Canadian Football League

Are you ready for a new season? It will be starting soon. Seeing the Outriders audition pictures I know I am.

CFL Football To Return To Ottawa

Big news north of the border, Tuesday the CFL has announced the return of a franchise in Ottawa in 2010. The CFL has pulled together a group of investors that seem to know what they are doing. Let’s hope they do because with the recent history they have an uphill battle. The Ottawa Renegades folded in 2006 after four years in the league. They were preceded by the Rough Riders who folded in 1996. It will be interesting to see if this new team will be the Rough Riders,Renegades, or something new. Hopefully they will bring back some awesome cheer babes like they had in 2005:

Sara, a student who is told she looks like either Jessica Simpson or Brittany Spears, depending on her hair, likes to spend her afternoons at the beach. Where else could she show off her most interesting talent, her “incredible flexibility?” Let your imagination run with that one.

Karen an administrative assistant, who likes to spend afternoons, napping in a sunbeam, is told she looks like Reba McIntyre, does not like bad drivers, and can do one armed push-ups. Imagine if she was your admin, "Karen I'll need the reports, need some one armed push-ups and a cheer for today's meeting."Ericka, a hair/makeup artist has future goals of one day being Jessica Simpson’s personal stylist. I love seeing people with lofty goals. Ericka also claims her most interesting talent is to be able to talk on the cell phone, do her mascara, and drive a car at the same time. Ericka, you are one of the drivers Karen hates. A warning to the public if you see Ericka getting in her car, get out of her way. At least she knows not to try to be Jessica Simpson's driver.

Fanie, who also likes to spend afternoons on the beach, has future goals of finishing school, dancing, and being happy. Once again, I love a girl with lofty goals.
Chantelle, a student that likes to spend her afternoons at the beach, who for some odd reason thinks she looks like Pamela Anderson? Eloise, a 3rd year Biomedical Science student, who also like to spend her afternoons at the beach. Hanging at the beach is a common theme with the cheer babes. I didn’t realize that Ottawa had a that happening of a beach scene. Eloise does not like whistling or snoring. We’ll wrap up with Meredith, a future lawyer who does like gum smacking, and can play the drums. A cheer babe, future lawyer, and a drummer, can you get any cooler than that? OK maybe not the lawyer part, but a cheer babe that can jam on the drums. I like this girl!!I love cheer babes bios.

March 1st

March 1st already, this year is flying by. To start your March off right I thought it would be good to bring it in with a lion so it goes out like a lamb. So here are some pictures of the awesome BC Lions Dance Team the Felions. You got to love those socks. Here's hoping warm weather heads your way soon.

Happy 50th Anniversary CFL

The Canadian Football League is celebrating their 50TH Anniversary this year. It's hard to believe the league most probably couldn't name a team from has been around that long. I have been a fan of the league since the early 80's. I always thought it was exciting to watch. When the Oilers signed Warren Moon I knew they would be happy with him. I had seen him kick butt for the Edmonton Eskimos. This past year was one of the most exciting I can remember. I'm looking forward to another exciting 50 years.

Congratulations Saskatchewan Roughriders!!

A big congratulations on you 23-19 Grey Cup win over the Blue Bombers. Since I am really not impressed with the cheerleader pictures I can find for the Roughriders, I'm sending a congrats out from their rival Felions!! Here is the cover to their 2007 calendar.

And one from the Outriders:

This week’s Grey Cup match up is going to be exciting. The Saskatchewan Roughriders and The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, two teams that were underdogs in their finals went into their opponent’s stadium and came out with a win. The final scores make them look like close games but Winnipeg and Saskatchewan dominated the finals. The prairie is going to be rocking this weekend. This will mark the first time these two have met in the Grey Cup. Both are hungry for a cup, neither team has won the cup in over 15 years.

The Roughriders pulled off the biggest win, knocking off their biggest rival the BC Lions. I don’t think anyone but the Riders seriously thought they were going to win. It’s always cool to see the underdog win, even if you are a fan of the other team. Interesting fact, all 26 points the Riders scored in the final was made by Canadians. The win gives the Roughriders their first Grey Cup berth since 1997, and a chance to win their first since 1989. The last Roughriders win was in Toronto, with current coach Kent Austin playing quarterback. They won that game 43-40 over the Hamilton Tigercats. The Riders green will be out in full force, they are already saying that Toronto will be shaded green this weekend. If they win it will be the teams third in their 98 year history.

