DONTAYLOR

★ kicks & giggles
Justfor
PHOTO: Shawn Coates
Kicks &Giggles
UMM and The Hosts Of Sportsnet Connected Talk CFL
By Chris Tessaro
Hockey. Tim Horton’s. Football
with three downs. THAT’S CanPHOTO: Dave Darichuk
ada, baby, and when it comes
summer time, coffee is out,
DONTAYLOR
Host, Sportsnet Connected
is heating up and ready to rock.
Q|
From the Maritimes right across the
prairies into the Pacific, Canadian
football has become the best game
in town. Fans everywhere have
jumped onto the CFL bandwagon.
Who will win the
Grey Cup?
BC Lions: “Hailing from Vancouver
I may be just a little biased on this
one. The BC Lions have managed to
keep their outstanding core together
– (quarterback) Dave Dickenson,
Geroy Simon, (defensive end) Brent
Johnson, the list goes on. The Leos
have all the makings of a true power-
Q|
house. Why wouldn’t I pick them?”
What they don’t realize is that this
Who has the
hottest cheerleaders?
league, and this great game have
Q|
been around for a hundred years!!
Montreal Alouettes: “There
is something about Montreal
women that every man west of
But none of that matters…when it’s
third and goal, down by six and time
to make it or break it, fans everywhere are on their feet cheering.
And it all comes down to one game:
The Grey Cup. November 25th in
Toronto. To kick off a season of
Quebec has the hots for.”
Q|
“Not to be wishy-washy on this but
I have always been someone who
doesn’t compare the two leagues.
There are things about each league
which are better than the other.”
chest-thumping, trash talking, and
five receivers in motion, UMM spoke
with the four hosts of Sportsnet Connected to get their take on cheerleaders, teams, stadiums, and the
things that make the CFL great…
Which do you
prefer, CFL or NFL?
Q
|
If you were commissioner, what changes
would you make to the CFL?
“Get rid of the single point on missed
field goals! Rewarding failure makes
no sense. I know it is a CFL tradition
but not all traditions are good. I would
also push hard for a ninth team in the
league in either Ottawa, Quebec City
or somewhere in the Maritimes.”
48 | summer 2007
Q|
Who will be the
worst team in the CFL?
Winnipeg: “This team has had
quarterback issues for the last
several seasons and I can’t see
that changing this season.”
Q | Who is the best
player in the CFL?
Geroy Simon “He’s got it all;
deceptive speed, great hands and
a knack for getting open. We will
forgive him for wearing the same
What is your best
CFL memory?
1994 West Final: “I was there when
BC beat Calgary on the last play of
the game in the driving snow.
(Danny) McManus to (Darren)
Flutie will go down as one of the
great moments in Lions history.”
Q | The CFL recently appointed Mark Cohon as
Commissioner. In your opinion,
who sould be Commissioner?
“I’m sure Mark Cohon will do a
fine job. But, if he falters, it would
be hard to find a better man than
Argonauts’ Boss Keith Pelley
who has valuable experience in
both the CFL and television.” number as Terrell Owens!”
Q|
Your favourite sta-
dium to watch a game?
McMahon Stadium: “Fans are right
on top of the play at McMahon and
Calgary fans are very much into each
and every play. Some of the most
knowledgeable fans in the league add
to a great atmosphere.”
Q|
Best CFL City to
hold the Grey Cup?
Calgary: “Not that Calgary is a small
town but it has that feel. Every
person gets right into everything
during Grey Cup week and it
makes for one helluva party!”
Don Taylor Portrait PHOTO: Kim Stallknecht
hockey has melted but the CFL
Portrait PHOTOs: Dan Galic
Don Taylor Portrait PHOTO: Kim Stallknecht
Action PHOTOs: John Sokolowski
PHOTO: Dave Darichuk
PHOTO: Shawn Coates
kicks & giggles ★
will be the
Q | Who
worst team in
MARTINE GAILLARD
the CFL?
Edmonton: “I’m afraid
it’s going to be a long
year in Edmonton with
all the rebuilding.”
spotting me and having me
tossed out for being a member
of the media and infiltrating
their inner circle. Thank God
that never happened. It was
such an amazing experience!”
