5 Biggest Stories of 2018 in the CFL

Are you an exhausted reindeer, in the throws of turkey hangover and in deep CFL football withdrawal?  This post might just save you.  In today's Football Friday 5 I'm discussing the top 5 stories of the year.  Pour yourself a coffee or rum and eggnog and settle in to find out what the stories of 2018 were according to my discussions with CFL fans around social media and ABC Rider Fans.

5. The CFL expands to Halifax.  When the CFL was waiting to select it's next Commissioner for the league this was one of the topics I thought was relevant and wrote about it in a 2017 blog titled The Commish.  The CFL expanded to 9 teams in 2014 and I always thought that to make the league truly Canadian and unite all fans across this great nation there needed to be a 10th team located in the maritime provinces.  A 10th team would even out the schedule...no more having to play the Blue Bombers three times in a season...and there could be great Labour Day match ups without some teams having to sit out on bye weeks.  While it's true that the name, the Atlantic Schooners has been chosen and registered there is still much discussion and planning to be done with the biggest question mark being where will they play.  I'm sure this will continue to be a big story in the upcoming season.

4.  From Jon Gott guzzling beer to the Blue Bombers climbing their stair cases the CFL Celebrations were interesting in 2018.  At the start of the season things like sword slashes, ball spins or using props were penalized but mid season that rule was changed and they threw the door wide open to everything and anything as long as the players took responsibility.  Read the rule change HERE.  Now the problem is that without rules (and people love rules) things can run amuck.  When Jon Gott epically took a beer from his girlfriend in the stands and guzzled it on live TSN TV well it wasn't long before the CFL was saying "whoops, my bad" and amended the celebration rules.  If only they acted so quickly when it came to player safety.....

3. TSN's love affair with Johnny Manziel was something else.  First it was will he or won't he arrive in the league.  Then it was about him being signed in Hamilton and how he had to sit out while Masoli rose to fame.  When Montreal traded for Johnny Football no one could hardly wait for him to make his starting debut.  I'll admit that I did watch but for some reason I only remember the seagulls and Rod Black's reaction a la the movie The Birds instead of Manziel's actual performance.  I do recall the Monday after the Glenn Suitor discussing on Green Zone how many times the name Manziel was called on the broadcast and while he didn't seem to think it was that much...it was completely sickening to the rest of the fans watching or flipping channels at home.  Hopefully in 2019 the media circus will be over and John will be able to develop into the quarterback we are waiting to see.

2.  As I eluded to in number 4 injuries to CFL QB's was a story from the get go whether we knew it in June or not.  Zach Collaros was suffering from a concussion from a preseason game, Matt Nicholls was out and Streveler made a remarkable start and then there was the devastating neck injury to Ricky Ray who had contemplated retirement in the off season.  It was horrible to watch him lie prone for what seemed like forever before responders finally removed him from the field.  The talk about player safety and quarterback safety was only a murmur at that point but when the hit from Odell Willis to Zach Collaros happened and how that whole debacle was handled or lack there off fans were irate.  Where was the discipline?  Fines?  Suspensions?  Why was the Commish able to change a celebration rule but didn't have the gumption to look at the safety of the players who make this league what it is?  That conversation continued until Jackson Jeffcoat took out Brandon Bridge in a meaningless play in the West Semi Final and in a game that the Bombers seemed to care most about winning because they certainly didn't play with same determination against the Calgary Stampeders a week later. Let's hope that this is a huge discussion while the CBA is being negotiated in 2019. 

1.  Number One could easily be Darian Durant scampering off with $70k, Duron Carter being released, Rob Bagg's return, Messam's or Hughes charges or even how the Eskimos missed the playoffs while hosting the Grey Cup, but, I felt the number one story, even though not a football story was indeed and without question the Humboldt Broncos.  I live about an hour from Humboldt and pass through there a few times a year.  I didn't know any of the players.  I'm not even a hockey fan.  When the bus crash happened I was in New York on Easter vacation.  I was back in my hotel room after being out all day and had tuned in to CKRM's Sportscage and had tweeted in that I was listening.  Rod and Luc proceeded to roast me for listening when I was in such an amazing city.  While I was listening and scrolling through my Twitter feed I saw a post about the bus crash and then that the hockey game was cancelled.  It was one of those 'where were you' moments that I will never forget.  Everyone was in mourning in Saskatchewan and around the world.  The Roughriders held a special fan day and some of the players dedicated their play to the hockey team.  A Roughriders home game was held in the Broncos honour and fans were given green and yellow ribbons to wear while the Riders donned Humboldt Strong on their helmets for the season.  We may all enjoy different sports and even some of the same sports but regardless we are a community and in times like this we all come together and forget all other differences for the betterment of each other.  Be kind.  Love one another.  I don't know of a better theme for us all to follow now and into 2019.  

10 Thought Tuesday ~ 52 Days ~

It's only 52 days until the 2013 football season kicks off!  Hurray!

