CFL Kick-off 2007 !

[Catmando]

Well,

Another Canadian Football League season kicks off tonight!

Marye - Are you an Argos fan?

Anyhow, my team, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers start their season off in Montreal to face the mighty Alouettes.

2006 Grey Cup is also in Winnipeg in November!

FYI - For anyone who does not know what the CFL is (I'm shocked if you don't) , it's the Canadian equivalent of NFL football, with some differences in the rules and size of field.

Game on!

[Marye]

ARRRGOOOOOSSS! HAHAHA Cat! I just shrieked when I saw CFL as a topic. I thought, can't be Canadian Football League, who in the U.S. would know about this?

Ricky Williams, your Spergon Wynn (now ours) AND the Argos 27-17 win over the Oskees is good news. I see the Bombers were beaten by the Alouettes by the same score. Wish I could get to games here but my family are not football fans.... just me. I settle for watching the Grey Cup (this year in Winnipeg you say) on TV, wearing my Argo shirt.

Friday the 23rd... 8 p.m. TSN... Bombers against the Argos.

[Catmando]

Marye,

Glad to hear that you're a fan (albeit an Argos fan )

Yes, the Bombers had control of the game and outplayed the Als for the first 3 quarters, then completely self-destructed in the 4th and most important quarter! Overall though, I think the Big Blue have some promise and will be better than last year.

Unfortunately I can't go the game on the 23rd vs. Argos here in The Peg. My girlfriend's graduation party is that night. I'll try to catch as much as I can on the radio or TV.

I have a feeling you and I will be the only ones posting on this post.

Ray

[Marye]

Probably so, Ray... I am thinking this just might end up being the Canadian thread.....

[Catmando]

Marye,

I could change the title of the thread to "The Canadian Thread", however that might open up the door to some Canuck "bashing".

I hope that Ottawa can come back to the CFL next year, and it would also be nice to see a team from Halifax or Quebec City. 10 teams would be ideal !

[Marye]

I am hoping to get home in time to watch some of the deciding game between the Oilers and the 'Canes. I work too much sometimes.

By the way, I know a few Winnipeggers here in Toronto and it seems to me they all know each other. Are you friends with Burton too? j/k my friends are old...

[Catmando]

I'm also hoping to catch some of the 'Canes vs. Oilers game. We're still waiting for our Jets to come back!

Who knows? Maybe I do know your friends! Although I don't know a Burton (unless it's Burton Cummings ).

[Marye]

It is the Burton I meant.....

[BigJon@Work]

Football in Summer!? How gauche!

You don't even have to change the title to get Canuck bashing.

[GreatCarouser]

I'll resist the temptation to 'bash' what most US fans see as an easy target. Warren Moon, who should be going into Canton this year was a pretty fair CFL graduate. I have a question for you cognoscenti, it's being reported down here that the CFL commisioner is making a lot of noises about closing the 'loophole' that allows suspended NFL players to play out their suspensions in the CFL. What do you folks think of the idea and what do you think the chances of something so economically 'dangerous' has of passing the owners?

Ok..so it was two questions...sheesh.....

[Catmando]

I'll resist the temptation to 'bash' what most US fans see as an easy target. Warren Moon, who should be going into Canton this year was a pretty fair CFL graduate. I have a question for you cognoscenti, it's being reported down here that the CFL commisioner is making a lot of noises about closing the 'loophole' that allows suspended NFL players to play out their suspensions in the CFL. What do you folks think of the idea and what do you think the chances of something so economically 'dangerous' has of passing the owners?

Ok..so it was two questions...sheesh.....

I disagree with CFL teams using that "loophole" to sign suspended NFL players that are still under contract with NFL teams (ie. Ricky Williams signing with the Argos, Onterrio "The Whizzinator" Smith with the Bombers). It puts a black mark on the CFL, the suspended players, and the NFL. And, it certainly makes the CFL look bush league, and that's unfortunate.

The CFL is a fantastic, very high entertaining brand of football, and it has been for years. The game, the rules, wide field, the traditional rivalries, East vs. West, etc. It's a tremendous tradition for many years in Canada (longer than the NFL). The CFL, however, drops the ball time and time again, making themselves look bad. The league can at times be an embarrassment in the way it goes about things, and signing suspended NFL players under contract with NFL teams is a prime example.

I am optimistic that they will close this loophole in the future, and that all CFL owners will agree to it. It's high time they remedy this situation. And it's also high time that the CFL adopt a formal drug testing policy, similar to the NFL. Resolving these issues will help keep the CFL/NFL relationship (which is a great thing for both leagues) strong and healthy for many years to come.

[Catmando]

Also wanted to add a little tidbit about both the CFL and NFL.

I enjoy watching both! Period. End of story. Both provide highly entertaining products on the field. I feel very blessed to have professional football here in Winnipeg, and I'm sure Marye is also in Toronto (just wish there were more ardent CFL fans in TO who cared like you Marye).

