The Calgary Stampeders deserve full credit for a great CFL season and their loss to our Riders yesterday and subsequent trash talk about officials by two lame brain players should in no way deflect from their accomplishments in 2010.
Brandon Browner and Dwight Anderson got everything they deserved and it was high time. Now, instead of standing up and taking it like men they are blaming officials for bad calls. They both knew they were on notice by the CFL and would be closely watched by the officials. They were warned by their coach at half time – Huff was so incensed he mentioned it during a half-time interview. Did they care? Not that I saw. What I saw were two players who acted like they were above the rules. Did they give a whit what the penalties and loss of yards would mean to their team? Not that I saw. Did they stop to think about their teammates who were trying their best to play a solid game and get the chance to advance to the Cup? I doubt it. Browner and Anderson are not what the CFL is all about and the sooner they learn that the better players they will be. In the meantime, maybe a little humbling experience in the NFL might help them.
Hank Burris hugged Darian after the game yesterday and took the time as he did so to talk to our QB – now that folks is class. There are many great players on the Stamps team and they all deserve credit. That they weren’t able to pull off a win yesterday is to our (Saskatchewan’s) credit and nothing else.
Our guys came out slow but never gave up. In the face of headlines calling for their demise and trash talk from Calgary players, the Riders held the high ground yet again and simply played to win. Freeman’s slide for the ball in the end zone was the icing on the cake for Calgary and Grice-Mullins owes him big time. It could so easily have gone the other way. One Calgary player summed it up pretty well when he spoke of the fact that there were at least three if not four red jerseys in the end zone and just one lone green jersey. But that lone jersey made all the difference because it was worn by a player who was part of a team that feels like a family. He is part of a team that win or lose are willing to stand up and be counted when it matters most. They take blame individually but victory is always shared.
No matter that Andy was denied the ball yesterday, he became a blocker for his pal Ryan. No matter that Jason couldn’t get clear, he blocked for Weston. And on it went, players helping in any way they could. Patrick grabbing Burris’ pass and taking to the red zone and Ryan with that toe tip reception in the end zone - each of them going that extra little bit for their team and their fans. This folks is what team work is all about.
I am not blind to my team’s deficiencies – not by a long shot – our special teams ....... well they aren’t so special and I’ll leave it at that. Compared to other teams our defense is kind of small. Our QB has trouble with nerves and a hard time seeing over the heads of the opposition’s defense. I could go on but you get the point. What the Riders do have is heart and soul and us their fans and supporters. Rider Nation is not simply a Saskatchewan term; it applies to every single fan across this country and those in the US and around the world who are with our guys all the way. Just ask TSN which team always puts up the biggest audience numbers. Sure we want a Grey Cup and think we deserve one but you know what Cup or not, I and millions of other members of the RN will be right back next year cheering them on and knowing that they will give us some of the most heart-stopping games in this league.
GO GREEN AND WHITE! GO RIDERS!
Brandon Browner and Dwight Anderson got everything they deserved and it was high time. Now, instead of standing up and taking it like men they are blaming officials for bad calls. They both knew they were on notice by the CFL and would be closely watched by the officials. They were warned by their coach at half time – Huff was so incensed he mentioned it during a half-time interview. Did they care? Not that I saw. What I saw were two players who acted like they were above the rules. Did they give a whit what the penalties and loss of yards would mean to their team? Not that I saw. Did they stop to think about their teammates who were trying their best to play a solid game and get the chance to advance to the Cup? I doubt it. Browner and Anderson are not what the CFL is all about and the sooner they learn that the better players they will be. In the meantime, maybe a little humbling experience in the NFL might help them.
Hank Burris hugged Darian after the game yesterday and took the time as he did so to talk to our QB – now that folks is class. There are many great players on the Stamps team and they all deserve credit. That they weren’t able to pull off a win yesterday is to our (Saskatchewan’s) credit and nothing else.
Our guys came out slow but never gave up. In the face of headlines calling for their demise and trash talk from Calgary players, the Riders held the high ground yet again and simply played to win. Freeman’s slide for the ball in the end zone was the icing on the cake for Calgary and Grice-Mullins owes him big time. It could so easily have gone the other way. One Calgary player summed it up pretty well when he spoke of the fact that there were at least three if not four red jerseys in the end zone and just one lone green jersey. But that lone jersey made all the difference because it was worn by a player who was part of a team that feels like a family. He is part of a team that win or lose are willing to stand up and be counted when it matters most. They take blame individually but victory is always shared.
No matter that Andy was denied the ball yesterday, he became a blocker for his pal Ryan. No matter that Jason couldn’t get clear, he blocked for Weston. And on it went, players helping in any way they could. Patrick grabbing Burris’ pass and taking to the red zone and Ryan with that toe tip reception in the end zone - each of them going that extra little bit for their team and their fans. This folks is what team work is all about.
I am not blind to my team’s deficiencies – not by a long shot – our special teams ....... well they aren’t so special and I’ll leave it at that. Compared to other teams our defense is kind of small. Our QB has trouble with nerves and a hard time seeing over the heads of the opposition’s defense. I could go on but you get the point. What the Riders do have is heart and soul and us their fans and supporters. Rider Nation is not simply a Saskatchewan term; it applies to every single fan across this country and those in the US and around the world who are with our guys all the way. Just ask TSN which team always puts up the biggest audience numbers. Sure we want a Grey Cup and think we deserve one but you know what Cup or not, I and millions of other members of the RN will be right back next year cheering them on and knowing that they will give us some of the most heart-stopping games in this league.
GO GREEN AND WHITE! GO RIDERS!
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