TrueBlue4ever

Let's not forget that when Walby played, his size and weight were the huge exception, and not the rule. In his 1984 season, the average height and weight of the o-line (not including him) was 6'3", 244 lbs and he was 6'7", 331 lbs. He was 76 lbs heavier than the next biggest guy. When he retired in 1996 the avg. without him was 6'4", 279 lbs and only 1 other o-lineman was over 300 lbs. Dave Vankoughnett played at 240 lbs. Today, our starters average 6'4", 307 lbs, and everyone (starters and back-ups) is 300+ lbs and with the exception of Picard is 6'4" or taller. Add to that more advanced, harder padding and improved fitness, and everyone moves much faster and hits a ton harder as a result. Just that much more mass coming at you.

I see Paul Friesen is amused by the debate about whether or not the Bombers got "jobbed" on this call and put it in today's paper. He went on to say that all the complaining by Bomber fans about the missed non-TD call was not equally matched by an uproar over the Bomber punt block TD where the kicker got contacted and there was no penalty. While I don't normally get wrapped up in the ongoing Friesen hate-on around here and don't have an axe to grind against his reporting personally, and although I recognize the point that he is trying to make is that as homers we only see things one way, I'd just like to say that if he is going to use the paper to take a shot across the bow at fans then he had better be on solid ground factually. SO, Paul, if you are reading, and think that because the player who contacted the kicker was NOT the one who blocked the kick [as covered in Rule 7, section 1, article 2b allowing contact if you WERE the one who blocked the kick], that means there should be a penalty and the refs missed that one, look at Rule 5, section 4, article 5b which basically allows contact to the punter by any player once a player of the receiving first touched the ball, so there is no longer any protection afforded the punter who is just another live player who can be blocked. Hence the reason we aren't equally up in arms over that "missed" call - it wasn't a missed call.

I thought the same thing at the time, but the rule was changed in 2014 (hence the reason it is not in the outdated rule book - get with the program, cfl.ca!) when coaches were given the opportunity to challenge pass interference. As long as a coach still has a timeout available they can throw a challenge flag on pass interference in the last 3 minutes of the game. Thanks to Bob Irving for that clarification BTW.

When overtime was introduced in 2000, they had a loser point for teams that made it to OT but lost. It encouraged teams to play for ties and try to get a bonus point in OT. That year 7 games went to OT, with 2 ending tied and Hamilton losing two games in overtime that year. It was worse in 2002, when 8 games went into OT and 3 teams (Calgary, Saskatchewan and Ottawa) each had 2 OT losses. The loser point was scrapped the next year. Don't recall a team losing 2 consecutive games in OT though, but it may have happened.

I was at the game, all of the replays they showed on the jumbotron offered no conclusive proof to overturn the call. we figured they didn't have a good camera angle to show. Then watched the highlights later and the "watch him run into the camera man" shot right at the goalline was shown and that would have offered clear evidence that he was NOT in. Wondering if that angle was available to the review officials at the time?

I wasn't sure if they did review or not which is why I asked. If they did how is this not conclusive enough that it didn't cross? If this is the only angle they had and this is what they are basing their judgment on then it's pretty clear it DID NOT cross. I say they need to mount go pros to those little orange pylons used to mark the goal line from now on How can you be so sure? Based on the angles we saw, I'd say that there is a strong possibility that at least the tip of the ball broke the plane. As others have said, I don't think that there was conclusive evidence to overturn the call on the field. So you're saying he just stuck the tip in? http://happylalove.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Thats-what-she-said.jpg

It's funny how irked some people get over petty stuff like this.

2 stinkin' yards away. Mother ****er!

SJ Green

Yeah this is what I do on twitter too. because Im at work all day, I mostly come here for news but I like the immediately info of twitter. So I flip through and see nothing (or like I said earlier at least something like Bob commenting on Willy's throws) then so be it. But seeing them basically mock the desire of hardcore fans is a slap in the face. Im sure the reporters and their editors have a good laugh but my boss wouldnt think it was very funny if I tweeted that I was barely working today or nothing to do at work today. Isn't the fact that you are typing on a public football fan blog in the middle of your work day doing just that (unless your job is related to covering the Bombers and their interaction with the fans)? Yes. Dont tell my boss. It'll be our secret.

