National Post (National Edition)
Wrong place, but super Grey Cup
Items that may grow up to be columns, Vol. XVIII, Chapter 16:
FUMBLE!: As Rio 2016 was to the International Olympic Committee, so Grey Cup week in Toronto was to the Canadian Football League.
An organizational disaster, held in the wrong place among locals not at all interested in participating, but in the end, elevated far above what the planners deserved by the athletic spectacle.
One of the biggest upsets in Grey Cup history was also one of the most fun to watch.
Commissioner Jeffrey Orridge at least copped to the mistakes the league made in the run-up to the game, starting with picking Toronto as the host city without knowing if the move to BMO Field would revive CFL interest in the league’s most disinterested market.
It will be many years before CFL governors agree to another Grey Cup in Hogtown.
ORDER OF PLAY:
Ottawa gets 2017 for Canada’s centennial-and-a-half, Regina could get 2018 in the new stadium (because the Cup game has to come West), Hamilton is overdue for a Tim Hortons Field reward, perhaps in 2019, and then it should come back to the prairies. Say Edmonton in 2020, Calgary 2021 (or later, if Cowtown is in the midst of new stadium construction.) BC Place is always enticing because it’s indoors, but the Lions need to get their own fan apathy problem solved.
BO DOESN’T KNOW:
He is the most self-confident (read cocky) quarterback in the CFL, but in the big game, Calgary’s Bo Levi Mitchell was schooled by 41-year-old Henry Burris, who dialed it up emotionally while never being out of control. Mitchell’s MO when pressed was to throw long into coverage and then look pained and surprised when he was intercepted. Aided by Jaime Elizondo’s wonderful offensive game plan, Burris was both accurate and prudent. When he ad libbed, it was to outlet receivers who then exploited enormous problems in the Stamps’ defensive coverage.
THOSE CAMPBELLS:
Great stat from TSN’s Chris Cuthbert, that the last four Grey Cups to be held on the CNE grounds were won by father-and-son coaches Hugh (1978-80-82) and Rick (2016) Campbell.
It’s oversimplifying, but because it always goes on the record of the guy in charge, it’s fair to say that on the big day, the CFL Coach of the Year, Dave Dickenson, was outcoached by Ottawa’s Campbell, who likely would have finished fourth in the voting if the East didn’t have to have a finalist.
FULL DISCLOSURE: Give Dickenson credit for fessing up to bad judgment on the second-and-goal play from the two-yard line in the dying seconds of regulation that kept the Stamps from winning outright.
“I regret that call,” said Dickenson, who sent thirdstring QB Andrew Buckley into the game to try an endrun, which was stopped for a loss by the Ottawa defence.
Dickenson’s admission is a far cry from the explanation, which few bought, of Seattle coach Pete Carroll when he eschewed handing the ball to battering ram Marshawn Lynch at the end of Super Bowl XLIX from the one-half yard line, and lost to New England when Russell Wilson’s pass was intercepted.
Like Carroll, Dickenson left his big weapon, CFL outstanding Canadian, Jerome Messam, in the holster. Easiest second-guess in the world.
ARGO BOUNCE: Looks as though at least one of GM Jim Barker or head coach Scott Milanovich is going to be shown the door in Toronto, and should be, for allowing two terrific young quarterbacks, Zach Collaros and Trevor Harris, to exit Argoland while putting all the club’s eggs in the Ricky Ray basket. Ray’s a lovely guy and was a great QB in his day, but his 37-year-old body is breaking down regularly.
HANK’S BIG MISS: Tiger Woods’s ex-swing coach Hank Haney can’t be accused of underselling his former pupil’s return to competitive golf after a 15-month absence at this week’s elite-field Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. Haney tweeted this week: “If reports r correct that Tiger shot 63 at Seminole last week then he can win the Hero World, I don’t care if he hasn’t played in 15 months.”
To which ESPN’s Kevin Van Valkenburg sensibly replied: “I wish we’d quit this hyperbole. We all know it’s not physical. Do it with people watching.”
KARMA AWAITS: Never mind why (a clash over personnel with management), it was how the Florida Panthers fired coach Gerard Gallant that’s going to leave a mark a lot of hockey people around the league won’t forget. Gallant was photographed standing with his suitcase on a curb outside the arena in Carolina on Sunday after being axed, waiting for a ride.
“When did Florida decide to fire Gallant? How about book a car for him — have a little compassion and class,” TSN’s Ray Ferraro tweeted, when reports indicated he was waiting for a cab. GM and interim coach Tom Rowe said the club did hire a car for Gallant, but the backlash the Panthers are getting is likely to continue for a while.