By: Justin Boone
The Perfect Storm
There’s something satisfying about thunder, and lighting, and rain.
My grandmother used to tell me that thunder was the clouds crashing together, a plausible story to someone who spent his days idolizing the lifestyle of the cookie monster.
When the storm clouds approached, her and I would sit on the deck and let Mother Nature provide the entertainment (On storm-less days Sesame Street did the trick).
My grandmother, who was amazing at teaching life lessons without you realizing, told me how all the elements of a storm made it what it was. Take away one aspect and the whole thing becomes a lot less awe-inspiring.
Most people could probably live without rain ruining their backyard barbeques, but ask any farmer and he’ll tell you how important a tempest can be. Lightning might be flashy, but what would it be minus the menacing eruption that follows? Or could you imagine hearing a sharp cracking noise envelope the city, without the natural pyrotechnics show accompanying it?
When all three come together, it makes people take notice. Some stay inside, watching through the window where it’s safe. Others step out onto their porch or balcony, to experience it and feel the energy in the air.
I would like to say that her lesson hit me like a bolt of lightning, but it was really more like several drops of rain repetitively falling down on me over time until I finally got it. It’s the chemistry behind a storm is the key. And chemistry itself is essential in all things in life.
We look for it in the people we meet, the jokes we deliver, and the careers we choose. Even cookie monster had it figured out before I did with the bond between milk and cookies.
In the CFL, the target may be the Grey Cup, but without chemistry you won’t be playing football into November. It’s what good teams have, what bad teams desperately want, and what coaches lay awake at night trying to figure out how to manufacture. And there’s the Tony Miles’ catch. You can’t create team chemistry from a formula and you can’t reproduce it the same as you’ve done in the past, because no two rosters can be exactly alike.
Bob O’Billovich knows the benefits of chemistry all too well, and he refuses to bring in bad character guys. Maybe that’s why he used his first overall pick on Dylan Barker, who majored in chemistry at the University of Saskatchewan. Unfortunately, Dylan’s injured at the moment, although his cast and crutches are the subject of more than a few jokes in the locker room, some of which he makes himself.
Humour like that is exactly the type of team-building interaction that’s needed for long-term success. A locker room is made up of a group of individuals. So many different personalities brought together trying to accomplish a common goal. It’s the thunder of the running game, the lightning in your passing attack, and the cold hard rain of your defence.
So maybe we should pay more attention to the local forecast, and when all the elements are in place and the storm is on the horizon, get out and take in all the action live.
The Ins and Outs
(Storylines from around the CFL)
Getting In On The Act – Over the weekend, Rod Black proclaimed 2008 The Year of the Catch, due to the highlight-reel grabs that have been hauled in so far. Receivers stepped up again in Week Four, not only with amazing plays, but eight players unleashed 100-yard games. By comparison, there were nine 100-yard games from pass catchers in the previous three weeks combined. The aerial assault has begun.
Ran Out of Gas – Former Ticat Jason Armstead had a tough go of it this week playing for Montreal. Armstead made a few blatant mistakes that ultimately cost the Als a chance of making a comeback late in the game. The errors were likely the final straw, as he now finds himself without a job going into Week Five.
In A Heartbeat – It’s amazing how fast things can change. The Argos were caught in the middle of a quarterback controversy, but Kerry Joseph put an end to that with a huge game against the Eskimos. He threw for 343 yards and rushed for 118 yards, broke into the end zone twice, and orchestrated a late-game drive that gave the Argos the win. It was the first time a QB had thrown for over 300 and run for over 100 since the days of Doug Flutie. Joseph will hope to take that momentum into Saskatchewan as he faces his old club this week.
Roll Out The Red Carpet – The Ticats will look for a similar result against Edmonton, as the Esks travel to Ivor Wynne Stadium this Friday. Fans who wear their amateur sports jerseys to the game will receive $10 off the price of a bronze level ticket, in honour of the game’s theme supporting local amateur athletics.
Easier Said Than Done
(Quote of the Week)
“When you’re 0-4 and struggling in a number of ways on offence, there’s got to be a change made. We can’t change receivers, the offensive line has already been changing [because of injuries], and [running back] Charles Roberts needs to be a bigger part of what we’re doing, like last year.”
Bombers general manager Brendan Taman discussing why the team has decided to start backup quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie over Kevin Glenn. It will be Dinwiddie’s second start, the first coming in last year’s Grey Cup loss to Saskatchewan.
Follow The Leader
(Leaders from CFL and the Ticats)
CFL Rushing – CGY Joffrey Reynolds – 59 carries, 373 yards, 5 TDs
Ticats Rushing – HAM Jesse Lumsden – 48 carries, 361 yards, 4 TDs
CFL Passing – MTL Anthony Calvillo – 110/159, 1,377 yards, 11 TDs
Ticats Passing – HAM Casey Printers – 66/102, 860 yards
CFL Receiving – B.C. Geroy Simon – 18 receptions, 401 yards, 3 TDs
Ticats Receiving – HAM Tony Miles– 21 receptions, 223 yards
CFL Tackling – WPG Barrin Simpson – 29 Tackles
Ticats Tackling – HAM Zeke Moreno – 23 Tackles
CFL Interceptions – SSK Lance Frazier, B.C. Reggie Myles – 3 INTs
Ticats Interceptions – HAM Chris Thompson, HAM Rontarius Robinson – 1 INT
CFL Sacks – B.C. Cameron Wake – 6 Sacks
Ticats Sacks – HAM Darrell Adams – 3 Sacks
Let me know your thoughts on the week by sending your e-mails, comments, or questions to jboone@ticats.ca
