaneously about to destroy itself, so is the CFL.
Let's look at CFL's Something Big first.
In many respects, the CFL hasn't been this healthy since the early 1970s. TV ratings are soaring, eclipsing those of the NFL in Canada - not that the Toronto media ever cares to report this. Aside from a genuine mess in Toronto, none of the teams seems on the verge of collapse - one team in trouble, by the CFL's standards, is no problem at all.
What's more, the league may be on the threshold of a construction boom. The CFL hasn't seen any new stadiums since 1989, when SkyDome opened. There are significant renovations underway in Vancouver, and new stadiums are in the works in Winnipeg and Regina - which may well get RETRACTABLE DOMES.
Let's pause to let that sink in. In 1989, this was beyond state-of-the-art. In 2010, it's potentially viable in Regina. That's not a knock on Saskatchewan, but a reflection of how far the CFL has come in the 21 years since.
In all, six of nine CFL cities (which includes Ottawa, more on this anon) are likely to build or significantly renovate their facilities in the next five years.
What's more, expansion is (finally) a realistic possibility. What's more, there's genuine and heated competition to be the CFL's 10th franchise - Ottawa being the obvious and official ninth. Quebec, Halifax, and Moncton all make good cases; if the CFL doesn't mind an odd number of teams, there's no reason not to look forward to teams in Quebec and one of the two Maritime cities.
That's the good news. That's the CFL's monolith, and the promise of Something Big. But like the film 2010, the CFL in 2010 may not get there, because it might just blow itself up first.
First, there's the mess in Toronto. I'm not as concerned as some about this - the Argos have proven far more durable than the city's media make it out to be (or would prefer), and the NFL's dabbling in the market has been a disappointment at best.
More dangerous is the prospect of a work stoppage. The CFL's agreement with the CFLPA is about to expire, and the two sides aren't exactly on the same page. I could explain the details, but what's the point? As always, it's about money, and how to divide the pie.
Some have commented that this isn't such a dire threat. The NHL, NBA, MLB and NFL have all survived work stoppages, and so have smaller-scale leagues like Arena Football. That's missing the point.
A large (if underappreciated) part of the CFL's renaissance has been NOT being like the others. Its players are accessible. Tickets are affordable. Every single game is on basic cable. These are not arrogant millionaires, but regular guys who happen to be phenomenally talented athletes. I dig that, and so do a lot of other Canadians. The rising attendance and ratings say so.
So no, a work stoppage wouldn't be business as usual for the CFL. It's a dire, existential threat, much like nuclear war.
Let's hope the two sides sort it out - even if they have to go to Jupiter.
In 2010, a joint USA/USSR (dated, but still) team sets out to investigate the fate of the first investigation. This is a big deal, as tensions between the two superpowers are extraordinarily high - war seems likely. The irony of being on the verge of a huge and profound discovery about the nature of life and the universe, while moments away from blowing ourselves up, is humbling. It rings true even today, the "real" 2010, even if it's no longer the Russians who might push the button first. Or second.
What does that have to do with football? 2010 is a pivotal season for the CFL, which also finds itself at a crossroads. Just as mankind was on the verge of Something Big while simultaneously about to destroy itself, so is the CFL.
Let's look at CFL's Something Big first.
In many respects, the CFL hasn't been this healthy since the early 1970s. TV ratings are soaring, eclipsing those of the NFL in Canada - not that the Toronto media ever cares to report this. Aside from a genuine mess in Toronto, none of the teams seems on the verge of collapse - one team in trouble, by the CFL's standards, is no problem at all.
What's more, the league may be on the threshold of a construction boom. The CFL hasn't seen any new stadiums since 1989, when SkyDome opened. There are significant renovations underway in Vancouver, and new stadiums are in the works in Winnipeg and Regina - which may well get RETRACTABLE DOMES.
Let's pause to let that sink in. In 1989, this was beyond state-of-the-art. In 2010, it's potentially viable in Regina. That's not a knock on Saskatchewan, but a reflection of how far the CFL has come in the 21 years since.
In all, six of nine CFL cities (which includes Ottawa, more on this anon) are likely to build or significantly renovate their facilities in the next five years.
What's more, expansion is (finally) a realistic possibility. What's more, there's genuine and heated competition to be the CFL's 10th franchise - Ottawa being the obvious and official ninth. Quebec, Halifax, and Moncton all make good cases; if the CFL doesn't mind an odd number of teams, there's no reason not to look forward to teams in Quebec and one of the two Maritime cities.