Host, Sportsnet Connected
Who is the best player in the CFL?
will win Q
| Who
the Grey Cup?
Q|
Calgary Stampeders: “I
think the Stamps have
the most complete team
heading into the season.”
“That’s easy, B.C. receiver
Geroy Simon. How can
you argue with the most
outstanding player in the
CFL? The guy is amazing!”
Q|
Who has the hot-
test cheerleaders?
“There are cheerleaders in
the CFL??? I hadn’t noticed.
Kidding! I have to go with the
BC Lions. My friend Tracy
was a cheerleader there for
years and she’s totally hot!”
Q|
Which do you prefer, CFL or NFL?
CFL: “Why go out to
eat hamburger when I
have steak at home?”
you were Q | Ifcommissioner,
what changes would
you make to the CFL?
“Free beer for all women
at all the games.
Why? Duh…”
Q
|
Your favourite
stadium to watch
a game?
“Mosaic Stadium (formerly
Taylor Field) hands down. The
Riders have the best fans in
the league and I have to go
with the home province and
my old stomping grounds.”
is your best
Q | What
CFL memory?
Jim Lang
Q | The CFL recently appointed Mark Cohon
as Commissioner. In
your opinion, who sould
be Commissioner?
Jim Lang of Sportsnet Connected: “Commissioner Clubber! I’ve never met someone
so passionate about the
CFL. Plus he’s a man of the
people and he would rubber
stamp the free beer idea!”.
“This past season I went to an
Argos game with a friend of
David Cynamon’s (Argonaut
co-owner). She got us passes
to get on the field where we
ran into David who invited us
into the Argos’ locker room to
hear Pinball’s pre-game sermon to the players. Talk about
being a fly on the wall! I had
visions of one of the players
CFL City to
Q | Best
hold the Grey Cup?
“Again, I have to go with
Regina. We have already seen
in the past how great a host
this city is for the big event.
There’s nothing like prairie
hospitality and the CFL is so
huge in the West. Not to mention, they know how to party!”
summer 2007 |
49
★ kicks & giggles
BRADFAY
Host, Sportsnet Connected
< GEROY SIMON
PHOTO: John Sokolowski
Q | Who will win the
Grey Cup?
decade ago. They will repeat.”
Q | The CFL recently appointed Mark Cohon as Commissioner. In your opinion, who
should be Commissioner?
Q | Who has the
hottest cheerleaders?
Q | Which do you
prefer, CFL or NFL?
CFL: “I prefer the CFL with its wide
open style, but I’m a football fan
Q | Who will be the
worst team in the CFL?
Edmonton: “For the first time in my lifetime
of watching, Edmonton will be the worst
team in the CFL. They’ve had their share
and it will look good on them. Time to
take down the ‘City of Champions’ sign.”
Q | Your favourite stadium to
watch a game?
Ivor Wynne Stadium (Hamilton): “Ivor
Wynne is the CFL’s version of Lambeau Field or Notre Dame Stadium. It
is understated with great sightlines and
the best atmosphere in the league.”
“Tom Wright should have been the CFL
commish for as long as he likes. Pushing
him out remains a very strange move
— he should still be the man. Second
choice: Sportsnet’s Don Taylor.”
Q | Who is the best player
Q | If you were commis-
sioner, what changes
would you make to the CFL?
“I would play the Grey Cup on Saturday
like way back in the day, so those
in the host city can celebrate with
the winners deep into the night.”
50 | summer 2007
in the CFL?
Geroy Simon: “He won the award last
year and remains on a level with the best
receivers ever to play: Mervyn Fernandez,
Terry Greer, Alan Pitts, Brian Kelly, etc.”
Q | What is your best CFL memory?
“I have two favourite CFL memories.
1977 Western Semifinal at Empire
Stadium when the Lions beat the Blue
Bombers by a point. I won the coin
toss with my brother and got to attend
the game with my dad. Still the most
exciting game I’ve ever been at.
Q | Best CFL City to hold the Grey Cup?
“Nobody embraces the Grey Cup game
like the prairie cities. Regina wins as best
host city by a narrow margin. But I would
LOVE to see them somehow host the
Portrait PHOTO: Dan Galic
and still love both games.”
fan PHOTO: Kim stallknecHt
Edmonton: “Anybody who can
look hot in minus 40 weather; holding that smile while their body
ceases up deserves high praise.”
