So it’s been a while(well over a year actually) and I’ve finally decided to blog again. Tonight I met up with my good friend Pete Cawood. I always meet up with Pete this time of year as he comes home for the holidays from Edmonton. As ususal we talk about a few subjects: work, sports, politics. But mostly sports. Seeing as how he is in Western Canada for most of the year, the heart of CFL country, it always comes up how much the CFL sucks and why the CFL purists can’t understand how we NFL and US College fans don’t like the CFL. After my conversation(and many laughs) with Pete on this subject, I’ve compiled a list of things the CFL and CFL fans should to change in order for me to embrace their game.
1. Stop arguing that the CFL is better than the NFL. Stop implying it. Don’t even think it. I cannot respect your opinion on the sport of football when you think this. Saying the CFL is better or even more entertaining than the NFL is like arguing the AHL or ECHL is better than the NHL. I think I’ve heard every argument about why the Canadian game is better and none of them are logical. The most you can do is argue that the CFL is viable alternative when there is no NFL football. Get over this and move on.
2. Change the league rules to more American style rules. I understand as Canadians we like to differientiate from our neighbours South of the Border but the biggest part of what makes the CFL so bad is the rules. I will discuss the changes in the next few points of this list.
3. Add an extra down. I know you think having one less down makes the game more offensive because the quarterback has to throw instead of just handing the ball off to the running back, but truthfully 3 downs just makes for a more defensive and ultimately more boring game.
4. Get rid of the no yards rule and change to the fair catch rule. There’s no point in having a return that goes no where. Allow the player to call fair catch so we can move on to the next play instead of having a sloppy return.
5. Get rid of the “rouge”. One point is useless.
6. Get rid of the extra player. This adds nothing to the game
7. Get rid of the big goofy end zone. Some of the most exciting catches in the NFL are made while a player is in the end zone trying to stay in bounds. Nobody wants to see a player running around for days in the endzone.
8. Get rid of the big goofy ball. It makes for less spectacular catches.
9. You may keep the returns on a missed field goal, all players in motion at the line of scrimmage and the 110 yard field. This will allow you to grasp to your need for the Canadian game to be different.
10. Stop saying the Grey Cup is more exciting than the Super Bowl. That’s rubbish. A blowout Super Bowl is still far superior to a close Grey Cup.
11. Stop saying the Grey Cup in 2009 was a spectacular finish. It wasn’t. It was a show of utter incompetence. To have a missed field goal at the end of the game called back only because the Special Teams coordinator for the defence put too many players on the field during a championship game isn’t exciting. It’s a mockery. Also the kicker who missed the game winning field goal only to redeem himself also had a 13 yard punt earlier in the game. And this guy is considered the best kicker in the league. Seriously.
12. If you’re thinking of expanding at least pick the right cities. Stop looking to cities like Ottawa(who has already had 2 teams fold), Halifax(who doesn’t have a stadium), or Moncton(population is too small). Look to places like Quebec city, a second CFL team in the province that dominates the nation in football. Look to London Ontario which has a stadium and a big enough population. Or even look at putting a team in Saskatoon. I know everyone loves the Riders there, but a second team could be a great provincial rivalry.
13. Finally, get rid of Chris Cuthbert, Jock Climie, Matt Dunnigan, and Darren Dutchyshen. These guys suck. They’re not entertaining and provide very little insight. And nobody likes hearing Chris Cuthbert’s play by play, not even his own mother. CBC did HNIC a freakin service by giving that guy his walking papers. Chris Schultz is the only guy on that panel who adds anything.
If you CFL purists follow this guideline than maybe, just maybe I and other NFL fans will watch your league. Of course it will only be in the summer before NFL preseason football and only when the Jays game gets boring. But hey, it’s a few more casual fans in a league that desperately needs them.
Pep
Tags: CFL, Chris Cuthbert, Halifax, London, Moncton, NFL, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saskatachewan
