As the year comes to a close, there is just enough time to take one more look at some of the top stories from the 2009 CFL season. A quick analysis of attendance, corporate involvement and television ratings would indicate that it could be considered one of the best years in Canadian Football history, or at the very least, one of the most successful seasons in the last two decades.
Not all the news from 2009 was good news; like every year in every sport, there were plenty of negative headlines, however, unlike ten years ago the league is now strong enough to not only overcome adversity and hang on, but to continue to excel and grow through that adversity.
At one time or another over 14 million people were watching the Grey Cup Championship which represents close to half the country, indisputable evidence that the 2009 CFL season grabbed the attention of more than just sports fans in Canada.
Most lists like this contain ten stories but with the way the Grey Cup ended it seems fitting to go with the top 13 from 2009 in the CFL.
13. Negotiations between the League and the Players Association begin
The only reason that this story is last on the list is because the process has just begun, because this negotiation will likely be the most important assignment in Commissioner Mark Cohon's tenure. Most have heard of the rumours that the key issue will be the Canadian ratio, but I doubt it. I would be surprised to see the league push such a patriotically sensitive topic. This story will be told over the next 4 to 6 months and its outcome could move it quickly to the top story of 2010.
12. Ottawa's return to the CFL
Again in 2012 or 2013 this story will head the list but for now it is a work in progress. Ottawa city counsel voted 15-9 to go ahead with the Lansdowne Live project under certain conditions, so the process has begun. What is compelling about this story is not just the return of a CFL franchise in Ottawa, which would be mutually beneficial for the city and the League, but who is trying to bring Canadian Football back to the Nations Capital. The Lansdowne Live group is made up of Roger Greenberg, William Shenkman, John Ruddy and fronted by Ottawa 67's owner Jeff Hunt - all of whom are local businessmen and therefore, have a vested interest in making it work. This group is not just about football, they are about improving the city they live in, and that is why this story transcends sports.
11. Regular season game in Moncton
It has been talked about for years but in 2009 the announcement to play a regular season game in the Maritimes made it official. The seed has been planted for expansion into Eastern Canada and it is long overdue. In the 2010 season the Argos will play an opponent to be determined in the off-season, in a regular season game, which according to reports, will be the Maritimes' own Grey Cup-like Festival. A ten-team league from coast to coast is still a few years away but at least now there are measures in place to take a real run at it, and that is good news for the country, not just for football fans.
10. Television ratings
Yes, the system for counting viewers during a TV show has changed but it has changed for every show and every sport. The CFL numbers have been hard for some to digest for some reason, but they don't lie, and they rival, and at times surpass, NHL numbers in our country. We are a hockey-first Nation and that is not about to change, but the NHL and CFL are now, "one and one-A," in Canada. The CFL has engaged the younger generation - a demographic that was lost in the late 90's due to boardroom issues.
9. Arrrrrrrgos
This story is one that definitely falls under the "bad" category, but is not the complete disaster that most make it out to be. Bart Andrus did not work out despite having a fairly impressive resume heading into the job, but he is not the only new coach that didn't pan out. Who will own the Argos in 2010 is the first question that has to be answered in Toronto but once it is, it shouldn't take too long for the pieces to fall into place that will turn the ship around and point it in the right direction.
8. Buffalo Bills in Toronto
This story is not about which league is better - that discussion is old, irrelevant and is a waste of time. There are thousands of NFL fans in Canada and I consider myself one of them. However, that doesn't mean it is realistic to think that Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal could be the home of an NFL franchise. Clearly the market for this product in Toronto was drastically misread. The only reason that this story is on this list is because when it was first announced that Buffalo would play games in Toronto, there were some in the GTA that felt it was a done deal that the Bills would move north permanently, and consequently, the CFL would be doomed. At this point, with what has happened over the first two years of the agreement between Rogers and the NFL, that now seems virtually impossible.
7. The Year of the Running Back
For the first time in league history seven starting running backs rushed for 1000 yards or more in 2009. There are many possible explanations, one being the trend towards smaller linebackers, but whatever the reason, it was fun to watch the talent at the running back position in 2009.
