Conference kaosws::canada

    This year's Grey Cup game proved that Canadian Football rules can
still lead to exciting play -- as long as the teams play to the players
potential.  I think management is the problem, along with the schools
not providing any new Canadian stars!  There is a widespread inability
of coaches to bring out the skills that will work in the CFL. We have
lots of good athletes who could be great assets to a team, if only they
were used the right way. 

    The extra passing you see in Canadian football because of the 
three down system is great.  And the emphasis on speed over weight
because of the longer and wider play field.  I even like the duel of the
kickers you see in Canadian football, and the fact you can score a point 
on a missed field goal if the ball is not run out.  Why not, you earned
the field position; then there is the excitement of the decision to try
a runback or concede the point. It all adds up to more "playable
situations" in Canadian Football, and more tactical possibilities. 

    Going to the US kicking game rules would be a bad idea.  When you
see a team kick the ball, chase it, and make sure it doesn't roll
backwards, and the receiving team isn't even on the field ... you gotta
shake your head.  Anyone for golf? 

    But I don't see how the old CFL can survive -- school football is
dying... it seems ridiculous to bring in more American coaching and
players.  They were brought up on the American game, it takes a couple
of years to really adapt; and often they just want to star here for a
while and get a good US offer.  Then their Canadian fans start watching
NFL to see the "name players" they know.

    Things look grim, pass the beer, eh? (Schooner please) 

    Regarding .1 I agree 100% about the exciting play of Canadian football.
    When was the last really exciting Super Bowl?? Maybe when Pittsburgh
    beat Dallas 36-31 (I think?). The last few Super Bowls have been
    Super Boring except the hype... 
    
    One problem with the CFL is the way teams trade players around.
    I remember when I was able to name off everyone on Montreal and
    most of the players on the other squads as well. Today I'd be lucky
    to get 7 players from Toronto correct. Why? because players are
    changed as often as underwear. This causes frustration with the
    basic fan who can't identify with his/her favorite team.
    
    I'm sorry to say, but I don't see a bright future for the poor ole
    CFL. What a shame!
    
    Ron

	I guess I pretty much agree with Ron. I stopped being a fan of 
the CFL when the Allouettes nearly went under and came back as the Concords.
I think one of the main problems with the CFL is, in my opinion, to many 
Americans. I think that if the CFL would stop trying to lure U.S. talent with
big Canadian bucks and start developing Canadian talent with those $$$, my 
interest in the CFL might perk up. This might give the schools a reason to 
develop talent as well. 
	I agree, too many players are being traded left and right and you 
can't grow attached to a team. The CFL isn't Canadian enough for me. I want 
to see teams with lots of Canadians and lots of character, not teams full of 
American players who couldn't make it in the NFL, which is where they all 
dream of playing in the first place. 
	The future looks pretty grim for the CFL the way I see it. When I heard
that the BC Lions were having financial difficulties I thought it spelled the 
the beginning of the end for the league. The big problem for me is, there's no
Allouettes for me to cheer for anymore. Whaaaaaaaaaaaa! :-(

	Glenn ;-)

        Not that I ever was a fan of the CFL, but what's that new rule
        I hear about a 2-pointer on a missed conversion ??!
        

    When I live in Osgoode, near Ottawa, and was a cub, Russ Jackson once
    came down to our Father/Son night. It was great ! Those were the days.
    
    I prefer the Canadian version to the U.S. version. I even helped form
    an American Football team over here, but they wanted 4 downs and not 3.
    
    Wayne

    What do you think about the Argos firing Mike McCarthy?  Do you think 
    he will find another job soon or has anyone heard where he might be 
    headed?                           

    McCarthy probably won't find another job in the CFL.
    
    From what I've heard, the guy just could not grasp the CFL game. This
    has become a common fault with American coaches coming North. The CFL
    game and the American  game are very different when it comes to 
    strategy and game plans. The wider field, 3 downs, 12 men, the 1 
    yard buffer zone between defence & offence, the no yards on a punt, 
    lack of a fair catch, the amount of motion are all factors which 
    cause American coaches to fail in the CFL.
    This is not to say their haven't been successful American coaches in
    the CFL. 
    
    McCarthy could not grasp the 2 point convert which cost the Argos a
    win. IMHO Mccarthy is not a big league coach - he couldn't get his
    players to play for him - maybe it was his lack of knowledge which le
    to his firing.
    
    Watch for Ron "alka" Smeltzer, of the Ottawa Roughriders to be the 
    next head coach to go. Rumor has it that the team is being coached and
    managed by the owners, the Gleibermans (sp ?) and what Lonnie says
    goes. The team is changing it's defence to accomadate Dexter Manley,
    ex-Washington Redskin who's been exiled from the NFL for life due to
    drug use.   Smeltzer it seems has no say in player personnel anymore,
    and the players have sensed this - it's no wonder the team is a lousy
    2-9. 
    
    Only in Canada you say..........
    
    Terry

    First of all, Mike McCarthy was not the coach of the Toronto Argos but 
    the General Manager.   Previously he had spent 5 years with the
    Hamilton Tiger Cats organization, first as scout then as Director of 
    Player Personel.  Mike is known for he ability of recruiting players
    and for that reason was hired by Ralph Sazio.   Ralph said that Mike 
    had a good career ahead of him being that he was the youngest GM ever hired
    in CFL history.  
    	The second year he was in Toronto, Bruce McNall along with Wayne
    Gretzky and John Candy purchased the team.  That year Mike brought them
    to the Grey Cup.  
    	I know for a fact the problem is not with Mike McMarthy but the 
    involvement of Bruce McNall's financial advisor who doesn't no anything 
    about football.  She tied Mike's hands and he was unable to decide what was
    best for the team.  He knew there was a problem with coaching but could
    not fire the coach.  
    	If you have noticed your seeing more and more owners getting involved 
    with their teams. Look at the Ottawa Rough Riders for instance, the
    biggest mistake was to have fired John Rambo.  He too had his hands tied, 
    the owners wanted him to lower the salaries while keeping the level of 
    quality players on the roster.  I think John did a very good job last year 
    despite this constraint. Ottawa's record last year 9-9. This year was 
    supposed to be promising.  
    	I believe Mike McCarthy will probably find a job on an expansion team.  
    Mike has many contacts and loves working in football. We can only wait 
    and see what the future holds for him. 
                                                       

    Since I'm originally from Baltimore, MD in the USA, I'm going to be
    rooting for the newest CFL entry - ***The Baltimore Colts***.  
    
    Ron

    Anyone want to comment on all the new U.S teams in the CFL?
    How about the North-South Grey Cup Final (versus East-West)?
    Perhaps the possible name change from CFL to Can-Am Football League?
    
    Let's get with the 90's!
    
    
    
    Dvae S.

Rich american owners who are exempt from Canadian content rules are making
for some very strong teams in the US. At last count, they were on an 
8 game winning streak against the Canadian teams. I'm still predicting
that Canadian teams will be winning the Grey Cup for a number of years
as our good teams are still the best (Calgary,BC,Edmonton)

The CFL has said that it won't be changing it's name anytime soon.

In a related story, my new hero and saviour is Sammy Garza, who is the new
starting QB for Ottawa.



Here's as good as place as any to say that I am know longer working for
Digital.  My stay came to an abrupt halt yesterday morning with the news
that our project got canned.  I've enjoyed reading, and contributing to 
the Canada notesfile, and I'm most certain that I'll never find a newsgroup
out on the 'net quite like this one.

Mike

    Why should they change the name?
    
    The Toronto Blue Jays have been playing in the American League for
    nearly 20 years.