We're back to a football post that actually gets to talk about actual football? How exciting. The result wasn't, however, but let's get down to business.
That's right my fellow Canada lovers, the CFL is back in action. Each year, right around Canada Day, we get back to business. This time around, my BC Lions are looking to do anything they can to get back to their past glory days. Buck Pierce giving up six turnovers to the Riders to start the season, however, isn't going to do that. Of course, the first problem with the game is that the Lions refused to start Jarious Jackson. I've been saying for a number of years that, given a full season, he would prove to be one of the best in the CFL. In this game, it was a whole bunch of sloppy play that resulted in a 28-24 win for the hated Saskatchewan Rough Riders. The two teams combined for 15 turnovers in front of 30,062 fans, that was further made an awful game due to a huge injury to Lions' running back Ian Smart. For some reason, the Lions put their golden boy Pierce at the helm, and he finished with a 17 for 33 night for 186 yards a 1 TD. Add to his stat line two interceptions and four fumbles, and you have created a situation where all of Lions Nation will be calling for my favorite Notre Damn alum in the CFL to take over. Sadly, when given the chance, Jarious Jackson threw his only pass of the game into the arms of a waiting Rough Rider defender. Rough stuff. With just 43 yards, Utah graduate Paris Jackson led all BC receivers, and Pine Bluff, Arkansas native Martell "M&M" Mallett led on the ground with 63. Highlights in the game, and there weren't many, included Ryan Phillips taking an interception and running it back for a 60 yard TD, Emmanuel Apceneaux's (no typo) 23 yard TD catch, and a Buck Pierce 6 yard TD run. But, with all that excitement, it was a really bad night for the boys from BC. At 0-1, my Lions line up against Hamilton next Friday. The T-Cats were beat down by Toronto in their season opening game, so we'll need to stomp them out and get back to .500.
A couple of news notes coming from Newcastle these days. First off, Michael Owen has signed with Manchester United. Enjoy him, Devils; he's washed up. In bigger news, is there a possibility that Joe Kinnear could return as the Newcastle manager with Alan Shearer being pushed aside? Kinnear was the replacement for Kevin Keegan, as you remember, and was told he had to leave the post because of heart issues. Alan Shearer eventually took over of the losing squad, but now Kinnear wants a chance to get back in there and turn things around, now that he's fit. He's a native of Dublin, so you know I'd be glad to give him another chance to bring us back to the EPL.
There isn't much news out of Celtic camp, except the fact that we'll be getting to preseason fitness tests starting on July 12 against the Brisbane Roar. Bring it.
Meanwhile, Chivas USA continued their unlucky (or should I just say bad?) play in the US Open Cup. Going up against the USL First Division's Charleston, the Red & White dropped the game 1-3 and dropped out of the US Open Cup in just the third round. What is going on around here? In this game, the Goats dominated the time of possession, dominated the play overall, and got twice as many scoring chances. All of that, of course, means nothing if you don't put up on the scoreboard. Jesse Marsch had the lone Chivas goal in the first half, and had this to say, "I thought we played well and didn't get any breaks tonight. From our end the story of our season is that we don't score enough goals. So, as much as we command parts of the game, we don't score enough and that hurt us again tonight. We certainly had chances, but in the end the scoreboard says 3-1 and there's not much of an argument you can make." The Princeton grad makes a good point. He's a big offender of the problem, as the midfielder from Racine (he's a Belle?) has 0 goals in the 14 MLS games thus far. A perfect example of the way things have been going was when Atiba Harris picked up a loose ball at the box and blasted a ball that got stopped by a diving Charleston keeper. It was an easy goal, that just didn't go our way. It's been going that way lately. Now all eyes focus on the Super Clasico next weekend. Chivas and the LA Galaxy will be getting it on at the HDC (home game for Chivas). As I said before, Chivas (8-4-3, 27 points, -1 of first place Houston) have to show up for this game to turn their season around. I know their the #2 team, but if you've been watching the games, you've been noticing that we have not been playing well as of late. Is there anything better to get us back on track than to bust the Galaxy? I think not.
Don't forget, the Mexican Football League's Primera Division gets things back underway on July 29th as Chivas de Guadalajara plays Toluca in the Apertura 2009. Not long after that Chivas will play one of the biggest games in recent memory, against Bacelona in San Francisco on August 8. That would be such a huge upset!
Enjoy the fireworks.
0 comments:
Post a Comment