I was talking to this woman and she was really awesome. She was originally from Seattle but got married to a Canadian and moved to Edmonton like 20 years ago. She was the type that looks really young even for her age but I figured she was like at least in her 40's. But I could really relate to her being originally a native of the area and into fishing, hunting and the outdoors. But she was telling me how she is a huge Eskimos fan, and I thought wow thats unique and different. But I also remember how that was a franchise I really respected because when Warren Moon left the UW, the NFL wasnt really ready yet for black QB's but he got a job in Edmonton and set all kinds of records up there. Any other CFL fans out there?

One of my favorite NFL'ers Jeff Garcia was also a product of the Canadian Football League.

Anyone who got their training playing in Canadian weather should do pretty well here down south.

Even if it were readily available here I'm not sure I could enjoy it as much. New England and Buffalo are bad enough for me. But the Edmonton weather would probably make them look like Florida.

Jeff in his Canadian Football League Uniform

[ August 08, 2002: Message edited by: sportinlife ]

This year the Grey Cup match will be in Edmonton on November 24th.

My team is the Alouettes. They are 6-0 so far this season (they're playing tonight).

You talk about players who go from the NFL to the CFL; one who made the reverse trip is Lawrence Phillips. He played in the NFL. I think he run into some problems with the law. He played in Europe and this year signed with the Alouettes.

I'll go with the BC Lions.

Huh, the BC Lions... not many occasions to celebrate for them so far this year. If they can manage to finish third in the division everything is possible. Wasn't it two years ago, the Lions won the Grey Cup and they didn't have a winning regular season.

Why yes they were 8-10, but 6 out 8 teams make the playoffs. Now with the addition of the Ottawa team it is 6 out of 9. http://www.bclions.com

The Alouettes are not invincible! They lost their first game of this season to the BC Lions. The Lions made an interception at their 1 yard line with only a couple minutes left and on one play go all the way down the field and score a touchdown.

A win for BC... gp43 will be happy with that.

As a Flutie fan, I followed Doug's career in the CFL. Like the Mounties, football players always get their man!

As a Flutie fan, I followed Doug's career in the CFL. Like the Mounties, football players always get their man!

Nice to see a thread on Canadian football for a change, although judging by the date of the last posting, I'm a little late joining in. My Stampeders, who won the Grey Cup last year, are having a dismal season in '02 thus far. Since they likely aren't going to repeat last year's success, I'll cheer for Montreal, who have been the class of the CFL for the past several years, but always seem to choke in the playoffs. But I wouldn't rule out Edmonton, they are the hottest team in the West right now, and have the cutest QB, a guy named Ricky Ray.

I guess I'm replying to my own post, but here's a picture of the aforementioned Ricky Ray, QB for the Edmonton Eskimos. I think he's adorable.

http://www.esks.com/players.asp?xnumber=15

I forgot to mention, he has acquired the nickname 'Frito Ray', a reference to the fact that he used to work for the Frito Lay company stocking grocery store shelves with potato chips. Sounds a bit like Kurt Warner's story, doesn't it?

[ September 07, 2002: Message edited by: Marc ]

Thanks for the update guys....I always used to enjoy watching the CFL games (albeit on tape delay, even the Grey Cup) on ESPN back in the 80s and early 90s and even went to a couple of Baltimore Stallions games when the CFL briefly experimented with teams in the US -- which, unfortunately, turned out to be a financial disaster with limited exceptions and virtually bankrupted the league if I'm not mistaken....anyway, I've never understood why the CFL games have never been available on US television over the past decade when so many fledgling sports networks are seemingly begging for quality competition to televise, especially during weekdays and in the wee hours of the morning when a few of us insomniacs are occasionally still awake scanning the dial....after all, ESPN and Fox Sports Net have no problem showing mediocre programs like x-games/"you won't believe this"/"best damn sports show", etc. when I'm sure it wouldn't be outrageously expensive to pay for rights to televise CFL down here....despite the rule changes, many of the players are also recognizable names from their collegiate days which one would think would generate at least moderate interest among the American sports fan (after all, it couldn't possibly do any worse than the XFL, right?)....can anyone explain why the CFL is taboo on American television or is it just a perception among network execs that their "brand of football" is far too different and not worth showing?

I, too, have always admired players like Doug and Darren Flutie (a successful WR who I believe is still an active player up north) who decided to play in Canada for far less fame and fortune in order to keep their dream of the NFL alive and presumably for the love of the game (which at least applies to a few of em, I would hope)....I still check out the league standings, when available, and wish there were more coverage....it beats watching these so-called sporting events like animals jumping in water and teens riding bicycles over sand dunes....long live the CFL.

[ September 07, 2002: Message edited by: gamecock ]