Sideline-2-Sideline: Rolling With The Punches
By: Justin Boone
jboone@ticats.ca
In 1935, a journeyman fighter by the name of James J. Braddock stepped into the ring with the heavyweight champion of the world, Max Baer.
If you’ve seen the 2005 film Cinderella Man, you know what happened next, one of the great David and Goliath stories in sports. Braddock a 10-to-1 underdog made oddsmakers rethink their profession by relentlessly stalking Baer, taking punch after devastating punch, before he finally cracked the champ’s defences and won the bout.
If you look at the early line for the Grey Cup this season, the Tiger-Cats are in the bottom three as far as odds go, right along with Edmonton and Montreal. Not exactly where you want to be at the start of a season, especially when you consider the struggles that have come in recent years.
James Braddock was born in Hell’s Kitchen, which conjures up images of a Scottish chef, but in this instance is referring to a neighborhood in Manhattan. He came from a humble household, having to work for everything. After turning pro at age 21, Braddock found himself forced out of boxing a few years later, due to a surprising combination of injuries, ineptness and a little thing called the Great Depression. He began working as a longshoreman, and instead of unloading rights and lefts on his challenger, he was unloading cargo on the waterfront. His dreams were washing away with every wave that hit the shoreline.
Five, four, three. Let’s hope that doesn’t end with a two and a one because five, four and three are the Ticats win totals from the last three seasons. Gone are Danny McManus, Darren Flutie, and Joe Montford. The Grey Cup hasn’t left Hamilton, but that’s because the Canadian Football Hall of Fame resides in Steeltown. It’s been tough times in TigerTown, but pride and glory are not things of the past, and hope still swells in the hearts of the Black and Gold faithful.
In 1934, things began changing in James Braddock’s life. He was given a chance against promising fighter, John Griffin. In Braddock, promoters saw a washed up man who would be a whipping boy for Griffin, but underestimating someone is a dangerous thing. In the third round Griffin hit the canvas, and Braddock had his hand held high again. After a series of mounting bouts, the Cinderella Man earned his name by defeating Baer and becoming heavyweight Champion.
Boxing is a series of knockdowns and knockouts and the Ticats have been on the receiving end of both in recent years. Once again, they will be considered a long shot to capture the Grey Cup and become champions, but in sports no one stays down forever and every season there is at least one team that comes out of nowhere to blindside the league.
For as barbaric as boxing may seem, there is an incredible amount of skill and technique that goes into its offence and perhaps more importantly, defence. You set an opponent up with the jab and when the moment is right, you strike. The Ticats have been through their form of the Great Depression, and much like Braddock they are ready to renew the dreams. It’s time to strike in 2008.
Easier Said Than Done
(Quote of the Week)
“I would say there’s about an 80-20 chance of him being at training camp, coming in and competing for a job. It’s not completed yet, but he can come in as a CFL rookie and we’ll make an assessment of him, where he’s at in his career and his life.”
Montreal Alouettes general manager Jim Popp addressing the potential of signing wide receiver Charles Rogers, in the Globe and Mail on Thursday. Rogers is a former second-overall pick in the NFL, but was released by the team that drafted him, the Detroit Lions, after the 2006 campaign.
In Case You Blinked
(News from the Week)
Veteran linebacker Mike O’Shea has announced he will return to the Argos for another season. The 38-year-old had 77 tackles last season, four sacks, and was the captain of the Argos’ stout defence. O’Shea played four years out of his 14-year career in Hamilton, with the rest of time being spent in a place Ticats WR Tony Miles now refers to as “The Dark Side.”
Send your e-mails, comments, or questions to jboone@ticats.ca
