TrueBlue4ever

Start October 1. Give all teams their week off between Christmas and New Year's. Make the All-Star skills competition on New Year's Eve. Replace the All-Star game with the Winter Classic and the All-Star host gets to play a division rival. Finish March 31. 80 game season max. Playoffs start in April 3. Teams play every second day, 4 series each day. Stanley Cup awarded by the end of May.

So unless they both happen to have their scheduled bye week on the same week, how do they make up this game? Only other options I see are to (a) postpone the playoffs one week and play the make-up games that week, and eliminate the week break before the Super Bowl (PLEASE make that happen - the break is stupid) or (b) push all the playoffs back a week and the Super Bowl gets played a week later too.

Let’s not forget that Jared and Ivanka were also both denied security clearance Through the proper channels before daddy strong-armed them through. Saw a report that one of the primary reasons for denial of security clearance is having a large debt, which makes one open to manipulation from creditors. We’ve heard a lot about Jared’s debt owed to the Middle East, and now Ivanka has been linked to Trump’s tax dodge by being paid as a “consultant” while also running the same projects she is consulting on (a clear conflict of interest, and double dipping, yet another form of tax fraud), which Donald has used as a tax write-off himself (yet another improper deduction). So the whole inner circle is exposed to foreign influence. Again, nothing new if people have paid attention and done any sort of digging. So that rules out most Americans.

That has been my prediction too. Like every con man who slinks off leaving wreckage in his wake.

The difference here is supposed to be that he is now a public servant ripping off his employers on the public dime. When he was a con man in private business he did tons of illegal things and got called out on it, but it was always through private lawsuits. And since he had deep pockets courtesy of daddy, he could stonewall and muck up the proceedings legally and bankrupt his opponent before it ever got to court, so when he ultimately settled all those lawsuits she’d pay pennies on the dollar. But now he’s playing with the taxpayers’ money. His golf weekends at his own course with top dollar for the secret service to rent a room while he’s there goes from the taxpayers’ pockets into his personal company, which unlike every other President was required to he did not divest himself of. And the rules about Presidents not profiting and the whole emoluments clause are pretty clear, so now he is breaking a law that is not a civil matter.

What is the “it” you are referring to?

The one thing I don’t get from the local TSN1290 media (and I sense the majority of the “Laine trade” talk is solely a media creation rather than them actually quoting sources) is that they keep saying the Jets have a 2-3 year window to win a Stanley Cup, which I think is nonsense. Their top 5 forwards aside from Laine (Wheeler, Scheifele, Connor, Ehlers) are locked in for 4 more years each minimum, as is Hellebuyck, and their top d-man Morissette is here for 7. And team windows always seem to be short-changed. How many times did we hear that the Caps window was closed before they won, or the Sharks before they made the final, or the Pens after the 2009 Cup win, or Boston after the 2013 Cup loss (you get the picture). Laine is still an RFA after next year’s contract is up, so we have him for 3 years minimum right now. Don’t move him unless we clearly win the trade from a “right now” perspective, otherwise, take the $11 million plus from Kulikov and Byfuglien that is off the books and get a serviceable centre and d-man.

So I cannot seem to write or reply to a post off of my laptop any more, only my iPhone. Any tech savvy people out there with any idea why?

“Let’s just get this into court. I’m dying to get this into court. I look forward to a long trial. I so look forward to it” Says the guy who then settled all 3 suits for $25 million in payouts, so he could not have to claim liability - after a trial in court I wish during the name game part the lawyer just dropped on a name like “Eric” and let Trump say “same answer” and then finish with “Trump - wait, you don’t know your own son’s name because it was too long ago?”

