I don't often agree with Z, and this time follows the trend...
Questions more of interest to me, 1, 5 and 10.
My English isn't good enough; could someone explain me the bottom line of question 10.?
MONTREAL - One year ago at this time, nobody knew what to expect from the Alouettes and their new head coach, Marc Trestman, who had never guided a team before, let alone watched a Canadian Football League game.


On Tuesday, as the 2009 regular season is about to commence, Montreal’s the favourite in its division. Trestman? He’s suddenly the most experienced coach in the East Division. Go figure. Only in the CFL.


Toronto, attempting to follow the Als’ blueprint, has hired Bart Andrus to guide the Argonauts back to respectability. Andrus, like Trestman a year ago, has limited knowledge of the CFL. Winnipeg has turned to Mike Kelly, who can at least say he was an offensive co-ordinator with the Blue Bombers under Cal Murphy. That was more than a decade ago.


And Hamilton has removed the interim title from Marcel Bellefeuille, who guided the Tiger-Cats to a 1-6 record after replacing Charlie Taaffe.


The West Division appears somewhat more stable, not to mention competitive. But you just know issues will arise out there, too.


Everything begins Wednesday night, with a Canada Day doubleheader. Toronto and Hamilton kick things off before the Als visit Calgary in a Grey Cup rematch.


Without further delay here, in our humble opinion, are 10 burning questions:


1. Why does the East Division perennially "$uck"? Of 32 interlocking games last season, the West won 26. Going back to 2005, the East’s record against the West, respectively, is 17-23, 13-19 and 12-19-1. Collectively, that’s 48-87-1, and that’s embarrassing. For those of you keeping score at home, the 2004 Argonauts were the last East squad to capture the Cup.


2. What results will change bring at Winnipeg? Kelly has retained only 25 players from a team that went 8-10 and has hitched his wagon to unproven quarterback Stefan LeFors, who couldn’t break a pane of glass with his passes. Too many personnel changes or did this team require an overhaul?


3. If sports are cyclical, explain the Tiger-Cats’ record? We feel for the team’s supporters. Not only must they live in Hamilton, but … The team went 3-15 the last two seasons and 4-14 in 2006. The Ticats have not made the playoffs since 2004. Even if it tried, no organization can be this bad.


4. Is Andrus the reincarnation of Trestman? Andrus, you should know, was nowhere near as successful as Trestman in the NFL. Nor as prominent. Andrus is smart and professional, but is still trying to learn the CFL game. And he doesn’t appear to have much to work with from our vantage point.


5. Will the Als ever win another Grey Cup? Sorry. Making it to the championship game, almost on an annual basis in an eight-team league, isn’t good enough – especially with five losses in six appearances since 2000. This franchise might have to rebuild when Anthony Calvillo and Ben Cahoon retire. Montreal needs another title.


6. How will the Roughriders overcome adversity? We all know about the legal problems facing Saskatchewan GM Eric Tillman, a prisoner in his own home while facing sexual-related charges. Will everything that occurs outside the lines in tiny Regina affect what transpires between the lines? And how about the QB carousel that appears to be developing there?


7. Can Jesse Lumsden remain healthy? The Edmonton Eskimos were this close a year ago. They were active in free agency, led by the signing of Canadian tailback Lumsden. He’s a beast and his stats are great. But he gets hurt every year. Stay healthy, and the Eskimos might be the team to beat.


8. How do you like being the hunted? The Stampeders will be strong again this season. But Calgary must compete under the burden of knowing it’s hosting the Cup on Nov. 29. No team has won consecutive CFL titles since Toronto, in 1997 and ’98. The last team to win at home? British Columbia, in 1994.


9. How will the Lions deal with mediocrity? Death, taxes and B.C. being competitive. These are givens in life. But some who follow this team are convinced age has caught up to the squad. Has GM/head coach Wally Buono ever been below .500?


10. Has the CFL stopped being a mom-and-pop operation? Sometimes we think this league outweighs its importance. It’s not the NFL, but the NFL influence is evident in Montreal, Calgary, Winnipeg and Toronto. That, it seems, has led to a distrust of the media. Instead of worrying about us, concentrate on winning games.


hzurkowsky@thegazette.canwest.com

Le point numero 10, il explique que l'influence de la NFL se fait resentir a Mtl, Cgy, Wpg et Toronto, ce qui leur fait penser que le s medias complote contre eux. Il devrais plutot se concentrer a gagner des matchs.

Bref Herb est aussi plein de M qu'avant, si j'etais du coter corp dans la CFL et que j'entendrai sa ligne qu'il utilise toujours, only in the CFL.

Point no. 5, il a raison. Défaites crève-coeur en 2003 et 2005. Puis 2008 la cerise sur le sundae !!!



Avoir gagné, nous aurions pu être comparé à Edmonton avec ses Coupes de fin 70 et début 80 !

First Down wrote:Point no. 5, il a raison. Défaites crève-coeur en 2003 et 2005. Puis 2008 la cerise sur le sundae !!!



Avoir gagné, nous aurions pu être comparé à Edmonton avec ses Coupes de fin 70 et début 80 !

T'oublie 2006, ou Jake "The Snake" a refusé le TD Edwards et le fumble de Cox.....

XGamer wrote:

First Down wrote:Point no. 5, il a raison. Défaites crève-coeur en 2003 et 2005. Puis 2008 la cerise sur le sundae !!!



Avoir gagné, nous aurions pu être comparé à Edmonton avec ses Coupes de fin 70 et début 80 !

T'oublie 2006, ou Jake "The Snake" a refusé le TD Edwards et le fumble de Cox.....

Exact, 2006 c'etais un vol pur et simple.