Matt Cauz
CFL.ca
Instead of recapping this weekend’s action I wanted to keep with the holiday theme and come up with what I am thankful for as an observer and fan of the Canadian Football League.
Maybe it was the Cabernet Sauvignon and tryptophan hangover that only comes from three straight Thanksgiving dinners but I was having a difficult time deciding how to begin this column.
But then I flicked on that horrible Cleveland-Buffalo game. Nine total points, 16 penalties and under 500 combined yards for both teams. That’s the kind of game that makes children cry and forces football fans to question why they drop hundreds of dollars to follow their home team.
By the way, anyone who says there are no benefits of having divorced parents has yet to experience three different holiday dinners with three different groups of people. Sure you have to buy more presents at Christmas but I also got multiple Turkey dinners. Good times. Of course on the down side “Operation Expand Waist Line” does cloud the mind.
Well that game made me thankful that I’m not one of those “football” fans that believe that the NFL can do no wrong. We all know who they are. They’re usually from Southern Ontario, they deny ever wearing NFL themed zubaz pants and they will go on and on about how superior the 4-down game is.
Watching that punt fest between the Browns and the Bills just reinforces that the NFL, for as wonderful as it is, has more than its fair share of duds. The Argonauts offense aside, the CFL does routinely churn out entertaining game after entertaining game.
Now please don’t mistake this as one of those CFL apologist/anti-NFL rants. I hate any sentiment that tries to belittle one league while propping up another. I love both leagues; I love football on every level.
So far 2009 has been a massive hit for the NFL, especially with the prime time games while this has been one of the more compelling CFL seasons.
In a weird way I’m just thankful for those truly lousy games, they help to defuse the NFL hysteria that flares up from time to time. Any true football fan can objectively look at both the CFL and NFL and recognize their strengths and flaws.
Speaking of hysteria, the other thing that I’m thankful for is the insane playoff system that allows 75% of the league into the playoffs. On the one side it’s ridiculous that losing teams consistently make the playoffs but it does allow you to realistically discuss the playoff chances of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
In any other league this team would be done and no one would care about their 38-28 victory over Hamilton. Now we can look at the sudden emergence of Adarius Bowman, the impact of a fully healthy Terrence Edwards and speculate on just how Michael Bishop will break the city’s hearts … come on, deep down Bomber fans you know he will.
I understand that when everyone gets to jump into the playoff pool it does take away from the importance of early season games but on the flip side it makes the games in late September and October far more compelling. Unlike in, say, Major League Baseball where the division races, with the exception of the AL Central, were pretty much all figured out months ago.
This CFL playoff system also gives all those bitter fans in Edmonton some hope. Something tells me that while they aren’t very thankful about the tackling/coverage skills of Byron Parker and T.J. Hill, they are certainly glad to know that at 6-8, their team still has a good chance for the postseason.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that, for your health, your caloric consumption didn’t even approach the same area code that mine did.
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