Saturday, August 25, 2007
Friday, August 17, 2007
One third of the season in
It is about time I talked some CFL is it not? I thought I would give some report cards for the 8 teams in the CFL
A British Columbia Lions
4-2-0
The could easily be 6-0 except for a couple of ifs. If Dave Dickenson had not been hurt against Saskatchewan and if Buck Pierce had not been hurt in the same game, I think they would be rolling to the Grey Cup. Instead, they lost both and are in a dogfight for first place. BCs defence seems strong, they are stingy against the run and are a team of ballhawks. They are still the best team in the CFL. My biggest concern is the health of Dickenson, if he gets hurt again, he could wind up permanently damaged, how many concussions are enough?
A- Winnipeg Blue Bombers
3-2-1
Winnipeg has built a team that went 5-13 two years ago to a team with 3 wins in their first 6 games this year. They lead the CFL East with 7 points and should be the favourite to come out of the East. Kevin Glenn has gone from being the backup in Saskatchewan to being the best starter in the CFL this year. Their defence is solid. Only the team's failure to show up against Hamilton stops them from being an A or better. Their early season shakiness against Edmonton has not helped either.
B Saskatchewan Roughriders
4-2-0
I would love to give them an A+ after they beat BC, but their poor showing against Edmonton in Week 4 (no points in the second half?) and getting blown out by BC in Week 3 show that Saskatchewan still has some room to grow. The strength of the Riders is their defence, leading or second in the league in 20 of 25 categories. The offence seems to be suspect once in awhile with Kerry Joseph not really convincing me yet he can take the Riders all the way. Wes Cates has proven an unexpected surprise for a run happy team.
C- Edmonton Eskimos
2-3-1
Edmonton is a bit of an anomaly, they have beaten or tied teams better teams than they are, but the next week they fail to show up. I still don't know if their 21-20 win over Saskatchewan was due to amazing defence or a complete collapse by the Green Riders. The Edmonton defence has done nothing, last or near the bottom in every category (except yards allowed). You never know which team is going to show up the bad one, or the really bad one.
D+ Hamilton Tiger-Cats
1-5-0
The Ti-Cats are a tough team to judge, Jesse Lumsden is going to be a superstar in this league, he has rushed for 600 yards on 67 carries, too bad the rest of the team looks so bad. The constant misuse of Corey Holmes makes me wonder about the sanity of the teams offensive coordinator. Hamilton has to make some adjustments to their defence to win some games.
D Montreal Alouettes
3-3-0
Now you might be wondering why I placed a 3-3 team beneath the 1-5 Ticats, there is only one reason why the teams below Hamilton are scored worse, they have better teams than Hamilton, they are just underperforming. Montreal may be .500 but the teams they have beaten have a combined record of 3-9! Montreal has looked awful, they seem to be too old and slow to compete against the top teams in the league anymore. Jarret Payton may change all that, another great rusher in the East may help take the pressure off this team, otherwise they will be a mediocre team in the weaker division.
D Toronto Argonauts
2-4-0
Toronto does have an excuse, they tried to go back to the Damon Allen well one too many times, now he is too old and hurt to play, Michael Bishop is hurt, Mike McMahon doesn't have the confidence of the coaches, which leaves Rocky Butler, the 3rd string QB from Saskatchewan 2 years ago (see Kevin Glenn). Toronto prides itself on it's defence, which it better, because until Butler gets comfortable steering, or Bishop gets back, they are going to be fighting Hamilton for the basement.
D- Calgary Stampeders
3-3-0
I don't understand this team at all. They have arguably the CFL's most exciting quarterback (and probably the 2nd best) in Henry Burris, a recieving corps most teams would kill for, one of the top three RBs in Joffrey Reynolds and a defence that couldn't stop a granny with a walker. Calgary used to have a great defence, did a year make that much difference? They have beaten nobody of note, blowing out Toronto and Hamilton is meaningless and the only important game they won was against Edmonton. I was tempted to mark them an F, because they are a grossly underperforming team. Calgary should be 4-2 or 5-1, instead they are .500.
Now a first third Grey Cup prediction, Saskatchewan vs Winnipeg in the Banjo Bowl, with Saskatchewan winning with a Luca Congi field goal, unless Dickenson gets healthy, then it is a Lions cup.
A British Columbia Lions
4-2-0
The could easily be 6-0 except for a couple of ifs. If Dave Dickenson had not been hurt against Saskatchewan and if Buck Pierce had not been hurt in the same game, I think they would be rolling to the Grey Cup. Instead, they lost both and are in a dogfight for first place. BCs defence seems strong, they are stingy against the run and are a team of ballhawks. They are still the best team in the CFL. My biggest concern is the health of Dickenson, if he gets hurt again, he could wind up permanently damaged, how many concussions are enough?