Although I admit the NFL has the most talented, fastest and biggest athletes of the two leagues, and is undoubtedly the "elite" league of football, the actual CFL game is, on average, a more exciting game for the fans to watch. (IMHO ). One reason being is with 3 downs, as opposed to 4, the CFL forces you to pass the ball alot more.

Another reason being is you can be down by 2 touchdowns with 2 minutes left in the CFL, and still have a chance to come back and win the game. While in the NFL, you'd be toast.

Good luck to the Argos this season Marye, and I hope the Bombers and Toronto meet in the Eastern final this season.

[Serenity]

Cleanup the CFL, send those tainted players to another time zone. What do you think about expanding football to Europe. I think it will take years for that sport to grow. Right now it's almost as popular as the Lumberjack Olympics or Candlepin Bowling. (or Curling?)

[Catmando]

What do you think about expanding football to Europe. I think it will take years for that sport to grow. Right now it's almost as popular as the Lumberjack Olympics or Candlepin Bowling. (or Curling?)

Ooh, careful. Don't be dissin' curling. I play curling 2x a week in the winter, and it's a great "sport".

I'm not sure about the NFL Europe? It's also a "farm league" for the NFL.

If the XFL was still around, all the suspended NFL players could head out there?

[Marye]

OI Serenity!!! Women love log drivers. Isn't that an event?

"If you ask any girl from the parish around
What amuses her most from her head to her toes
She'll say, "I'm nor sure that it's business of yours
"But I do love to waltz with my log driver"

CHORUS
For he goes burling down, down the white water
That's where a log driver learns to step lightly
Burling down, down the white water
A log driver's waltz pleases girls completely

When the drive's nearly over she loves to go down
And watch all the lads as they work on the river
She knows that come evening they'll be in the town
And she does love to waltz with her log driver

Now to please both her parents she had to give way
And dance with the doctors and merchants and lawyers
Their manners were fine but their feet made of clay
There's none with the style of her log driver"

Canadian folk song...

[Catmando]

OI Serenity!!! Women love log drivers. Isn't that an event?

"If you ask any girl from the parish around
What amuses her most from her head to her toes
She'll say, "I'm nor sure that it's business of yours
"But I do love to waltz with my log driver"

CHORUS
For he goes burling down, down the white water
That's where a log driver learns to step lightly
Burling down, down the white water
A log driver's waltz pleases girls completely

When the drive's nearly over she loves to go down
And watch all the lads as they work on the river
She knows that come evening they'll be in the town
And she does love to waltz with her log driver

Now to please both her parents she had to give way
And dance with the doctors and merchants and lawyers
Their manners were fine but their feet made of clay
There's none with the style of her log driver"

Canadian folk song...

Is that from Don Messner w/ Marge Osborne?

[Catmando]

Friday the 23rd... 8 p.m. TSN... Bombers against the Argos.

Well Marye, I guess I have bragging rights this week.

It was an impressive showing by the Bomber D! A defensive battle, very NFL like score 16-9. Judging the results over the first 2 weeks, it looks like there is alot of parity in the CFL this year!

[Catmando]

The matchup is now set for the 2006 Grey Cup, right here in Winnipeg! The CFL Grey Cup is the biggest sporting event in Canada. It's our "Super Bowl".

BC Lions versus Montreal Alouettes on Sunday Nov. 19th.

Too bad the Blue Bombers didn't make it. And Mary, I was cheering for the Argos yesterday, I was hoping they would have beaten Montreal.

On the bright side, the Lions destroyed the Roughriders!!!

Get your buffalo wings, pizza, jalapeno poppers and whatever other snack and enjoy the game!

[Angie Parkes]

I was wondering whether to ask Cat if he was all set for Grey Cup week, but I thought, "This is a US web site. No one except for Cat and Mary will have the slightest clue what I'm talking about."

Looks like a perfect fall day for the game, too. Long term forecast is a high of +3 for Sunday! (That's 37F for any States-side readers.)

We're not a sporting family, but for the last 12 years, since my in-laws moved to Calgary, we've invited them over, and we all watch the game. Eating by the TV is taboo in our house but the Grey Cup game is one of the few exceptions to the rule. I always make a pot of chili and we munch and watch. Sometime during the 2nd quarter the kids, my MIL, and I find something else to do, but Rob and his dad watch the game together.

Cat and Mary, do you have any Grey Cup weekend traditions? Cat, do you have tickets? Kinda too bad the Riders rode roughshod all over the Stamps. I guess we'll be cheering for BC.

[Catmando]

Cat and Mary, do you have any Grey Cup weekend traditions? Cat, do you have tickets? Kinda too bad the Riders rode roughshod all over the Stamps. I guess we'll be cheering for BC.

Angie,

No, I don't have tickets. I would only be interested in attending the game live if the Bombers were in the game.

I don't have any Grey Cup weekend traditions. Sometimes I'll go to my sister and brother-in-law's house to watch the game. Pig out on finger foods!

Making chili for the Grey Cup seems to be a tradition for a lot of people! For my taste, the spicier, the better!