That's the good news. That's the CFL's monolith, and the promise of Something Big. But like the film 2010, the CFL in 2010 may not get there, because it might just blow itself up first.
First, there's the mess in Toronto. I'm not as concerned as some about this - the Argos have proven far more durable than the city's media make it out to be (or would prefer), and the NFL's dabbling in the market has been a disappointment at best.
More dangerous is the prospect of a work stoppage. The CFL's agreement with the CFLPA is about to expire, and the two sides aren't exactly on the same page. I could explain the details, but what's the point? As always, it's about money, and how to divide the pie.
Some have commented that this isn't such a dire threat. The NHL, NBA, MLB and NFL have all survived work stoppages, and so have smaller-scale leagues like Arena Football. That's missing the point.
A large (if underappreciated) part of the CFL's renaissance has been NOT being like the others. Its players are accessible. Tickets are affordable. Every single game is on basic cable. These are not arrogant millionaires, but regular guys who happen to be phenomenally talented athletes. I dig that, and so do a lot of other Canadians. The rising attendance and ratings say so.
So no, a work stoppage wouldn't be business as usual for the CFL. It's a dire, existential threat, much like nuclear war.
Let's hope the two sides sort it out - even if they have to go to Jupiter.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
New Rules Analysis
Never let it be said the CFL is staid. With each new year comes a few more tweaks to the league rulebook, and 2010 is no different.
The rule getting all the attention is the revised overtime format - teams will be required to attempt two-point conversions after touchdowns in OT. Everything else remains the same: each team gets a possession at the 35-yard line. If that doesn't solve anything, they switch ends and try again - and after that, it's a tie.
Analysis: I'm not necessarily opposed to this, but to be honest, didn't see the need. It's not hard to score points in the CFL, so ties are rare. If two teams play dead even for 60 minutes plus two possessions each, a tie is a perfectly appropriate result, in my humble opinion. That said, this should make already-rare overtimes even more exciting, now that the dullest play in football - the single convert - is eliminated.
Much less attention is being paid to the other tweaks, which is a shame. I'm cutting and pasting the explanation from the TSN story, but the analyses are my own.
-- A team that gives up a field goal (during regulation time) will have the option of scrimmaging from its 35-yard line instead of receiving a kickoff.
Analysis: I like this. This will create additional incentive to gamble on third downs and play for touchdowns. Is it a huge change? Hardly. But minor tweaks are almost always superior to huge changes, especially in a sport with so much history.
-- When a ball is punted, hits the ground and hits a player from the covering team, the ensuing penalty will be five rather than 15 yards.
Analysis: A correction of what was an unfair penalty. Once the ball hits the ground, it's near-impossible to guess how and where it will bounce. 15 yards for a bad bounce was far too great a swing for a random bounce.
-- There will be no penalty for pass interference if a forward pass is deemed uncatchable.
Analysis: In my humble opinion, this is the most significant of all the changes. Pass interference penalties are easily the most frustrating single aspect of the CFL. Despite what the league says, there are simply no clear or (crucially) consistent parameters as to what constitutes pass interference. I'm not talking about obvious ones, where the receiver is literally hauled down several seconds before the ball arrives - those are simple common sense. Far too often, entire games swing in the balance of what comes down to a split-second judgement call by an official who might be 30 yards away from the play.
To be clear: that's not the officials' fault. Despite media grousing, CFL officials actually do a very good job, under the circumstances. Those circumstances, of course, involve observing and judging the action of 24 players moving at top speed on a huge playing surface. And if they make a mistake, TV is right there to show the audience. Things that seem simultaneous from a distance in real time can (and often do) look very different in slow motion, zoomed in.
What does that have to do with this change? It will eliminate one or two PI calls per game, for starters. That's a good thing. It also discourages quarterbacks from taking "cheap shots," where they deliberately underthrow or overthrow a ball - with no risk of interception - and the receiver barrels into the DB, possibly resulting in a call. That call, if it comes, can literally move the ball the length of the field.
So yeah, I'm in favour. :-)
The rule getting all the attention is the revised overtime format - teams will be required to attempt two-point conversions after touchdowns in OT. Everything else remains the same: each team gets a possession at the 35-yard line. If that doesn't solve anything, they switch ends and try again - and after that, it's a tie.