A- Winnipeg Blue Bombers
3-2-1
Winnipeg has built a team that went 5-13 two years ago to a team with 3 wins in their first 6 games this year. They lead the CFL East with 7 points and should be the favourite to come out of the East. Kevin Glenn has gone from being the backup in Saskatchewan to being the best starter in the CFL this year. Their defence is solid. Only the team's failure to show up against Hamilton stops them from being an A or better. Their early season shakiness against Edmonton has not helped either.
B Saskatchewan Roughriders
4-2-0
I would love to give them an A+ after they beat BC, but their poor showing against Edmonton in Week 4 (no points in the second half?) and getting blown out by BC in Week 3 show that Saskatchewan still has some room to grow. The strength of the Riders is their defence, leading or second in the league in 20 of 25 categories. The offence seems to be suspect once in awhile with Kerry Joseph not really convincing me yet he can take the Riders all the way. Wes Cates has proven an unexpected surprise for a run happy team.
C- Edmonton Eskimos
2-3-1
Edmonton is a bit of an anomaly, they have beaten or tied teams better teams than they are, but the next week they fail to show up. I still don't know if their 21-20 win over Saskatchewan was due to amazing defence or a complete collapse by the Green Riders. The Edmonton defence has done nothing, last or near the bottom in every category (except yards allowed). You never know which team is going to show up the bad one, or the really bad one.
D+ Hamilton Tiger-Cats
1-5-0
The Ti-Cats are a tough team to judge, Jesse Lumsden is going to be a superstar in this league, he has rushed for 600 yards on 67 carries, too bad the rest of the team looks so bad. The constant misuse of Corey Holmes makes me wonder about the sanity of the teams offensive coordinator. Hamilton has to make some adjustments to their defence to win some games.
D Montreal Alouettes
3-3-0
Now you might be wondering why I placed a 3-3 team beneath the 1-5 Ticats, there is only one reason why the teams below Hamilton are scored worse, they have better teams than Hamilton, they are just underperforming. Montreal may be .500 but the teams they have beaten have a combined record of 3-9! Montreal has looked awful, they seem to be too old and slow to compete against the top teams in the league anymore. Jarret Payton may change all that, another great rusher in the East may help take the pressure off this team, otherwise they will be a mediocre team in the weaker division.
D Toronto Argonauts
2-4-0
Toronto does have an excuse, they tried to go back to the Damon Allen well one too many times, now he is too old and hurt to play, Michael Bishop is hurt, Mike McMahon doesn't have the confidence of the coaches, which leaves Rocky Butler, the 3rd string QB from Saskatchewan 2 years ago (see Kevin Glenn). Toronto prides itself on it's defence, which it better, because until Butler gets comfortable steering, or Bishop gets back, they are going to be fighting Hamilton for the basement.
D- Calgary Stampeders
3-3-0
I don't understand this team at all. They have arguably the CFL's most exciting quarterback (and probably the 2nd best) in Henry Burris, a recieving corps most teams would kill for, one of the top three RBs in Joffrey Reynolds and a defence that couldn't stop a granny with a walker. Calgary used to have a great defence, did a year make that much difference? They have beaten nobody of note, blowing out Toronto and Hamilton is meaningless and the only important game they won was against Edmonton. I was tempted to mark them an F, because they are a grossly underperforming team. Calgary should be 4-2 or 5-1, instead they are .500.
Now a first third Grey Cup prediction, Saskatchewan vs Winnipeg in the Banjo Bowl, with Saskatchewan winning with a Luca Congi field goal, unless Dickenson gets healthy, then it is a Lions cup.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Strange Double think
1. The left equates Bush with Hitler and attacks his support of Israel.
2. It bridles at the charge that it is antisemitic and singles out the world's only Jewish state for universal condemnation.
3. It says that the president has shredded the Constitution and that it is is a living document.
4. It accuses the president of going into Iraq for oil, and it also accuses him of destroying the infrastructure of Iraq.
5. It says that corporations are evil, and it relies on their inventions and products like everyone else.
6. It calls America a racist, genocidal state, and it attacks the administration for squandering our international reputation.
7. It says that the debate about global warming is over and refuses to debate challengers.
8. The left is for women's rights and for cultures that see things differently.
9. It says that the term "colored people" is racist and that we should say "people of color" instead.
10. It says that globalization is bad and that international cooperation is good.
11. Whenever President Bush invokes the memory of 9/11, the left calls him a fear monger, and it also insists that a catastrophic climate change is coming soon.
12. It says that the president is out of touch with reality and that he conspires with evil masterminds to grab as much imperial power as he can.
13. The left sees portents of a Christian theocracy behind every Christmas creche, and it will call you a bigot twice over if you say that jihadists are Islamic kamikaze killers.
14. It says that we cannot win in Iraq but that we can destroy the planet.
15. The left wants to stop us from promoting abstinence as the ideal means of birth and STD control, but mandates forcing tobacco companies to advertise non-smoking among teens because it is sure to result in fewer smokers.
