Rich

I'm not lobbying for the end of Canadians in the CFL or anything, but I don't think CIS would die. It may diminish in interest, but it would continue on. CIS currently has basketball, curling, hockey, soccer, football, swimming, track & field, volleyball, wrestling. There is little to no professional opportunities in most of those sports. The cream of the crop of the CIS could continue on to Olympics in those, just like the cream of the crop in CIS football could make it to the CFL / NFL.

We should just stop learning??? I don't understand that POV.Learning is nice, but have we really gotten anywhere with our expanded knowledge? New tech, same old evil. I think there is a huge difference between knowledge and experience. We have had many advancements with knowledge in terms of technology and medicine. Unfortunately as far as war and the environment go, until you experience the tumultuous times that a natural (or human) disaster or war inflict on the general populace, there is no way that reading about it in a book as knowledge can give you the same perspective as living through it to want to avoid it. I believe this is why you see upswings and downswings in human culture over many years and generations. It seems it is the human condition to have to experience pain and suffering to truly appreciate to live without those things. The human race has been around a long time. But every generation is new and has a lot of lessons it needs to relearn. History has shown us that over time all great civilizations decay until things get so bad that it affects change and a new upswing starts. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. Cycle of life and all that stuff.

I'll be at the game tonight. What do you think the chances are that I could convince the Bombers to play the Jets game on the Jumbotron. And if they did, what would be the percentage of people watching the live game or the screen?

I think it would really cause more turnover in rosters and we would become even more of a feeder league to the NFL. If you didn't need Canadians, then there would be no need for the draft. There are way too many American players for there to be a semblance of an import draft. So now when you have a losing season, you don't even get a first round pick the next year as a "consolation" prize. There would be very little trading, because all you are really trading now is neg list players. Experienced vets would still be a valued commodity but when was the last time an import was the main piece in a trade? QBs would still be a valued commodity, but why would you trade either of those guys away? The only thing another team could give you is a neg list player (which theoretically you should be able to find a bunch of equivalent neg list guys out there) or another experienced vet. But that rarely happens even today. With the abundance of Americans, I think you would see continuous turnover in the bottom half of the roster, and I'm already finding it difficult to identify with players on this team. Though that could be because we suck.

Yes I agree. I think Lawless is taking the position because he, for one, felt Kane should be at camp and play while others, including Hustler disagree. And I maintain an allegation this serious is worth having the player take a time off from the team. If we're talking a year to resolve, then its tough but the Grand Jury is assembling shortly and will either return an indictment or not and given the circumstances of this case, the DA might even cancel the Grand Jury. So odds are, how this case proceeds will be learned sooner rather than later and Kane should have stepped away. Allegations are too serious. If in two weeks the DA doesnt proceed, then Kane comes back. And all that was lost was camp and maybe a handful of games. I know that isnt minor but you err on the side of caution and good sense and good optics. As of now, if the Grand Jury returns an indictment, you essentially have a charged and pending trial for rape of a guy who's been playing hockey and thats bad optics at best. I think this whole escapade is an example of the "bad side" of the social / digital media age we live in. It removes the ability for people to be patient and let things unfold Every minute detail is out there in real time for everyone to consume, and it builds a sort of frenzy. You said yourself that there are people out there who already think he is guilty. By the way you post, it sounds like you already believe he is guilty. The truth is there is a very very small group of people who have actually seen the evidence in this case and can even begin to make a somewhat educated opinion. (There are for sure two people who know what happened) Everyone else has made up their mind based on he said, she said, and prior reputations. I'm not convinced suspending him until there is a formal charge is the right course of action. The accuser in this needs to be protected. But at the same time Kane deserves protection too. If he is formally charged, than yes, I agree he should be suspended with pay. I think everyone can agree that the sooner they take this to the grand jury, the better. Is there still more evidence they need to collect? Witnesses they need to interview? Letting this go on and on is not doing anyone any good.

I have definitely moved into apathy. Doesn't even feel like game day today. There is nothing exciting about the prospect of sitting through another one of these games, especially against Calgary.