The Blue Bombers also had a big game knocking the Toronto Argonauts out of their chance for a home field Grey Cup game. The Bombers have made the playoff a record 53 years; have more playoff appearances, 109, and more playoff wins, 59, than any other franchise. The Bombers have 10 Grey Cup wins, but they also have 12 losses. The Bombers last Cup appearance was in 2001 and their last win in 1990 a 50-11 win over Edmonton. The big news for Winnipeg, starting quarterback Kevin Glenn will be out of the game with a broken arm. There were some real exciting things in that game, like Keith Stokes 81 yard punt return TD, but the game will be remembered for Glenn’s broken arm. The only way they will forget about Glenn’s broken arm is if Ryan Dinwiddie can take the Bombers to a Grey Cup win. This will be Dinwiddie’s first CFL start. He threw all of 24 passes in the regular season, and went 4-for-4 for 80 yards in the final Sunday. If you are going to win a game in your first start, make it a championship game.

As for my prediction, my heart says go with the Bombers. I always loved watching them back in the 80’s. How could you not like a team that has a beer, Labatt Blue, named after it, and had a quarterback named Indian Jack? The Roughriders will make this their 16th shot at the Grey Cup, with only two wins so far. They have the worst Grey Cup win percentage in the CFL. That said, I’m going with the Roughriders to win. I think Dinwiddie will be a good quarterback, but after seeing how the Roughriders defense tore up the Lions last week I’ll go with them this weekend. I get the funny feeling Dinwiddie is going to have a very long day in Toronto. Winnipeg has more weapons than Kevin Glenn, but I’m sure even they do not want to go with a quarterback in his first start. I also think after knocking the Lions off (this is the CFL's equivalent to the Red Sox finally beating the Yankees) The Roughriders aren't going to let anything stop them.

For cheerleaders first up is Nichole from the Blue Lightning. Nichole is student who wants to go on to be an elementary school teacher. Where were the teachers who looked like this when I was in school? Nichole's biggest pet peeve when cheering is when her hair gets stuck on her face and she cannot fix it.

Then we have Jade from the Roughriders squad. Someone has got to work on the cheerleaders web page. I really think someone has a thing against the cheer team looking good. Jade is a student and cheers for the University of Regina Cheer Team. When Jade gets nervous she just tries to breathe. I thought that function came naturally.



I'm also going to include Melayna from the Blue Lightning stunters. Melyna works full time in retail and plans on going to college. When asked what skills/things she learned being on the team she said, "I can do push ups now!"


Also from the riders, Jess U. and Jess P. Jess U. says she dances in her bedroom, someone get a web cam set up now!!

Jess P. says if she won a million dollars she would take a vacation somewhere hot and exotic!!

For a bonus I'm including Blue Lightning team assistant, Stacy!! Stacy's career goal is to be a middle school teacher, once again where was teachers who looked like this when I was in school? Since being on the team one of things/stuff she has acquired is public speaking and the power of philanthropy.

Classic Grey Cup Moments

To get geared up for the game this Sunday here are some of the best moments.

The past 50 years have produced a number of memorable moments for followers of Canadian football. Some of the plays currently available include:

1955: Edmonton Eskimos fullback Johnny Bright runs over three Montreal Alouettes tacklers on route to a 42-yard touchdown run.

1956: Montreal Alouettes receiver Hal Patterson makes spectacular catch on a pass from quarterback Sam Etcheverry for a 37-yard touchdown.

1957: After a leaping interception, Hamilton Tiger-Cats defender Ray 'Bibbles' Bawel speeds his way down the sideline, only to be tripped by a spectator.

1958: Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Jim Van Pelt hands off to Leo Lewis, who in turns passes to Van Pelt to runs into the end zone for a touchdown.

1961: Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bernie Faloney connects with Paul Dekker for a 90-yard pass and run for a touchdown, tying a record.

1962: Garney Henley of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats runs 74 yards from scrimmage for a touchdown.1963: Hamilton Tiger-Cats receiver Hal Patterson breaks free and scores a touchdown on a long pass from Bernie Faloney.

1964: B.C. Lions backup quarterback Pete Ohler fumbles the ball as a holder on a field goal attempt, and then passes to Jim Carphin for an unexpected touchdown.

1965: Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bernie Faloney hooks up with Willie Bethea for a long pass and run touchdown.

