RMFL
The VCI Golden Bears' football team (2-0) is riding on a high early in their schedule as they remain undefeated with convincing wins over the Parkwest Outlaws (43-0) and the Southwest Sabres (38-7). Their next game is tonight, Thursday, Sept. 20 in Swan River.
It also should be noted that the East Parkland Warriors, based out of Ste. Rose du Lac, have taken a year's leave of absence due to a player shortage, so let's hope they can get their act together and come back stronger than ever next season.
The new kids on the RMFL block, the Interlake Thunder based out of Stonewall, are also making their mark in the league, in more ways than one. They too are 2-0 but much more interesting is how they run their offensive game plan.
Now, most fans are familiar with the two-minute drill in professional football whereby a team on offence, in order to save time and run as many plays as possible late in a half or game, will not huddle or if they do, the QB will call at least two or more plays. It can be very effective as it confuses defences but more importantly wears them down physically, thereby giving the "O" an advantage.
Amazingly, the Thunder offence never huddles during the game, allowing them to run twice as many plays as their opponents. Players have set plays on their wrist bands and coaches call out a number and/or a city name immediately after the previous play is over. In their first game they ran over 70 offensive plays, incredible as other teams rarely run more than 35-40. It's very impressive and makes for a very upbeat, up tempo entertaining match.
NFL
Week two of the NFL regular schedule was one that place kickers all around the league would rather forget about as it will go down as the "weekend of misses". At least 19 of those little pigskins avoided going through the uprights during convert or field goal attempts, with many of them actually deciding the outcome of the game.
Unless their accuracy improves immensely, and quickly, some of these high paid "hoofers" will find themselves in the unemployment line. The teams to look out for in the early going have to be the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Kansas City Chiefs as both teams are scoring at a record pace while their defences are giving up very little.
CFL
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be facing Johnny "Football" Manziel tonight (Friday) in our capital city and there is absolutely no question it's a must win, do or die scenario. If the Blue and Gold (5-7), losers of their last four games, can't beat the lowly Alouettes (3-9), last in the East, they can kiss their chances of reaching the post season goodbye.
As a matter of interest, Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan makes more money ($42 million Cdn.) than all of the CFL players combined as it just so happens that the CFL salary cap is set at $4.2 million. Also the NFL minimum salary is $405,000 while their CFL counterparts pocket a measly $45,000, crazy eh?
PGA
The season ending FedEx Cup Tour Championship, with its $10 million first prize, is up for grabs this weekend at East Lake in Atlanta, Georgia. While all 30 golfers have a mathematical chance of winning the big prize, realistically, it'll probably be one of the top five who will stuff their piggy bank full of cash come Sunday afternoon. Don't forget next weekend the prestigious Ryder Cup will be played in the city of lights, (Paris, baby).
Oil Caps
Season seven for the Oil Caps begins with a home and home series against the Dauphin Kings, with Saturday night's game up in the "Yukon", then both teams returning to TOGP the following night for Virden's home opener.
Buoyed by their success last season where they lost in the MJHL final versus the Steinbach Pistons, the Caps hope they can use that momentum to start off on a winning note but will be hampered by the fact that they’ve lost so many outstanding players.
Until next time....
