Tone it down
Earlier this season Nik Lewis became the all-time leading receiver in CFL history. The Alouette/Stampeder passed former B.C. great Geroy Simon who was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in September. Lewis is a lock for the same honour.
Yet in 2006, Lewis and fellow magpie Jermaine Copeland, before losing 39-13 in B.C., a team they hadn’t beaten in two years, not only questioned Simon’s ability but his manhood as well. That was the last straw for the CFL. The league sent a memo to the Stampeders to cease and desist with such unsportsmanlike behaviour. Calgary’s coach at the time was the talented, Tom Higgins, as decent a man as you would ever want to meet. He said he didn’t like his trash-talkers‘ antics and wish they’d stop. In the end his inability to rein in Lewis and Copeland contributed to his downfall. Lewis was informed about the memo but kept it up. He has matured over the years and is now regarded as a generous man of good character.
Lewis’ theatrics seem tame compared to what a lot of players do today. If I had to pick the All-Canadian team now, my receivers would be Ottawa’s Greg Ellingson, Eskimo sensation Brian Zylstra, either Blue Bomber Darvin Adams or Argo S.J. Green and Saskatchewan’s Duron Carter, even if he isn’t in the top four statistically. He makes spectacular catches. His talent is only matched by his immaturity and hotdogging.
Maybe I’m old-school but I dislike his antics and those of so many others. You see players losing by 30 points, make a catch for 12 yards and bray like a donkey. I prefer the strong, silent type, even though I was never personally either. A lot of the antics in the end-zone are in good fun, young men just reveling in the moment. I can appreciate a creative celebratory dance. But the name-calling, the throat-slashing gestures should have no place in our game.
Against Ottawa last Friday, Carter was storming up and down the sideline, in and out of the huddle, demanding he be thrown the ball. Said TSN colour commentator Glen Suitor, “There’s only one ball. Everybody wants it.” You can be sure his teammates are not impressed, especially Naaman Roosevelt who has been just as productive as Carter and worthy
of all-star consideration. After every catch Carter puts on a performance. He wore out his welcome in Montreal with such behavior. Even though the NFL has changed their rules against end-zone celebrations, general managers down south are keeping an eye on Carter, mostly because of his famous father Chris, to see if he has grown up enough to warrant another shot in their league. Duron’s dad should take him aside and counsel him on how a professional should behave.
It is tempting to say this is a racial thing, the behaviour of the rap/hip-hop generation. But it’s not. It is a personality thing. Players of all races exhibit such behavior. Kevin Glenn is quiet, Mike Reilly gets excited. Marquay McDaniel is introspective and shy. Carter clearly is not. Generally, Canadian players are more circumspect. Whoever is doing it, old-fashioned me thinks the celebrations should be toned down. Or maybe I’m just an old grouch.
Duron Carter caught 11 passes for 231 yards in a last minute loss at Mosaic Stadium to Ottawa, Redblacks 33, Saskatchewan 32. Earlier Friday, Calgary beat Hamilton on the last play of the game and Saturday the Argos couldn’t hold a lead with a minute to play. What is it with most of the defensive coordinators in this league that they can’t protect a freshly acquired lead in the last 60 seconds? The answer is the old prevent defence which usually prevents the team using it from winning.
In Friday’s loss, Kevin Glenn threw two key interceptions and couldn’t cash in on six opportunities, having to settle for six Tyler Crapinga field goals. Still, they would have won if the defence hadn’t thought the game was in the bag.
This Friday the Roughriders visit Calgary. They lost there 2710 in July and 15-9 in Regina in September. In those two games against the Stampeders, Carter has 3 catches for 16 yards.