Roughriders BABAY!

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

REGINA (CP) - At Taylor Field, the temporary bleachers are in place and the tickets are selling as fast as they can be printed.

 

A rowdy crowd of 40,000 is expected for Sunday's CFL Labour Day tilt between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7 p.m. EDT, TSN).

 

By all accounts, the atmosphere - and the game - should be memorable.

 

``It's one of those situations where you are lucky to be a football player,'' said Rider offensive lineman Gene Makowsky, a Saskatchewan native who has been with the team for eight Labour Day games.

 

``To have all those people cheering for you or against you - it's just a great atmosphere and a great situation. It's one of my favourite times of year.''

 

Normally, Taylor Field only holds about 28,000 fans. But Regina is hosting the Grey Cup this year and about half of the temporary seats have been installed in the end zones. That means this Labour Day game should be the second-largest regular-season crowd in the stadium's history.

 

``Just to walk in there now gives you a special feeling,'' said Rider head coach Danny Barrett.

 

``There is a big smile on my face looking forward to it.''

 

The Bombers know they are entering hostile territory. They played crowd noise over the loud speakers at practice this week trying to prepare.

 

``The drummed up noise is supposed to stop once the quarterback gets over the ball,'' said Bombers coach Dave Ritchie. ``In Saskatchewan, for some reason, it never stops. The band plays, the girls scream. So we have got to find an answer to that.''

 

 

The Bombers are also reportedly staying down the road in Moose Jaw, Sask., because over-excited fans in Regina have a habit of keeping the team up late by making noise at their hotel.

 

 

On the field, Sunday's game is a story of two teams that are currently heading in different direction.

 

The Bombers, with a 7-3 record and locked in a three-way tie for first place in the West, have shown signs of getting things together after some early-season struggles. But their last three wins have come against weaker teams in 2-8 Calgary, 3-7 Ottawa and 0-10 Hamilton. The Riders, at 6-4, are the first winning team the Bombers will play since a 37-27 loss to Montreal at the end of July.

 

Balance was a key for Winnipeg when it clobbered Calgary 52-17 last week. Quarterback Khari Jones threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, while the defence chipped in with 14 points on a fumble and an interception return.

 

The Riders have shown signs of promise this year, but have struggled of late, losing two of their last three, including a lacklustre 49-31 effort in Edmonton last week. Still the Riders are only one win out of first and see Sunday's game as a chance to make that up.

 

``We are fighting to get back into first place and that is what makes it so important,'' said Rider full back Chris Szarka, who has eight touchdowns on the year.

 

``It's always been a heated rivalry. For some reason these two teams don't get along.''

 

The Rider defence had a sub-par game last week and will be looking to step up. They allowed Edmonton 311 yards and four touchdowns through the air, while giving up 195 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

 

The offence also sputtered with Nealon Greene at quarterback, igniting talk that fan-favourite Henry Burris could see his first action of the year if things don't go well Sunday.

 

``Our guys have been very business-like the last few days, understanding what we need to do and that is get back on track with a win,'' Barrett said.

 

``The guys are really excited to be back at home in front of the crowd, especially on Labour Day and with the magnitude of the game that is at stake.''

 

 

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Canadians, discuss you're Labor Day Classics. This game between the Bombers and Riders is gonna be huge. The Roughie's have the rowdiest fans, and I am going to be there screaming until my throat begins to spew blood. Its going to be a violent crowd out there. If you can watch the game, check it out, it'll be intense. If any Americans have satellite and can watch TSN (A Canadaian sports channel) tune this game in. Give it a shot, by CFL standards, you will not be disappointed. And what for Hank Burris, he'll be in there tonight. No more fucking around.

[treble 0]

The Hamilton/Toronto game should be kind of interesting, with the whole ownership situation storyline thing going. The Argos need the win to keep pace with Ottawa for that playoff spot, but you know the Ti-Cats would love to get their first win of the year against their rivals.

[Red Baron 0]

some one has to win in the T.O. Hamilton game.

 

Wouldn't it be hilarious that they tied...

[Dogbert 0]

Winterpeg beat Saskatchewan pretty handily, 36-18.

 

Toronto should take the Ti-Cats, they won't be winning any time soon.

 

Edmonton will squash Calgary like HHH with Jericho. Fred Fateri and Michael Feterik have ruined a once-great Stamps squad.

[Guest HungryJack]

Amen to that shit. Fucking Fateri, he's a goddamned clown.

[Brush with Greatness 0]

Wow, for the first time in about three seasons Winnipeg is actually starting to play up to their potential. They're not there yet but almost. On paper, they've been the best team in the league the past few seasons, however, circumstances, some controllable some not, have prevented them from winning the Grey Cup. Perhaps this could be the year. Although I'm sure some shit will happen like Roberts and Stegal getting injured right before the playoffs.

[Brush with Greatness 0]

And on an aside, I think it's time the CFL scrapped the whole two divisions. Just play one whole league with no divisions (be it 7,8, or 9 teams next year). Have the top two receive byes. Three plays six and four plays five. This would hurt the divisional rivalries meeting up in the division finals, but I think being able to see a Edmonton-Calgary or Winnipeg-Saskatchewan Grey Cup one day would more than make up for this.

[Red Baron 0]

Isn't around 2005 Halifax is suppose to get a team?

[starvenger 0]

Isn't around 2005 Halifax is suppose to get a team?

Supposedly. It makes more sense to have an even number of teams...

[Guest HungryJack]

Edmonton will squash Calgary like HHH with Jericho.

 

HA. GO STAMPS GO.