16. The left wants us to surrender in the war against terror in Iraq because it is a long and costly venture, but also wants us to keep on fighting the war on poverty which has so far cost trillions ($12 trillion, according to some estimates) and is now in its 5 th decade.
17. The left wants us to believe the same government that does such a good job running veterans' healthcare, public education, social security, and immigration is going to really do a great job running a nationalized healthcare system.
18. It hates religion -- except for Islam, which can do no wrong.
From Wicked Thoughts
2. It bridles at the charge that it is antisemitic and singles out the world's only Jewish state for universal condemnation.
3. It says that the president has shredded the Constitution and that it is is a living document.
4. It accuses the president of going into Iraq for oil, and it also accuses him of destroying the infrastructure of Iraq.
5. It says that corporations are evil, and it relies on their inventions and products like everyone else.
6. It calls America a racist, genocidal state, and it attacks the administration for squandering our international reputation.
7. It says that the debate about global warming is over and refuses to debate challengers.
8. The left is for women's rights and for cultures that see things differently.
9. It says that the term "colored people" is racist and that we should say "people of color" instead.
10. It says that globalization is bad and that international cooperation is good.
11. Whenever President Bush invokes the memory of 9/11, the left calls him a fear monger, and it also insists that a catastrophic climate change is coming soon.
12. It says that the president is out of touch with reality and that he conspires with evil masterminds to grab as much imperial power as he can.
13. The left sees portents of a Christian theocracy behind every Christmas creche, and it will call you a bigot twice over if you say that jihadists are Islamic kamikaze killers.
14. It says that we cannot win in Iraq but that we can destroy the planet.
15. The left wants to stop us from promoting abstinence as the ideal means of birth and STD control, but mandates forcing tobacco companies to advertise non-smoking among teens because it is sure to result in fewer smokers.
16. The left wants us to surrender in the war against terror in Iraq because it is a long and costly venture, but also wants us to keep on fighting the war on poverty which has so far cost trillions ($12 trillion, according to some estimates) and is now in its 5 th decade.
17. The left wants us to believe the same government that does such a good job running veterans' healthcare, public education, social security, and immigration is going to really do a great job running a nationalized healthcare system.
18. It hates religion -- except for Islam, which can do no wrong.
From Wicked Thoughts
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Egyptians kill refugees, world yawns
Where is the outrage?
Forbes
The Jordanian News
Egyptian soldiers killed four Sudanese refugees near the Egypt-Israel border overnight Wednesday in full view of IDF troops, a shaken-sounding IDF soldier said in an interview with Channel 10, Thursday evening.
According to the soldier, female IDF troops operating night vision devices identified several refugees approaching the border in an attempt to infiltrate Israel and alerted other soldiers who arrived after a few minutes in an army jeep.
However, Egyptian troops who also discovered the refugees, fired upon them, immediately killing two and wounding a third. A fourth refugee ran towards the fence and an IDF soldier stretched out his hands, trying to help him cross.
At that point, the soldier recalled, two Egyptian soldiers arrived and started pulling at the refugee’s legs.
“It was literally like we were playing ‘tug of war’ with this man,” the soldier said. The soldier eventually loosened his grip on the man, fearing the Egyptians would shoot him. “They were aiming loaded weapons straight at us, I was afraid they were going to shoot us,” he said.
The Egyptians then carried the man several meters away from the border fence, and proceeded to beat him and another wounded refugee to death with stones and clubs.
“What happened there yesterday was a lynch. These are not men, they’re animals. They killed him without even using firearms,” the soldier said. “We just heard screams of pain and the sounds of beatings. Then the screams stopped.”
Forbes
The Jordanian News
Egyptian soldiers killed four Sudanese refugees near the Egypt-Israel border overnight Wednesday in full view of IDF troops, a shaken-sounding IDF soldier said in an interview with Channel 10, Thursday evening.
According to the soldier, female IDF troops operating night vision devices identified several refugees approaching the border in an attempt to infiltrate Israel and alerted other soldiers who arrived after a few minutes in an army jeep.
However, Egyptian troops who also discovered the refugees, fired upon them, immediately killing two and wounding a third. A fourth refugee ran towards the fence and an IDF soldier stretched out his hands, trying to help him cross.
At that point, the soldier recalled, two Egyptian soldiers arrived and started pulling at the refugee’s legs.
“It was literally like we were playing ‘tug of war’ with this man,” the soldier said. The soldier eventually loosened his grip on the man, fearing the Egyptians would shoot him. “They were aiming loaded weapons straight at us, I was afraid they were going to shoot us,” he said.
The Egyptians then carried the man several meters away from the border fence, and proceeded to beat him and another wounded refugee to death with stones and clubs.
“What happened there yesterday was a lynch. These are not men, they’re animals. They killed him without even using firearms,” the soldier said. “We just heard screams of pain and the sounds of beatings. Then the screams stopped.”
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