1966: Ottawa Rough Riders quarterback Russ Jackson rolls out and hits a streaking Whit Tucker for an 85-yard touchdown.

1968: Ottawa Rough Riders running back Vic Washington bobbles the ball after a short pitch but turns the play into an 80-yard touchdown run.
Related Links

Visit CFLGreyCup.ca

I got this from the CFL web site but feel they left out some really good ones. Here a few:

1912 The Hamilton Alerts won the Grey Cup, be Alert because the world needs more Lerts.

1927 & 1930 The Toronto Balmy Beach won the cup. I didn't know Toronto had balmy beaches, their tourism department needs to get this news out.

Wikipedia has Hamilton winning the cup 8 times but the Tigercats web site says 15.

1995 A dark day for the CFL, the Baltimore Stallions won the Grey Cup. The only tiem a team not from Canada won.

And for fun Lauren S. from the Hamilton Tigercats cheer team

Lauren is a personal trainer, who if she could play in the CFL would be an inside linebacker. To all the people who have never been to Ticat game she says "Oskee Wee Wee."

Congratulations Roughriders & Blue Bombers

The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers won their final Sunday to advance to the Grey Cup this weekend in Toronto. Both were good games. I was 1-1 again this weekend in my picks on who would win. I'll have to make my Grey Cup pick later this week. Here are the cheer teams from both teams.

CFL Finals

In the finals we’re going to have some good games that’s for sure. The top two teams from both divisions are meeting to see who goes to the Grey Cup on November 25 in Toronto.

First up I’ll go over the West, the BC Lions vs. The Saskatchewan Roughriders. This has the makings of a classic match up. The defending Champions playing the team they beat to get to the cup last years semi-final 45-18. These two have met in the semi-final two of the last four. The Roughriders have played in the final three of the last five seasons. If there has ever been a team that is due for a win it’s the Roughriders. The Lions won the regular season series 2-1, including a last minute 37-34 win on 9/22. If you count preseason the teams split 2-2. The Roughriders just came off their first home playoff win in 30 years, their last cup appearance was in 1989, and the last win in 1987. Of course they have to go through the Lions who have the best regular season record and posted there best record in team history. This is a team that is hungry to repeat as champs. The Lion’s fans will be rocking the stadium this weekend. I will say if the Roughriders win they will win it all this year. I should pick them but I’ve got to go with the Lions. What can I say I’m a Lions fan and have got to stick with my team.

For your viewing pleasure a couple pics of the Felions:

And a couple of the Riders Cheer team:

Diana who says to "Bleed green baby."

Next up the East, The Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. The Toronto Argonauts. The Argos are on a roll winning seven straight to end the season as the top team in the east just edging the Bombers out. The Argos are also 2-1 this year against the Bombers. How long can they keep the win streak going? If the Argonauts win they will have the home field advantage in the Grey Cup game with the game being played in Toronto. I’m going to go with The Blue Bombers in this one. It just seems like Toronto put all they into taking first place.

In this contest we have the Blue Lightning vs. The Blue Thunder:

First up the Blue Lightning:

Angie a student who's pet peeve when performing is "My hair blowing across my face."

The Blue Thunder:

Rookie Ashley who is a dance teacher and her favorite song is is constantly changing, but anything with a banging beat that gets me moving!

And veteran Meaghan who is an ER nurse at The Credit Valley Hospital and if was on a deserted island would want her Surfboard, Music, and a Hammock. A cheerleader and a surf chick, it doesn't get much better than that.

CFL Playoffs

I picked one right and one wrong. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers took out the Montreal Alouettes 24-22. Here are some of their cheerleaders, The Blue Lightning, doing what they do best:

The Saskatchewan Roughriders beat the Calgary Stampeders 26-24. Both were good games and could have gone either way. This was the one I picked wrong. I guess I should have known better that to pick a team that actually started Akili Smith this past year. In addition to that how can you go against a team that American Idol Carrie Underwood roots for? Here is Carrie with her Roughriders jersey:

My predictions for the second round will be coming later this week.

CFL Playoffs Game II

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and The Montreal Alouettes will be going on Sunday. I have fond memories of watching the CFL back in the day and my dad saying "How can anyone root for a team named after a kid's song?" So this will be an easy one, I'm going with the Blue Bombers, and yes I know an Alouette is another name for a skylark. It's also a French cheese and the name of Canada's first satellite. The Alouette's web site is kind of cool equally divided in French and English with French as the main language.

