CFL Central Columns

Always the Hard Way

October 29th, 2011

Ever notice how some teams (pick a sport) not only are good, not only usually win – but also get breaks they didn’t necessarily have a hand in, directly?
As a Jets fan, I think back to the days of the Gretzky-led Oilers… and it didn’t seem to matter whether teams had them dead to rights, more often than not Edmonton found a way to hoist another Stanley Cup.
Recently, I find the same air of inevitability surrounding the Montreal Alouettes.
In 2011, other teams in the CFL have had what they consider success against the Als… and at times the Alouettes finally looked – mortal.
But here we are with only a couple weeks to go in the season, and again Montreal is on the verge of clinching the Eastern Final game… one step away from another Grey Cup berth.

I mentioned how some teams catch the breaks whether indirectly or directly.
Case in point… the 2011 edition of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Trust me when I tell you, it is no easier on the heart being a fan of the Bombers than it is the Jets.
As the Als sat on their couch last night and watched – the Bombers mailed in a total stinkaroo against the out-of-contention Toronto Argonauts.
This one week after a come-from-behind win vs the Alouettes, which allowed Winnipeg to control their own fate regarding the Eastern Final as a home game.
On top of that debacle, Winnipeg has likely lost QB Buck Pierce for their last hope of grabbing the East top spot.
And while Alex Brink has looked ok coming off the bench, he has generally sucked as a starter.

The Als now have the opportunity to win out, and grab the bye week.
But it is not a done deal for them just yet… they first have to beat Calgary at home, and then go into BC and win.
The latter may not be the easiest of tasks.
However that BC vs MTL game could become a moot point if Winnipeg whiffs in Calgary… which Montreal will already know when they take the field against the Lions following the Bomber Stampeder game next Saturday.
This gift of “fate control” was wrapped and returned by the Bombers to the Als doorstep – all while Montreal sat, relaxed, and enjoyed their Friday TSN TV viewing experience courtesy of the Argos.

How about those Bombers?
This team has visited top spot in the East a few times this season… but have never taken ownership of the position.
Going into the final week of the season, Winnipeg is now 10-7… respectable after the 4-14 finish of last year, but not all that acceptable when one examines the 7 losses this season.
An elite team expects to trade wins and losses with other top teams… so losing to Calgary, Montreal, and Edmonton is not a cause for alarm.
And even though two of those 3 losses were on home turf – the Calgary loss was by a missed field goal, and the Montreal loss was on a tough goal line stand.

BUT… that accounts for the 3 losses the team can live with.
What about the other 4?
All 4 were against the two non-playoff teams, Toronto and Saskatchewan.
A loss to each away, and a loss to each at home.
When a team wants to be a “player” in the post season, it is not advisable to pad the stats of the teams that aren’t going to the dance.
Of a greater concern is the fact that the Bombers barely showed up for 3 of the 4 games, and really played a half or less of decent football in any of these 4 losses.

Swaggerville?
The little campaign in Winnipeg early in the year was ill-advised at best.
For a team that has the longest running drought of ANY team in the CFL with regards to Grey Cup championships… you don’t start an “in your face” campaign after a couple early wins.
The mark of a good team, especially those who have been good for long periods of time… they don’t feel the need to gloat, and know better than to incite their opponents and hand them emotional incentives.
The better a team is, the more their rivals are aware of the success – and there is no legitimate need or reason to start a publicity strutting stunt.
Defending Champions will tell you that everyone they play, get up a little extra for games against them… the last thing the champs want is to draw additional and unnecessary attention to themselves!

So the Bombers will continue with tradition… never accepting the easy road, but always insisting on doing things the hard way.
Will the Bombers manage to overcome the challenges, and finally break the longest Cup quest in the league?
Maybe… but not without having to play past the Montreal Alouettes, who are still the champs until someone proves otherwise.
However, the safe betting at this point is an Edmonton or BC vs. Montreal Grey Cup game in Vancouver.

dave@cflcentral.net

Entry Filed under: CFL Football