I think it is more pointing out the hypocrisy of people. I don't think anyone is suggesting that they should string up the accuser. At the same time, people shouldn't proclaim Kane guilty until he is proven guilty. Should accusers be shamed for coming forward? No. Should accused people be assumed guilty? No. Neither is right. Neither should be done. People should wait for the process of the law to take its course and judgement passed. Unfortunately it is human nature that both will happen.

It isn't the numbers, it is precedent. Imagine a business opening in Winnipeg that mandated 40% of its employees be US based citizens on a work visa.

If I recall, it is actually a legal issue in the States. US employment laws wouldn't allow them to mandate a number of jobs going to non Americans.

Unfortunate if this is the Mother orchestrating something thinking it would help her daughter ... and it back-fired.

This whole thing is a disaster. He withdraws because of the mother, but still believes the victim. Was he representing the mother or the victim? http://www.tsn.ca/lawyer-for-kane-s-accuser-abruptly-quits-case-1.366231

A pat on the back for a job well done.

TSN Radio is the main gig is it not? Unless he taking over for Sara O or the other local TSN person. I believe the release said he would be part of CFL telecasts (he has done some in the past, I think he will become more of a regular), TSN 1290, TSN Jets, and he will be doing writing for the TSN website.

Nice spreadsheet. One suggestion, add a new colour for Clitsome and long term IR

USA Today criticizing the NHL big time on the Kane situation. They reference other sports that have suspended players in similar situations and even go so far as to suggest the NHL should be doing its own investigation like the NFL did with Ray Rice. http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/christinebrennan/2015/09/23/patrick-kane-sexual-assault-allegation-rape-kit-chicago-blackhawks/72700154/

We seem to have exhausted the discussion on O'Shea's thoughts on the Bombers record. Thread locked. If people really want to continue this arguing, take it up in general.

Scoring was down last year which concerned the league. The rule change was added to increase scoring. So the rule change had the desired effect. Question is has it increased it too much. Or, the better question, is the overall product better and the games more entertaining?

Blueandgold still in the lead by 2 wins at 36, saskbluefan in 2nd with 34 and Atomic in third with 33. Leaderboard can be seen here: http://morningbigblue.com/community/index.php?app=pickems&do=leaderboard&pid=6&wid=83 Week 14 picks have to be in by Friday @ 7:30PM. Picks can be made here: http://morningbigblue.com/community/index.php?app=pickems&do=games&pid=6&wid=84 Curious enough, as of the time of this posting, 5.6% of the people who have already entered their picks believe that Winnipeg can beat Calgary.

Will be able to read his articles again now that they won't be behind the Free Press pay wall.

The NHL ties you to a team for 7 years or until you are 27. However the NHL also has guaranteed contracts. From a bargaining stand point, you would probably have to throw in guaranteed contracts to get that level of free agency, which will never happen. The NFL on the other hand doesn't have guaranteed contracts. Here are their RFA rules: 5 years would be tough unless you are giving some other concession back to the players. I like the 3 years. Or in reality, I think it should be they are an RFA for their 2nd CFL contract. . CFL doesn't always release contract information. Is a typical rookie contract 2 or 3 years? If it is 3, I guess it doesn't make much of a difference on the 5 years because your second contract would probably cover it.

I don't think you want the Moose to be strictly development players. You have veterans on the AHL team to teach the younger players how to be a professional day in and day out, to set the example. A team with purely development players would not be good at all. I don't know enough of Raffl's history and background to know if he is one of those vets you want setting the example, but you definitely need vets on the Moose.

The 3on3 had me sitting on the edge of my seat, and that is saying something for a pre-season game. Put me in the fan column. Interesting rule quirk they highlighted tonight. If you pull your goalie for an extra skater and lose during the 3on3, you forfeit your single point from the regulation tie (unless there is a delayed penalty). Guess they were worried about a team dominating possession by doing this.

Both more entertaining than watching a Bomber game these days.