The Blue Bombers were a perfect 3-0 against the Alouettes, including the last game of the season. It's going to be hard to beat someone four times in one year and twice in a row but I think the Blue Bombers can do it. Also you got to like a team that has their own theme song:

Blue Bomber Victory March

We’re proud of the Blue Bomber name, So proud of its glory and fame.We’re the best in the West And We’ll taken on the rest,When we get to the East-West game!Fight! Fight!

Let’s fight through that line,Down the field Our Blue Bomber teams never yield Let’s fight on to victory,For great is your destiny,So fight on Blue Bombers fight!

We’ll shout as you go charging by,We’ll send up our cheers to the sky.Behind you we’ll stand,You’re best in the land.And we’ll shout out our praise on high.Fight! Fight!

Let’s fight down the field yard by yard Let’s fight down the field hit ’em hard!For we want a touchdown team,And we want a chance to scream,So fight on Blue Bombers, fight!

So that's my picks for the game, now my picks for cheerleaders.

The Blue Lightning Team, sponsored by Labatt Blue (beer & cheerleaders, does it get any better than this?), has this really cool poster:

They also have the amazingly hot coach Dena:

She looks just like some chick I hit on in a bar in the 80's.

The Blue lightning have stunters like Crystal:

Who is a professional student and has gotten a concussion two years in a row at Grey Cup during a performance and kept on going! Keep going Crystal, damaging your brain won't be a problem later in life. Note to the photographer, when we look at pictures of cheer babes we don't really care who took the picture, we don't want to see DAVE over top of our girls.

They also have dancers like Mickaela:

Mickaela is an Articling Accountant / Dance Instructor, and admits to being "a bit of a nerd. I graduated high school when I was 15 years old and had a straight-A average in University, where I recently completed my Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree." Please tell me you are into gaming!! Maybe Fat Dragon Games can hire her as a booth babe for next years Gen Con.

Just to be fair I'm going to throw in Nadine from the Alouettes:

Nadine is a professional student and a dance teacher and hates spiders and mustard. Her motto is a quote from Einstein, “Everything happens for a reason” and “Life is like riding a bike… you have to keep moving forward or you’ll fall down” – Einstein. As a side note did you know that cheerleader in French is cheerleader?

CFL Grey Cup Playoffs

The playoffs start today and I thought I would throw my picks for the day out there. First I have to put up an ad from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers site:


The Canadians lover their football.
The first game up is Calgary Stampeders at the Saskatchewan Roughriders. This is a tough pick, my heart says go with the Stampeders. The Roughriders had a better record, but this is also their first home playoff game in 20 years, and the fans are going to be rocking the stadium. Including preseason the Roughriders are 3-1 against Calgary this year. They have a poll on their web site asking the fans what they thought of their record this year and here are the results:
What are your thoughts on the Riders finishing the regular season with a 12-6 record?
It surpassed my expectations
64.92% (1723)
It's what I expected
20.91% (555)
It's disappointing
5.54% (147)
I didn't know what to expect
8.63% (229)
Total Votes: 2654

65% said it surpassed their expectations!! Doesn't inspire much confidence to pick them.
The last game of the season Toronto came in and beat them, badly 41-13. That is not how you want to go into the playoffs. While Calgary played a tough last game of the season against BC, the Stampeders missed a last second field goal. The Outriders make it hard to go against the Stampeders, so I'll go with the girls on this one, GO STAMPEDERS!!!

Ceilynn of the Outriders, a full time student who lists her hobbies as, Reading, Dancing, Hiking, Traveling- I like anything outdoors- laying on a beach, skiing, surfing, kayaking- you name it I will probably like it and says that Television Rots your Soul and Eats Your Mind.

Here is one from the Rider Cheerleading Team Janessa:

Unfortunately the Riders don't put much in the bios. I do have to ask, "Were they looking for the ugliest outfit ever to take their cheerleading pictures in?" The only thing I can figure is it was something the guys on the team could also wear. Yes, the Riders have a group of guys on the team.

What were they thinking with this one? Fire the outfit designer, NOW!!

BC Lions Best Record Ever!!

The BC Lions won this past weekend to give htem their best regular season record in team history, 14-3-1. Hopefully they can take this into the playoffs and take the Grey Cup this year. Here is a throwback logo to celebrate.