Grey Cup PHOTO: Dave Darichuk
The other, I watched on
TV — 1994 Western Final in Calgary,
where the Lions upset the Stampeders in the snow. Perhaps the best
CFL game in the past 20 years.”
BC Lions: “This is the best CFL team
since the Argos went back-to-back
with Doug Flutie as quarterback a
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ad
Grey Cup PHOTO: Dave Darichuk
fan PHOTO: Kim stallknecHt
Portrait PHOTO: Dan Galic
51
summer 2007 |
★ kicks & giggles
SEANMcCORMICK
Host, Sportsnet Connected
Q | Who will win
the Grey Cup?
BC Lions: “They’ve got the deepest
set of quarterbacks in the CFL,
a talented receiving corps, and a
defence that finds a way to get it
done. Above all, if I were starting a
CFL team today, coach Wally Buono
would be my first hire.”
Q | If you were commis-
sioner, what changes
would you make to
the CFL?
“No dudes allowed on
cheer teams.”
Q | Who has the
hottest cheerleaders?
“Hands down, the BC Lions. They’re
called the Felions - that’s awesome.
The worst would have to be the Edmonton Eskimos. They’ve got dudes
on the squad for crying out loud - I’ll
take the cheap seats, thanks.”
Q | Who will be the
worst team in the CFL?
Q | What is your best CFL memory?
prefer, CFL or NFL?
player in the CFL?
Geroy Simon: “He’s averaged 1500
yards receiving over the last four
years, and done it with a plethora
Q | The CFL recently appointed Mark Cohon
as Commissioner. In
your opinion, who should
be Commissioner?
Carmen Electra: “The owners
don’t listen to what the commissioner says anyway, so you might
as well give your target demo
some eye candy.”
Q | Best CFL City to hold the Grey Cup?
“Any city in the Prairies. They just
seem to appreciate it more. If I
had to pick one, I’ll go with my
hometown - E-town.”
n Sigoloff
52 | summer 2007
Q | Who is the best
dium to watch a game?
“Taylor Field… er... Mosaic stadium.
It was so much cooler before they
sold the name, but I’ll let it slide.
Saskatchewan football fans are
the root of all good that is the CFL
- dedicated, passionate, polite, and
rowdy all at the same time. I can
smell the briquette smoke rising into
summer sunset from the northwest
corner of the stadium now.”
PHOTO: jbgphoto.com/ Stephe
CFL: “Just because the NFL players
are bigger, stronger and faster than
CFL players doesn’t mean that the
NFL is a better game. Personally, I
think the game down there sucks.
If a CFL game is within 20 points
heading to the fourth quarter, you’ve
still got a ball game. Watching the
NFL is like watching a neutral zone
trap.”
Q | Your favourite sta-
Portrait PHOTO: Dan Galic
Q | Which do you
“You might not want to print this
one, but you asked. 2002 Grey
Cup in Edmonton. My buddy
and I made the trip out from
Vancouver to see the Eskimos
play for all the marbles at home
against the Als. It was minus 25
in the fourth quarter, and the
score was too close to leave
for a bathroom break, so my
buddy relieved himself into
an empty beer cup under
his jacket and placed it on
the ground under his seat.
Moments later the Eskies
scored a touchdown in the
final minute to pull within
one point of the lead. 60,000 people
went ballistic – jumping and screaming - pandemonium as far as the eye
could see. The warmest beer cup in
the joint had disappeared into thin
air. Never to be heard from again.
And I still have no desire to find out
what happened to it.”
of other talented targets on the
team. Then again, it could be argued
that’s helped him get open, but I still
think he’s the best player anywhere
right now.”
action PHOTOs: Kim stallknecht
Edmonton: “I really don’t know how
Edmonton is going to deal with the
new salary cap rules. They had a
bloated payroll last year and missed
the playoffs. This year they’ve had
to trim the payroll and part ways
with guys like (receiver) Ed Hervey,
(linebacker) Singor Mobley, and
perennial 1,000 yard rusher Troy
Davis. (Quarterback) is good, but
not THAT good.”