comedygeek

Congrats on what will be a big payday for Matthews. Even if he fades after this (unlikely), if he's smart, he'll make enough money to set him up right. And sadly we'll never see him in the CFL again. Good for him! Had a great 2012 season with us in what was an otherwise forgettable year.

Problem is the all-star game has gotten so big over the years - I'm not sure the Royal Albert Arms has enough rooms to host all the dignitaries that would come to town. That's cute that you think the Albert is still open after 64 tries to make it work.

http://scratchingpost.thespec.com/2014/12/stewarts-departure-not-neccessarily-a-lock.html So who really knows? He did suck in the Grey Cup, though. That's indisputable.

Nowhere near enough credit for a guy like Bucknor ... he played great for us last year. Great? No let's not get delusional here. He was adequate. You bring the guy back for sure but let's not pretend the team wouldn't have continued along just fine without him. For a Canadian on the corner, he was great. Would we be worse off if he left? Yes. That statement is skewing your perception. Just because it's a low bar doesn't mean his play was great. He didn't **** up too badly that's all you really need out of the guy but I would suggest that if he leaves you just play an american in that position and actually improve your secondary overover all. Can likely find a way to replace the NI somewhere else. Maybe a linebacker position, maybe find a DL, maybe they even go with 3 receivers, or 4 OL.He's a useful player to have but he wasn't great. Starting Canadian corner who didn't embarrass himself continually and you don't see that as a great signing? At the very least, he gets bumped to 5th DB/STer/excellent backup... I'm confused as to why this irks you so.. He proved more then capable last season in a wonky defense.. Imma chalk it up to being argumentative simply to be argumentative because you had so much etch defense left to use and can't now lol my issue is with the unwarranted superlatives being tossed about Indeed. Overstating things is the number 1 problem. Everybody does this all the time about everything. Touché.

I would say that problem is then on the GM, not the coach. Of *course* the HC will look for scapegoats in the case of poor play. What's he supposed to do? Request his release? Tell people he's not good enough and fire himself? Every head coach wants to keep their job or move to another, better opportunity. I can't think of any scenario where a head coach, whose GM wants to keep him, leaves the position with the excuse of not being good enough. Chamblin still being HC over there is on Taman.

Do you have a link for where you got that info? I'd like to share it elsewhere. Thanks!

I know it's a relatively minor thing, but I find it interesting that the city's 2 major papers (Freep and Sun) had headlines talking about the "Grey Cup logo" being unveiled. The Grey Cup logo wasn't unveiled. The Grey Cup Festival logo was. They're 2 different (but obviously co-inciding) things, with the Festival logo usually showing more of the local team's flares, and the logo for the game usually highlighting the city and looking more "regal" or official. I realize it's such a lame pet peeve, but it happened last year when the Riders unveiled their Prider-heavy festival logo and people didn't realize it wasn't the logo for the actual game. And somehow, other news organizations (like the Metro) got it right in there stories. /end semantics rant

If we're looking for official MBB events during Grey Cup Week, I'd be happy to offer my venue as a get together/party spot. I could make it quite the event (bands, comedians, etc.) and would be happy to make it a Morning Big Blue "Official" event. If we attach a cover, the money raised beyond venue costs could go towards MBB and charity support! Of course, there's lots of time to discuss and plan, but figured I'd put it out there now. (Also like the idea of the touch football game/tourney.)

looking down your nose at community (clown) college types is a required course for completing any degree, though McArts degrees are doing it purely to have that sense of smugness and no real career prospects. I haven't found this amongst at least 90% or so of my friends with "McArts" degree. There are a few, but they are rare. In fact, I know many *many* people who have completed University degrees and then gone onto Red River to get a degree in something more practical. Which I wouldn't say means the University degree is a "waste", either -- education in any form is never really a waste (I personally get all of mine, save one year of University and another year in a technical college, via self-education). But I think most people realize that most arts (and many sciences) degrees aren't going to automatically land you any kind of a job, where as community or technical college will most likely get you work right away. Kroeker's degree in nursing, however, will likely translate into a decent-paying job right away, but not likely more than a rookie CFL contract if he makes the 46-man roster. And the top end (in the short term) is much higher as a potential Canadian starter, so why not go for it and come back to nursing afterwards?

As long as BC are willing to bring in talented players, I heard Tim Burke would like another shot at HC. Sorry couldn't resist. Out of the group failed HC (Cortez, Burke, LaPo, Marshall, etc...) Cortez has a tie with Buono, so I guess he is the strong possibility to be the next Leo's head coach and since he worked with Khari, Khari he can stay put as OC. George would be HC & OC like he was in Hamilton. KJ would go back to being a qb coach if he was hired. That won't happen as they'd never work together Didn't they win a Grey Cup just last year in Regina with Cortez as OC and Khari as QB Coach? I'm not saying he would take the demotion (though Bobby Dyce did when Chamblin brought in Cortez), but why would say "they'd never work together"?

The amount of posters I miss is far outweighed by the amount of posters (whether from circumstance or banning) I'm happy aren't posting around here.

Agreed. If amiability was Khari's only asset, we should pass on him. He has shown himself to be smart, personable and a student of the game, so if he is available, he ought to warrant an interview. I'm not sure that the past couple of years in BC are what we ought to judge him by- no durable quarterback and a horrible offensive line. Khari was only in BC this year. Last year he was QB coach with the Riders. He was rumoured to be in the running for the OC position here, but we decided to stay with MB for some crazy reason. Not that BC's offense was any better or more consistent, mind you.

Not the final week for Calgary though, just us. In fact, if they rest guys in the final week, it'll be against BC, the team we need Calgary to beat. Heh.