So now my 3 best, and I’ll flip the script with the similar 3 types of wins: 1. The “how did we win this” moment. Opposite of the dominant team that laid an egg, this is the underdog that found a way, and although we’ve seen comeback wins out of nowhere in random games (none more memorable than Milt’s Miracle in Edmonton after we fumbled the game away 15 seconds earlier, which falls at #2 for this category), this type of win is more fitting for one amazing end to an otherwise mediocre season. The 1988 Grey Cup is my happiest win of all the Bomber Cups. Too young to feel emotional about anything from the 1960’s and earlier. ‘84 and ‘90 we were expected to win and did so dominantly. 2019 was such a cathartic release of all the weight of 29 years of futility that I was more relieved than elated when they finally won it (much more outwardly happy watching it now than I was on game day). But ‘88 was such an up and down year, many fans had quit on the team (witness the record low turnout for the semi playoff vs Hamilton, yep, I was there in the stands! Immortalize those names on a Grey Cup base) and the whole game against BC and Dunigan and just praying they could hold on against that juggernaut offence, and Murphy carrying the offence, and Kennard clutch with all the field goals, and that incredible defence, and Cameron kicking the snot out of the ball into the wind, and that once in a lifetime INT at the end? Pure joy to watch unfold at my Grey Cup party with friends. 2. The “anti-humiliation” win: So rather than the bad team at it’s lowest depth of despair, I did not want to think of the dominant team that laid waste to a weaker opponent as the flip side. Those are great spectacle but not for me the stuff of “best moment ever”. And I have seen plenty of the good side of blowouts - 58-2 over the NFL Alouettes, a whole lot of wins in 1984, especially Reaves’ 4 TDS and 220 yards over Ottawa in a 65-25 mauling and the 20-3 defensive domination of BC, Matt’s 713 game, Milt’s 4 for 4 game on 75th anniversary day vs BC, and the 68-14 dismantling of Hamilton after a team mutiny (followed by the Jets beating the Leafs 4-2 in a Winnipeg sports double header I got to witness in person with my dad for both - best birthday ever). All great, but for me I remember the fleeting joy of a wretched team that for one brief moment lifted away the storm clouds (kind of like that moment in “The Prefect Storm“ where they hit the eye and see sun, and for a few seconds they think they’ve survived, only to be crushed by a 100 foot wave one minute later). 1998. 0-10. Yes, 0-10, on the heels of a stunningly bad 1997 team that won only 4 games. Worse in ‘98. We were losing games by an average of 2 touchdowns Trailing Saskatchewan 28-10 going into the 4th quarter of the Winnipeg half of the September back-to-back (6 years before it got it’s Banjo Bowl moniker). It got so bad that the Riders line up for the kickoff after a TD and drill the ball into Wade Miller’s face on a line drive kick 10 yards away and recover the onside kick. Miller is crying his eyes out on the sidelines, such is the abject despair on this putrid team, I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP! The President of this team was reduced to tears in the middle of a game. And then Troy Kopp strolls on to the field and we rally like I have never seen before, and we win 36-35 in the final seconds and CanadInns explodes with joy, relief, pure giddiness, and a pent up rage and frustration. And the fans en masse spontaneously decide to rush the field in celebration, me amongst that throng. To find happiness amidst such usual despair Is one of my all-time greatest memories. 3. The “heights of victory” win, my counterpoint to the “depths of despair” loss. But again, not the dominant team that won as expected - even though the 1984 West Final might fit this category This is the win that just pushed you to renew all faith in how great things could and would be, the moment that re-energized your fandom. Stuff like the Clements trade, the emergence of Khari-Milt in 2001, perhaps the Don Jonas era for older fans. And although the whole 2019 playoff run stands out, and vanquishing Calgary on the road and the Grey Cup itself are huge happy moments, I pick the West Final for 3 reasons. Most importantly, I was there, and seeing it live always adds to the drama of a game, especially a playoff game in hostile territory against our biggest rival. Secondly, the last 4 minutes of that contest were unbelievable, and everyone on both fan bases had their hearts in their throats, so to come out on top is so sweet (I can only imagine Rider fans feel like I did after the loss to Baltimore in 1994). And the players running to the stands to high five every single Bomber fan who hung around to cheer was just icing on the cake. I re-played the entire CJOB broadcast, including pre- and post-game, on the drive home. Most wonderful 6 hour car ride of my life. Shudder to think how that drive would have been if they had lost. My favourite in-person game of all time.

So I was at the Bomber store on Friday and got some more intel on the Fan Base that I don’t think was put out before. Not sure if it will change my opinion about putting my name on it, but food for thought. First of all, the money that goes to putting one’s name on the base goes directly back to the individual club team, not the league. 75% of the money goes to the team’s finances, and 25 % to the players directly. So Bomber fans buying a name props up the Bombers directly. Secondly, the club will also issue a certificate (as we have seen) to the name holder, and the club is also planning to have a plaque placed somewhere at IG Field (they haven’t decided where yet) recognizing those who have put their name on the base. The base will travel with the Cup wherever it goes (Purolator food drive days, at the Hall of Fame, etc.) so it be be seen whenever the Cup is seen. It essentially is now part of the Cup the way I see it. Third, only individual names go on the base, and you pay per name. No “the Smith family”, no corporate entities, and no slogans like “Bomber nation”, “Riders suck”, or “too many men” and things of that ilk. But you can buy a spot in memory of someone else, not sure if you can note their name as “in memory of” or if it is just their name. Finally, the concern I raised about fans “deserving” to buy their way on to the Cup base when players have to win to get their name on the Cup itself. When I discussed this (was talking to Carol Barrott, who I would always trust with any Bomber info) and specifically asked if the players would be bothered by this, she claimed that the players she has talked to love the idea. She said they recognize what the fans have done to prop up the league and keep it going throughout the years, so it is cool that those names “can now hold up the Cup, just like they have held up the CFL”. Now she did acknowledge that she is in sales so she knows she is doing a sales job, and the players are getting a cut of the profits, but hearing that did put my mind at ease a fair bit, and I can see the rationalization when it is explained that way. Anyway, people will make their own choice, and I can respect those who opt either way. Just thought some context might help given the original debate.