But most of that is also stuff that only caters to the already obsessed. That is one way of looking at it. The other way is that the daily Bomber reports in the papers are already a solid 30% filler - I'd give an example if I had a paper in front of me - and this is far more interesting than any of that nonsense. So why not use this instead to pad the word count? I'll agree that the paper stuff is a lot of filler, but why would that make a random blurb in 140 characters any less filler? Marve not getting many reps - yeah, he's 3rd string, so don't need a tweet telling me that. Other guys kicking field goals - makes sense that there is a back-up plan if Lirim Holy-crap-that-last name-is-hard-to-spell goes down mid-game. And if I really need to know who it is, I'll call in the coach's show and get the answer. Kohlert practicing with the #1's? Well, since they declared he was back from the injured list and would start this week in Monday's paper and radio reports, the proposed tweet tells me nothing that basic intelligence would let me presume in the first place. The innocent version of the off-hand tweets is that this is just another regular practice with nothing unusual to see, but for those dying to know something, know that it is business as usual, no one out of or back in unexpectedly due to injury, no one struggling. I suspect it may be a subtle "shot" at the obsessed fans who crave every crumb of detail (on this site or otherwise) and if it that offensive to those fans, they can choose to tune out the coverage in favour of an alternative or voice a formal complaint. But there are new rules with the instant world of 21st Century media coverage. "Get it right" has been replaced with "get it first", and the old rules of "if it bleeds it leads", "don't let the facts get in the way of a good story", and "it doesn't matter if the readers/listeners love you or hate you, just make sure they are talking about you". And those 2 tweets have already filled 3 pages of a fan blog on a Wednesday afternoon. Mission accomplished, I'd say.

Yeah this is what I do on twitter too. because Im at work all day, I mostly come here for news but I like the immediately info of twitter. So I flip through and see nothing (or like I said earlier at least something like Bob commenting on Willy's throws) then so be it. But seeing them basically mock the desire of hardcore fans is a slap in the face. Im sure the reporters and their editors have a good laugh but my boss wouldnt think it was very funny if I tweeted that I was barely working today or nothing to do at work today. Isn't the fact that you are typing on a public football fan blog in the middle of your work day doing just that (unless your job is related to covering the Bombers and their interaction with the fans)?

In case you missed it, this is not my thread, and, of course, not everybody has to, or is obliged to do anything. But rest assured your name will be at the top of the list of non-supporters. I didn't miss the point that you didn't start the thread. But I also didn't miss the fact that YOU suggested that MBB write a letter "on behalf of its 700 members" disparaging the coverage the media gives the team and our collective disgust with it. Of course we are not obliged to do anything as you say, but if one form letter is going out from MBB it gives the appearance that everyone agrees - at least that is the intention of sending the letter from the entity rather than you sending one individually yourself. The disclaimer just points out that there is not universal agreement in your position that you are advocating on behalf of the entire membership of MBB.

Be sure to add: The opinions or views expressed by Mr. Dee or any other individual poster are those of the presenters/authors themselves and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and recommendations of the entire Morning Big Blue website, including its staff, moderators, posters who may post in less voluminous quantities than others, lurkers or supporters. Opinions stated by various contributors to Morning Big Blue are not to be considered as endorsed by the entire membership.

I would think the better person wouldn't need to make any statement at all in an effort to prove that they are a better person,but whatever. But again, back to my original question in this segue: why does the trash talk get to people? It's only annoying if you let it be annoying, otherwise it's just empty noise. And all fan bases have segments who do it, so what makes the 'Rider priders intolerable where other fan bases are not. I don't need a recap of their behaviour, just trying to piece together why it seems so effective in pushing emotional buttons here. Why does the fact that rider fans bother, pretty well every other cfl fan, bother YOU so much. You keep saying to brush it off and let it be etc etc..but you're the one who keeps bringing it up. Listen, people don't like them. You don't need to understand why. Let it go man. OK.

Well, they won with defence last year. Let's see how badly this hurts them.

I would think the better person wouldn't need to make any statement at all in an effort to prove that they are a better person,but whatever. But again, back to my original question in this segue: why does the trash talk get to people? It's only annoying if you let it be annoying, otherwise it's just empty noise. And all fan bases have segments who do it, so what makes the 'Rider priders intolerable where other fan bases are not. I don't need a recap of their behaviour, just trying to piece together why it seems so effective in pushing emotional buttons here.