A big name rock band who are popular and radio-friendly but can also put on a show. I'm not sure what kind of choice would be a better one. I guess if the CFL scored Jay-Z or U2 or someone like that, but beyond that, who would you say would realistically be a better choice? (Sure, I have a bunch of bands and artists I'd personally *prefer* to see, but I don't see CFL fans clamouring for Shad or Dan Mangan or Hawksley Workman to play at the Grey Cup.)

Nope. He was released by Sask from their PR as they have no room for him. then the Bombers picked him up. Ahh, thanks for the info.

Anyone remember how we landed Stoudemire? Heard it was off SSK's PR.

I think it was Season 31, which made him one of the youngest SNL cast members of all time after Anthony Michael Hall and Eddie Murphy (and slightly younger than Robert Downey, Jr.). He only lasted I think 3 episodes, and from what I recall, he didn't have a featured sketch make it to air. His spot was taken over mid-season by Kristen Wiig (likely after Lorne Michaels realized it would be the last season for Fey & Dratch, and needing to increase the female presence on the show). It turns out Devin Tyler's loss was SNL's gain, as Wiig became one of its most long-standing and recognizable stars. But of course, it didn't end up too bad for Devin Tyler, as he was able to score a football scholarship at Temple University and the rest -- as they say -- is history. Of note, of course, is that Devin Tyler is one of only a few former SNL cast members to also spend time behind bars (after his 2012 assault conviction). Robert Downey, Jr. is probably the most famous of that group.

I'm sorry... I know I'm contributing to the thread derailment, but comedy is practically my business, and so I have to chime in. I wasn't a huge fan of Tina Fey during her SNL years. I thought as head writer/co-head writer, she was boring. It's why when "30 Rock" came out, I didn't even watch it. I was a "Studio 60" guy that year (apparently the only one ) and it wasn't until the summer after that I decided to try "30 Rock". I found it brilliant, and still consider it one of the highest laugh-per-minute shows of all time. It was relentless, and Fey's writing (along with the entire staff) played a big part. So did the acting, of course, of which Fey was a part. I think she plays a solid straight woman in comedy, which is thankless but super important. Kristen Wiig is a phenomenal actress, but I usually found her insufferable on SNL. Her recurring characters were all garbage. Amy Poehler can do it all, and from people I know who know her personally, she also couldn't be more of a sweetheart. That's always nice to hear with someone that wickedly funny. (She also used to spend a lot of time in Winnipeg when she and Will Arnett were married, as his grandparents lived here, and now his parents live here as well.) Rachel Dratch was pound-for-pound one of the funniest women SNL ever had, but because she wasn't conventionally attractive, she had trouble finding work post-SNL. I'm of the firm belief that everyone's "favourite" SNL cast (with the exception of a few awful seasons, of which last season is probably included) is the one who was around when they were 12-16 years old. I'll always hold the Miller/Lovitz/Hooks to Carvey/Hartman/Sandler/Farley years as top notch, although I got pulled back into SNL quite heavily when The Lonely Island were hired, as I was already fans of their online work for a couple years before that. Getting to meet and interview them several times didn't hurt either (one of the highlights was filming a short comedy video with Jorma, and then him giving me a lift afterwards), but if you look at how many people out of those years of SNL have gone onto moderate to huge success on either TV or in the movies, it's a testament to how strong that cast was. It's like the cast of "Parks and Recreation" -- when the show started, almost everyone save for Amy Pohler was a relative nobody. A few people knew of Aziz from "Human Giant" and Chris Pratt from "Everwood", but they were basically nobodies. Now Chris Pratt is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, Aubrey Plaza stars in a couple features a year, Aziz is a massively popular stand-up, everyone loves Nick Offerman, and even a bit player like Ben Schwartz is a relatively big TV and film actor. It's cool to see talent rise like that!

Renaud's net is 34.9, so 0.4 higher. Minimal, but of course only a 3-game sample. Last year he was at 35.7 (with our dismal special teams) and his first 3 years he was over 36. I say let him get back into the game, and should he prove no better than Lirim through the remainder of the season, he'll be looking for work (or concentrating on renovations) after November.

I know this kind of thing comes around from some media organization every couple years, but this time it's the Freep's turn, along with TSN 1290. http://alltimebombers.winnipegfreepress.com/ The first week is the All-Time Best QB. Vote it up!

Only one team can crossover. We need to be at best 4th place to get the crossover. 5th place can't also move to the east (hence the calls from many to switch to a no-division league -- best 6 teams make the playoffs).

I like ours better.

child warrior? He hates kids? I'm not sure why the author of that article chose to bring it up multiple times in the piece, as Mulumba's childhood in the Congo is something he doesn't like to talk about or think about -- but my mind either went to him being a "warrior" as in having a lot of courage to survive that time (a time he wants to forget and doesn't like to talk about), or even worse, being a child soldier, an unfortunate situation many people then (and now) in war-torn African countries are subjected to. It's a hell I couldn't even imagine coming back from. Frankly, either way, it's majorly offensive.

Man, even Bombers who aren't yet Bombers are having bad luck with injuries. That sucks.

Oh ease up surgeon general.. Its a horrible drug but its no meth,heroin, krocodile, oxy or even mdma.. The fact he is injecting it tho tells me he has an addictive personality and probably stuggles mightily with addictive substances.. Hopefully he gets the help he deserves.. ... let's not even try to rationalize cocaine or crack use here. They're no mary jane, that's for damn sure. Not rationizing it at all but the fact remains its not anywhere near as bad as the others I mentioned.. Also, its not as taboo as one would think... Lotta people have tried it or use it.. Yeah, that's the most surprising thing -- how relatively common it is amongst young people. Considering how bad it really is (and make no mistake, it can and does ruin lives), I don't know why anyone would even take the chance. Besides, people on coke act like f*cking as*holes.