So after Woodward’s last book, Trump knew he couldn’t denigrate a respected journalist of his character, so instead he claimed that the sources were all lies and Woodward never got the real story from the Donald himself because Woodward did not interview him directly. So Woodward goes to Trump this time saying he wants the real story and can he tape Donald so everything is accurate, so Trump bites because his ego can’t be controlled, and Woodward gets all the dirt from Donny himself. No way Trump can claim mis-quote or fake news here. I almost think Woodward was playing the long con and the first book was just a set up to get Trump on record this time to sink him. Don got played like a fiddle.

Nothing will take him down in the eyes of his supporters, not unless he himself abandons them. They will pass this off as sound Presidential wisdom not to incite panic and conveniently ignore him calling it a hoax the whole way through. His whole term has been revisionist history, denying what he has clearly already said, and re-framing his arguments to shift the story and ignore the inconsistency. The only time he didn’t try to deny what he said or shift the story to a different point was the whole Access Hollywood “grab ‘em by the kitty” comment, and he shrugged it off as locker room talk which his base bought hook line and sinker. I said earlier if he is clearly on the way out after the election he will kick up a fuss and let his supporters lead a civil war, but he will slip out the back door while everyone is distracted and go to another country where they don’t have extradition, knowing that he faces criminal prosecution in New York and possibly Federally as well. He has made his bed with Russia and Saudi Arabia so he has a couple of safe havens, and like Lionel Langley in the Simpsons monorail episode, he will disappear with the cash and not look back, like every con artist does. Only then will his rubes see that they were duped. Otherwise they will accept every false persecution claim he throws up because he has convinced them that the media is corrupt - sadly his most lasting achievement as President. And in 5-10 years we will get a book along the lines of Mulroney’s “On the Take” expose which lays bare the full extent of the corruption after the fact and nothing will be done about it other than a public flogging in the court of public opinion.

So I will get the bad stuff out of the way first. My worst memories come in 3 types: 1. The “how could we lose this” mode, where great teams fell apart at the worst possible time. The candidates include the 1994 Bomber team, specifically watching Dunigan drop with a torn Achilles after having lost the previous season with an injury, and then the gut-wrenching loss to Baltimore in the East Final where every little thing that could go wrong did (botched fake field goal, sure TD pass off the cross bar, blown calls on turnovers) and we barely lost, but still such a great game to see that I was more numb than sad. The runner-up is the 1987 team flat out not showing up in the East Final against the Argos and losing 19-3 after a dominant regular season - nothing at all clicked that day. But the winner is the 2001 team where the cracks showed after a 12 game winning streak led to complacency and arrogance, yet I still believed at some point in the Grey Cup game that they were going to come back and win, and the final sack was a dagger to the heart. Biggest blown opportunity ever. 2. The “depths of despair” mode, where you felt helpless and hopeless watching the futility. The inaugural IG Field season of 3-15 and especially the blowout loss to BC sticks out, and the Reinbold era had two awful memories. The runner-up was watching Doug Flutie carve us up for 66 points at home, and toying with us by throwing TD after TD to an O-lineman on a tackle eligible play we couldn’t seem to cover. They were playing chess, we were playing checkers. Painful. But the absolute low was a game against BC where Kerwin Bell had done nothing all game, and our defence despite trying to keep us in it gave up critical plays at the worst time to kill any chance of victory. And yet, two late fluky scores had us somehow down only 24-22. And then the defence for once made a stop instead of folding like they had all year, and the offence kept a drive going unlike all year. And we watched as they moved into field goal range with a minute left, and then they pulled off a big play and were suddenly on the BC 5 yard line. And I swear the entire stadium thought “so how are we going to blow this one?” instead of “oh my God we are actually going to win!” Such was the level of futility of this team. So thinking that they should try to get a TD and be up by 5 rather than burn the clock and be up by only 1, since either way BC would still have time to march to centre field and kill us with a last second field goal, Bell audibles at the line and is gesturing to his right when the centre inexplicably snaps the ball early and it caroms off of Bell’s foot while he is completely oblivious. He tries to drop on the ball and it squirts through his legs again, and the Lions recover and we all just knew they would find a way to lose and torture us more. Downright cruel way to lose. Dark times. 3. The “humiliation” losses. The Banjo Bowl blowout by the ‘Riders where Dressler threw a TD toss stings, but two rise above all others. The 68-7 debacle in the West semi in Edmonton was brutal to watch, and I take little solace in knowing that the score was that lopsided because the Esks cheated with illegal footwear and piled on after the half. The Bombers just did not respond and it was a terrible way for Cal Murphy to go out. That is barely the second worst memory ever, but is eclipsed by the 52-0 embarrassment in the Labour Day game right after Joe Mack scapegoated Paul LaPolice. The Mack doubled down with his “milk and cookies” press conference the next day. That was a team that just flat out quit, and the ‘Riders even took it easy on us in the second half. Lowest moment of my Bomber life.