So, someone who cheers loudly and proudly for their home team is by your definition an annoying person? Then why do you even bother posting on this fan site at all, since it's home to some of the loudest and proudest fans around? Or is it only fans of opposing teams that are annoying? And your statement "I know what kind of fan I am and don't need to throw it in anyone's faces" is essentially trying to throw it in other's faces that you are a better fan. It reads as "I know I'm better than them because I don't need to rah-rah in people's faces" and yet you complain openly about their in your face fandom even though you supposedly are above all that. You feel the need, it seems, to call out the "Canada's team" label, not because you've successfully argued that it's a bunch of B.S., but because it gets under your skin (which is precisely the reaction the most truly annoying are going for - don't take the bait because it exposes the very inferiority complex that gives them the justification to proclaim "we are the best fans because we are superior and those inferior fans know it"). I could tune it out, sure. I have no time for the Canada's Team label, but I'm not "desperate for them" to suffer miserably, "sick of it ad nauseum" or "annoyed to hell" about it, and just was originally wondering what causes that level of "hate with every fibre of my being", especially since it's fuelled by "having lived through a lot of **** as a Bomber fan" (not sure why one leads to the other, unless it's jealousy and inferiority). I was trying to understand why it gets under the skin of so many to such an extent, and if it's anything beyond the relative successes our teams have had in the last decade. And I agree, shoot down the hyperbole, but that's what's lacking here - a coherent argument to shoot down the hyperbole. The only argument against the anointment of them as the "best fans" is "it's annoying" and not "it's completely inaccurate". They have good fans who travel well across the nation, strong ticket base, are very profitable, the best merchandise sales in Canadian sport, and loyal players. Pretty good reasons to proclaim how great your fans are. But so what, we have great fans too. They've had lean times and have suffered with less support, so have we and any other struggling team. The response to it just reminds me of Homer Simpson's grumblings about Ned Flanders: "I don't hate him, I'm just happy to see him fall flat on his butt. He's usually so happy with life and his family and so content with how successful he is, and it makes me feel…what's the opposite of that schaudenfreude thing?" (Lisa) "Sour grapes." I guess, like 17's lack of tolerance with annoying people, I have a low tolerance for arrogance combined with ignorance, which often displays as hypocrisy, and I'd wish for more calmness and maturity from the masses than pettiness and spite. Bomber fans criticizing the way that "in your face" Rider fans act and pretending that they are better than them is the height of arrogance and ignorance. Saying "we don't need to parade our jerseys around and be in your face about it" and then saying "when they fail and everyones jumps off the bandwagon, we'll prove once again that we are TRULY the best fans and deserving of the title that has falsely been given to them" is so begging to be recognized that it reeks of insecurity and inferiority. And hypocritical too. I've been around long enough to see lean Bomber years, and make no mistake, there was an exodus of the bandwagon then too (take a look at the empty stands during the Reinbold years) and sudden resurgence and seeming arrogance (Swaggerville, anyone?) when times got good. We are no better than 'Rider fans during the good times and no worse during the bad, but as fan bases in the CFL go both are pretty rock solid. So for those who get irked by the "in your face" 'Rider fans, let it go and don't let the hype machine eat you up. And for those whose irritation is fuelled by the belief we are better than all that and need them to fail so we can prove it, get over yourselves, because you rent and it's kind of embarrassing to think that. Bu that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

OK, extreme example to make a generalization from, but fair comment, that is over the top. Can be frustrating to see a fan base take a distinctly Canadian moment and turn it into self-promotion for their own sense of perceived importance. And Bomber fans would never do something that crass. Now let's all sing along to the National anthem - everyone say it with me: "Glorious and free Blue" And while we're at it, during the moment of silence at the Remembrance Day game, let's start the "Let's go Bombers!" chant. Because that's what our fallen soldiers fought for and would want us to do.

...And here's the Rider "fans" we all know and love. This is why I'm desperate for them to go through a bout of Al Ford Years. We'll test out this theory about "Best Fans".......Just curious - do you feel personally threatened by the level of fandom in Saskatachewan? Why does it bother you so much that they have the "best fans" label?Maybe he finds it an obnoxious, and subjective. As well, like most non Rider fans, gets sick of them endlessly telling anyone who will listen? So don't listen, problem solved. Not sure why it's worth getting in a twist over. Rise above, man.

So, inferiority complex basically?

One of the few who didn't pick Cornish last week (not that it helped me get a check mark!), so I'll try him this week.

...And here's the Rider "fans" we all know and love. This is why I'm desperate for them to go through a bout of Al Ford Years. We'll test out this theory about "Best Fans"....... Just curious - do you feel personally threatened by the level of fandom in Saskatachewan? Why does it bother you so much that they have the "best fans" label?

Here are the posts knocking the "classless" Durant and saying "karma": And here are the posts praising the Bombers for the same type of trash talk: I saw that too. What most people didn't see, because I doubt it was on TV, was at the game during player intros, there was a sort of stage area for the players to stand on the field. The rest of the Bombers were doing as they should and watching from their sideline, but Dom Picard was marching around on the field just inside their stage area on the field. Small thing but it looked like he was trying to show the Riders a little disrespect. I loved it! Love it!!

Have to kind of laugh at the posts where we claim that Durant's injury is "karma" for his trash-talking at the start of the game and how classless he is, but then we laud Picard and Moore for exactly the same behaviour when they disrupted the 'Rider introduction. Can't have not both ways, Bomber fans.