I've neglected my football blog something terrible.  I always have good intentions.  I was going to post high light video's and football movie reviews, but none of that happened while we all endured the longest winter ever.  So, I've decided to do a football 10 thoughts, which is something I do on my regular blog every week.

1.  Yesterday was the CFL draft.  I don't actually know how the Riders made out.  I know we picked up some O-lineman and D-lineman and the names look slightly familiar from the Huskies and Rams but that's about all I know. 

2.  Last week, Brandon West was released.  I always liked him.  I never got to meet him although I tried at last years Green & White day.  I don't think there was a place left for him when Kory Sheets had such an amazing year and let's face it....he wow'd us.

3.  It was announced that Saskatoon will be Riderville North.  This is pretty exciting and I can't wait to hear what it all involves.  I hope players...current and past come visit the Rider Store.  No one has been here in ages.

4.  June 3rd will mark the start of training camp in Saskatoon.  I'm hoping to attend a few days.  I'll be the one slathered in sunscreen and doped up on allergy meds.  Let me tell you, sun allergies suck.

5.  A month ago I washed my jersey in eager anticipation of the season to come.  I continue to wish that the Rider Store could find a vender who provided more realistic sizing for the voluptously sized. 

6.  If you are one of those Pinterest People you can find me there.  I have a whole board about the Saskatchewan Roughriders.  LINK

7.  This month on my Kidsport calendar Weston Dressler is featured.  The last two months were sad as they were Odell Willis and Shomari Williams who were both traded in this off season.

8.  We installed new windows over Easter and had to remove the 100 Year Rider flag from the window.  It won't be going back up because we got proper blinds.  I'm not sure what to do with it now.  It's a little faded from being in the window and turned a funky shade.

9.  Speaking of not knowing what to do with stuff....I have a bag containing empty boxes of Fantuz Flakes.  I also have a box of Dario's and a box of Getzlaf triple berry.  What do I do with these things?  I can't just have them sitting out in my home....it's not set up for that.  I wish I could have them displayed in a cool way but I don't know what it is yet.  Idea's are welcome.

10.  In the off season I have resorted to watching Nascar with my husband.  I'm not into hockey or baseball even though I own a Yankee's hat.  Nascar races last as long as a football game and I'm fearing that I'm actually getting into the sport.  Please send help.  *turns left*

5 Things Football Friday

1.  What is the big deal about the cold?  This is Saskatchewan and when it gets towards the end of October and into November we get this thing called winter here.  I understand many players come from places where it doesn't get cold or it doesn't snow, but they are here now and this is what it's like and this is how it's done.  Get over it!  And for what it's worth, I think the media is making a much bigger deal out of it than the players care.

2.  That whole Shea Emry "fine" is a travesty.  If I walked up to someone on the street and punched them in the groin I'd be charged with assault.

3.  I'm glad to see Jaimie Boreham back but I was silently hoping for the return of Eddie Johnson.  I loved Eddie Johnson and I met him once.  He was great to fans.  I also loved the mustache.  He was uber cool.

4.  The name calling drama with Dominic Picard and what's-his-name-Bowman should be under review as well.  It is not okay to call anyone a racial slur.  Bowman should know better.....he does play for Montreal after all.

5.  Every week I love Corey Chamblin more.  He is a smart smart man.  I also feel the same way about Joe Lobendahn and Odell Willis, although it might be weird to lump them all together.

Parting thoughts:  With all this talk about cold I am reminded of the Western Final in 2010 against the Stamps.  Here's a little video to remind you all too.

Ban Joe "Mack" Bowl

I've never written a Banjo Bowl blog before.  [Say that 10 times fast!]

At this time last year, Andy Fantuz was returning from the Chicago Bears.  We fired Greg Marshall and Ken Miller returned to coaching.  We were losing big time.  We were 1-7.  Everyone was in turmoil.  Fans were enraged.  

Last year the Winnipeg Blue Bombers under coach Paul LaPolice were pretty good.  They were 7-1.  They made fun of us.  I remember seeing Odell Willis with his Mayor tee shirt on and it made me angry.

Oh how the tables have turned.

I think every Rider fan has been wishing for a good old fashioned beat down.  I know I've wanted for a game where we were just purely dominant.  It finally happened in the 52-0 thrashing over the Blue Bombers in the Labour Day Classic.  I've become a big Odell Willis fan.  There's nothing better than when he hoists Weston Dressler like a rag doll when a touchdown is scored.  Finally, it feels like the team is firing on all cylinders.

Would I love to see another beating at this Sunday's Banjo Bowl?  Of course I would!  Yet, I can't help but feel just a tiny bit sorry for the Bombers.  Their team is turned upside down.  Their coaching staff appears in chaos.  And their General Manager?  Joe Mack?  Well, let's just say that Bomber fans want him fired so badly they've coined this weekends rematch the "Ban Joe Mack Bowl."

But don't get me wrong.  Even though I feel bad for them.....I don't feel bad enough to let them win.