With the passing of Labour Day and the re-living of past memories, it's time to discuss those that are burned into our brains forever above all others. And since Labour Day had has historically brought its share of pain, I though it would be cathartic to let out some of that anguish. At the same time, we are still the defending Grey Cup champions, so let us revel as well in our greatest celebrations. What are the top 3 worst memories you have as a Bomber fan? And then the 3 best? Be specific, not just "every loss to the 'Riders is tied for worst" and "every Grey Cup is tied for the best". Weave a story, remember, your on line teacher will be grading. Is it a specific game? A trade? A chance meeting with your football hero? And to keep it from getting too dark, let us all concede that the tragic death of Richard Harris will surpass any game-related "worst memory" and need not be added to the list here.

Trump got on Twitter at around 7:00 am today. And has tweeted or re-tweeted 68 times in the last 6 hours (including 2 re-tweets of his own past tweets). That’s one tweet on average every 5 minutes and 17 seconds so far for those trying to do the math. And how have those of you who aren’t the President of the United States spent your day?

Missed from the weekend. St. Louis Cardinal and Hall of Fame base stealer Lou Brock dies at the age of 81.

Florida, Toronto, Colorado

How Crapigna ever played another game in the CFL after that performance, I will never know.

Meanwhile, wonder if the NHL would plan anything. One thought I had rather than a boycott: Teams square off at centre ice. Off the opening faceoff, the teams skate away from the puck drop and all go to their respective blue lines and all take a knee. Let the clock run for 8:46 (the length of time the police were kneeling on George Floyd’s neck) with the players on the ice kneeling. Then one player retrieved the puck and is allowed to skate in alone on the opposing netminder and take 7 shots, symbolic of the 7 shots to Jacob Blake. Simple shots intended not to score, just be a symbol. Even more powerful if the netminder turned around and the shooter put the puck softly but squarely into his back 7 times. With each shot the players on the bench bang their sticks once against the boards in unison, that is an attention grabbing noise. After the 7th shot, the shooter takes the puck back to centre ice and flips it over the glass so the next faceoff is at centre ice so no advantage for either team. Can symbolize the equality we are all striving for in a fair and just world. Can finish off with stick tapping on the ice for all as a sign of solidarity if they want. Thoughts? Any other ideas?

Curious to see what the long term impact of the boycott will be. I posted that I did not think it would make much difference after 5 minutes of media splash, but maybe my knee jerk reaction will be wrong. Maybe advertisers who bow at the altar of the almighty dollar will panic if the medium through which they hawk their products disappears. Maybe the networks will panic with nothing to cover. Maybe. We shall see.

For about 5 minutes. Then everyone with a zero attention span (which Sean Hannity recently said is “everyone”) would move on, and the players would have no platform to continue. And Trump and his ilk would be happy because out of sight, out of mind. Kaepernick did it right. That’s why his protest is still talked about.

I was going to say shoving stuff under his bed and calling it clean gives him too much credit. It would mean he did something, even if that something was unproductive. Trump is the kid who closes the door to his room and says it is clean thinking that no one can/will open the door to check.

And while police are “appreciating” these armed civilians acting like a wannabe militia, you can hear other police in the background warning protesters “you are civilians in a closed area, you must leave. Yes, you! This is your last warning. Disperse now!” Apparently the curfew rules did not apply if you were armed with an AR-15 - and were white. Reminds me of the line in Animal Farm - “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”

Doc Rivers' comments after the game last night surrounding the Jason Blake shooting. Hopefully everyone will LISTEN. Not listen just to respond to it, but listen to understand. Too much of the former in the world, not enough of the latter.