6. Hamilton makes the playoffs
The Ti-Cats not only made the playoffs, they hosted the semi-final by finishing second in the Eastern division. The fans in Steel Town deserve a winner and it looks like the Tabbies are getting closer. Owner Bob Young deserves a lot of credit for first having patience, and second for learning from early mistakes.
5. Mike Kelly in Winnipeg
No one grabbed more headlines off the field than the Bombers head coach in 2009, most of which had Bomber brass squirming in their boardroom chairs. This story came to an end with the recent firing of Kelly, and combined with the resignation of President Lyle Bauer, puts the Bombers in the same situation as the Argos, in that both have a lot of work to do over the next few months.
4. Darian Durant in Saskatchewan
In today's day and age of pro football on both sides of the border, developing a good young quarterback is tough. Coaches can't afford to lose too many games while allowing a rookie to go through some challenges, and yet a young player can't learn until he works himself out of some difficult situations in live game action. That is what makes the development of Darian Durant in Saskatchewan by head coach Ken Miller, one of the top stories in 2009. We just can't have too many great quarterbacks in the game.
3. Eric Tillman
The Rider GM was told to work from his home in 2009 until some sort of resolution was found with regards to the criminal charges he currently faces in Saskatchewan. This story is not about sports and I'm not a lawyer, so let's just hope that resolution is found soon and Tillman and the Riders can move forward.
2. The Return of Casey Printers
From the scrap heap to the face on the promotional material for the 2010 season for the B.C. Lions, the journey for Printers is a story that has the makings of a great book. With some of the issues facing athletes today, I could never get my head around how Printers was considered such a bad guy, by so many, but all of that seems to be behind the Lions pivot now. In a few games he showed that the magic is still there, and football fans in Vancouver can't wait for next year.
1. The 13th man
It was a Grey Cup that will be talked about for years to come and will be part of Canadian Football folklore forever. The question is, did the Riders lose the game because of their mistake, or did the Als win it? While the way the game finished will be the topic of discussion for years, the last play was just one of many important plays that determined the outcome of the game.
Montreal made the plays necessary to put itself in a position to win in the end, and that effort should be respected, even with its good fortune on the last play.
Congratulations to Marc Trestman and the Montreal Alouettes, and Happy New Year to all football fans from coast to coast.
Bring on 2010.
I think Suits pretty much covered it all. Did he miss anything?
6 comments:
Rod's too much of a chickens##t to talk bad about Tillman so I'll ask you. What do you think happens to Eric and do you think he'll re-assume his office.
Terry
PS: If you want to give thoughts about Parker that Rod is too chickens##t to give, pass those along too.
Terry:
Rod is in a much more important position than I am when it comes to the Riders or Pats so I don't blame him for not letting his feelings be publicly known.
As for Tillman, your guess is as good as mine. If there is any amount of guilt there, I can't see the Riders keeping him onboard. If he is exonerated, life should go on right. Has anyone ever thought that Eric just might not want to continue because of the negativity out there.
As for Parker, I don't agree with everything Brent does, but at least he is trying. As you know that was my biggest beef with Shivers. I thought Roy quit on his team and just sat back and waited for his cheque to come in. I don't see that with Brent.
That Terry's a real peach, eh Mitch! He wouldn't last one second trying to do my job.
RP
Seriously, does Terry think it would be smart of Rod to carve Tillman or Parker? What a complete retard Terry is.
DJ
C'mon Terry. Do you bash your bosses in public where everyone can see it? I'm sure Rod has his thoughts but to put them on his blog might be career suicide.
Mitch, I agree with what you say about Eric. I think he might not want to stay after this is over if he is found innocent. However if this is going to trial, I have to think there is some kind of guilt and if that is the case, then the team has no choice but to say goodbye.
Mike
Way off base Terry. Way off base! I think guilty or not Eric stays. The Riders see what they have in Eric and they don't want to let him go. If Eric has to do jail time that's another story, but I don't see that happening.
Post a Comment