From the Lions' Den

A Battle of the Backups, also rans, could have beens, or just plain who you have left. Pierce and Quinn, against Simon/Clermont and Brazzel/Stoddard.

One must admit that it wasn’t even close to what most people were expecting; a monster defensive effort by the BC Lions, and Brent Johnson doing everything but take out the garbage. 1 fumble recovery, I sack, and 2 Interceptions. Looks like he’s well and away the frontrunner for Most Outstanding Canadian once again this year.

He said: 3 weeks ago, a Bomber fan not far away was telling me that there was no need to play any more games this year, because the Bombers had already proven their latent superiority. The Parade was planned and the party had begun. Not to question said fan, but the question now remains: After Montreal’s loss in Calgary, should there be any more games played this year in the CFL? Should the City of Vancouver hire the Planning Staff for the Parade now?

She said: Far from it. It floors me how fans can make such presumptuous statements at a relatively early stage of the game. Teams break down the season into thirds not halves, and we are halfway through the second third of the season. That is WAY too early to be ordering the polish for Lord Grey’s mug. This is the CFL, and as we’ve seen, absolutely anything can and will yet happen. As far as this most recent game went? It was one of those games that makes you shake your head in disbelief at some plays, and yet somehow you want it to be over at the same time. The play that I am still shaking my head over, is Nautyn McKay’s forced fumble/reverse Statue of Liberty(?) where Quinn virtually handed the ball to McKay, causing a 60+ yard TD rumble. I refuse to make any predictions on the Lions’ future performance, and I’m not 100% encouraged by Thursday’s game, but the sense of cohesion I’m starting to see gives me a small glimmer of hope.

He said: Nope; sorry. Order the bubbly, get the photographers ready, send the Offence home this week. All that is needed is a Defence like the one we saw on the Lone Prairie and it’s a done deal.  Don’t need Punters, Special Teams, Field Goal Kickers, none of that. Just get some like Loescher, Johnson, Hunt, Glatt and Marsh, and one returner, and then worry about drafting more NI Defensive talent. This could be the end of Wally’s quarterback factory; not needed.

She said: Yes, while I’m sure that looked to be the case on Thursday, and it seemed to be a lopsidedly defensive game, and the Lions offense seemed to get manhandled (sometimes unfairly, right, Kyries?), I think we WILL need our entire team intact for the rest of the season. After watching our Mr. Pierce, it gives me a measure of comfort to know that we have more strength at backup than pretty much every other team in the league. I believe I can say that with confidence. We need more than that obviously, but after watching the tribulations of the Argos and the Bombers after losing their prime QBs’, my vote of confidence in Pierce stands.

He said: Obviously, I was kidding about not playing any more games, at the expense of the neighbour. I think he now realizes that any team can beat any other on any given day. And our Lions Offence has scored more points than any other team this year, while ST are much improved.

I think that with karma being so popular lately, due in part to a certain Television show, perhaps we should be gracious to our Pesky Eskie guests, visiting us from the frozen north on Friday night.

Section 17 has gone all out in an effort to make Eskimo fans visiting us at ImPark feel at home.  The following are planned for the Friday Tailgate:

Seminars:

1) How to use Hot and Cold water faucets, thanks to Bill Nye, the Science Guy.

2) Self help seminar entitled, “How To Cope With Snow On The Ground And 6 Points In The Standings.”

3) Dr. Phil will talk about how to handle a winter without snow.

Featured Guests at Lionbackers Tailgater:

1)    Hugh Campbell has agreed to come by and autograph copies of his new book, "Negotiations and Manipulations: How I run the Campbell Football League".

2)    Former  Lion Mike Maurer has agreed to speak about being bipedal, even though we have odds of 11-2 that he can't walk from the Eskie Team Bus the hundred yards to the TGer without falling down.

And to help our Eskie guests feel even more at home, Groundskeepers will be watering the Field Turf at BC Place to the point of Flooding the Lower Mainland 4 hours before the game.

She said:  Very funny. Evil, but funny! I AM looking forward to the rest of the season, whether we need to play it or not!