Analysis: I'm not necessarily opposed to this, but to be honest, didn't see the need. It's not hard to score points in the CFL, so ties are rare. If two teams play dead even for 60 minutes plus two possessions each, a tie is a perfectly appropriate result, in my humble opinion. That said, this should make already-rare overtimes even more exciting, now that the dullest play in football - the single convert - is eliminated.
Much less attention is being paid to the other tweaks, which is a shame. I'm cutting and pasting the explanation from the TSN story, but the analyses are my own.
-- A team that gives up a field goal (during regulation time) will have the option of scrimmaging from its 35-yard line instead of receiving a kickoff.
Analysis: I like this. This will create additional incentive to gamble on third downs and play for touchdowns. Is it a huge change? Hardly. But minor tweaks are almost always superior to huge changes, especially in a sport with so much history.
-- When a ball is punted, hits the ground and hits a player from the covering team, the ensuing penalty will be five rather than 15 yards.
Analysis: A correction of what was an unfair penalty. Once the ball hits the ground, it's near-impossible to guess how and where it will bounce. 15 yards for a bad bounce was far too great a swing for a random bounce.
-- There will be no penalty for pass interference if a forward pass is deemed uncatchable.
Analysis: In my humble opinion, this is the most significant of all the changes. Pass interference penalties are easily the most frustrating single aspect of the CFL. Despite what the league says, there are simply no clear or (crucially) consistent parameters as to what constitutes pass interference. I'm not talking about obvious ones, where the receiver is literally hauled down several seconds before the ball arrives - those are simple common sense. Far too often, entire games swing in the balance of what comes down to a split-second judgement call by an official who might be 30 yards away from the play.
To be clear: that's not the officials' fault. Despite media grousing, CFL officials actually do a very good job, under the circumstances. Those circumstances, of course, involve observing and judging the action of 24 players moving at top speed on a huge playing surface. And if they make a mistake, TV is right there to show the audience. Things that seem simultaneous from a distance in real time can (and often do) look very different in slow motion, zoomed in.
What does that have to do with this change? It will eliminate one or two PI calls per game, for starters. That's a good thing. It also discourages quarterbacks from taking "cheap shots," where they deliberately underthrow or overthrow a ball - with no risk of interception - and the receiver barrels into the DB, possibly resulting in a call. That call, if it comes, can literally move the ball the length of the field.
So yeah, I'm in favour. :-)
Monday, April 12, 2010
Football's best name comes to Winnipeg
Buck Pierce is a Blue Bomber.
Fourth - and most unfortunately - the CFL has its most injury-prone player front and centre. Last week (or so) Wally Buono essentially wrote Pierce off as a professional athlete. Not as a man - he's hardly Ryan Leaf - but for the simple reason he can't stay healthy. If you've been paying attention, you know where this is going:
Dave Dickenson, like Pierce, was a very talented quarterback (more so, even) who simply took too many big hits. The problem with concussions, of course, is each one make the one after that much liklier.
Buono, like many, felt Pierce's next one was just too likely. Here's hoping he's wrong.
First, this means one of the best names in all professional sports remains in the CFL firmament. My wife, who adores such things, will be ecstatic.
Second, Winnipeg finally has a quarterback with a respectable CFL resume. He's got a record of 21-12-1 as a starter, which if carried through to Winnipeg means challenging Montreal for East Division supremacy. Nothing against the marvellous Als organization, but the CFL needs more parity in the (l)east. Badly. Getting capable players like Pierce into Toronto, Winnipeg and Hamilton is key.
Third, this makes five QBs on Winnipeg's roster: Pierce, Steven Jyles, Stefan LeFors, Ricky Santos, and Adam DiMichele. You have to think LeFors will be the odd man out. Jyles is the obvious backup (and spot starter), with Santos and DiMichele left to compete for the clipboard/developmental spot.
Fourth - and most unfortunately - the CFL has its most injury-prone player front and centre. Last week (or so) Wally Buono essentially wrote Pierce off as a professional athlete. Not as a man - he's hardly Ryan Leaf - but for the simple reason he can't stay healthy. If you've been paying attention, you know where this is going:
Buono, like many, felt Pierce's next one was just too likely. Here's hoping he's wrong.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
