We’re now counting down days until Bomber camp opens!
Mock interview:
Head Coach Doug Berry and GM Brendan Taman:
Gentlemen: I just looked at your 2008 schedule. We open at home on June 27 against Toronto and Kerry Joseph (late of the Green Riders and destroying us in the Grey Cup with his feet) and finish the year on November 1st against Hamilton at home. Brr. You’ve got the by week between your August 14 game and the August 31st game in Regina. Banjo Bowl here on September 7th. Maybe the biggest game of the year for fans of both teams at least.
I see we’re still in the Eastern Conference. That has to help get us back into the Grey Cup this year. I’m concerned that more often than not in this league today, teams do not repeat as Grey Cup champions. I would guess, but I will check, that it’s more likely that the runner-up will be back. Ok you’re asking what’s my question? I just need to hear myself talk a bit, I guess. A tv carryover, I suppose.
Ok question: “What are the 5 things you’ve done to make us better?” Let’s start there and then let’s go on to the 5 things that are keeping you up nights now…and then maybe even a few big issues. You know, kind of like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
The Good:
1. Kevin Glenn resigning for 2 years at what appears right now to be a fair price. No uncertainty or talk during the year about contract. Focus on the game only. Our little field general.
2. See # 1. Add Ryan Dinwiddie coming back with some real big game seasoning for 2008. This year we’ll have a far better two quarterback tandem. What we we thinking last year, I ask myself. Oh well, in sports, you’ve always got next year as long as you have a job. What about a scrambler, I ask? This is Canada after all and we’ve got the big field. Put that down for the The Bad the guys say for right now.
3. Tom Canada and Dan Goodspeed sign on to chase that Grey Cup ring with the rest of their mates from last year…Well most of them. Tom decides that Winnipeg has the best looking ladies in the league and the city isn’t that bad, even though we all know it doesn’t have a Hotel California here. Milt said he wants to come back and while that took a hit on our salary structure, we know it will be great for the team in the clubhouse and in the community. Take it from me there isn’t anyone better with the fans and we do count a bit I hope. You can not do enough community. Our assistants are back.
4. Took a crash course in the salary management system and tried to learn ways to get around it as we expect everyone else will try to do. You’ve even got an SMS advisor/consultant now instead of more scouts. Ok just kidding with the last comment.
5. Resolved to learn from our mistakes in 2007. We’re going to challenge veterans in training camp or early and not create embarrassing situations later during the season. We want to have our backups ready to play in the biggest of games if necessary. We know you can’t ever have enough leaders and team people in the dressing room and we know that you need to have the Juwan Bolden types around who have been to the “show”, have that “you can’t beat me attitude”, are a force physically, and can motivate the others on our team who are playing to get there. We’re going to work harder to avoid injury and rehab faster. Our special teams have to be good enough to score too.
Enough for today, please they ask. We’ll get onto your bad and the ugly soon but we’re not negative types in any event. Well, I can preview one comment they made. ” What’s going on with a new stadium for these guys and the fans who want to watch them. Do we need to win a Grey Cup before our decision makers actually make decisions? If that’s the case, just watch us….they said almost in unison.”
“Thanks guys for part 1 of that mock interview.” As they start walking out I’m saying…”See you in Montreal for the 2008 Cup? Calgary in 2009. Can you get this team in three years in a row? Calgary’s a party for sure, especially after Montreal which will be the best. Have all the other teams improved too and are we ready for them to be better? Games will not be won with talk about last year. Brendan, I need a media pass for camp. Any chance for a sports guy with a little fan blog. Ok, it’s part of 100 site network and we get a bit of search engine love. Does that help?
They’re not listening anymore, Doug Brown walking by with wrecking balls for hands, says to me. “Do you want to talk”, he asks.
