While you were watching 2,000 hours of Olympic coverage on seven different platforms, the Canadian Football League almost had a nervous breakdown.
A season's worth of angst popped out in two weeks, burning up social media, bruising the reputation of the league's richest club, and hurting the feelings of a dressing room.
Here's a quick guide:
The secret of the hidden practice list
There hasn't been this much anger in Saskatchewan since the Battle of Batoche, back in 1885, during the Northwest Rebellion.
Seems the Roughriders were using a hidden practice roster that pushed the number of players in beautiful Regina to around 95 as head coach Chris Jones took the "if nobody says anything, it isn't illegal" approach.
Across the border (not playing the part of Louis Riel) came Calgary pivot Bo Levi Mitchell, riding a Twitter stallion. Noticing the Riders had cut six players and signed five, he posted this:
I bet none of the people they signed needed flights .. đź‘€ https://t.co/c8aAdx1XL1
— @BoLeviMitchell
His point was, the new guys had been stashed in town. Turns out the league had been "quietly investigating" the situation for "a couple of weeks," and when Mitchell blew the whistle they sped things up.
Whither Argos? Whither football?
It said here all the Argos needed was to get out of cavernous Rogers Centre, find owners with money who would do advertising and marketing, move to beautiful BMO Field, sell season seats to those who also want to see the Grey Cup in November, play some decent football and the fans would come.
The first three happened, the last three haven't. Toronto is averaging around 15,000 fans per game, and the team is terrible at home (1-4, against 3-0 on the road).
When you factor in how abysmal the "Bills in Toronto" NFL experiment went (2008-2013) with the current situation, one has to ask if this is a football town anymore?
The CFL cannot continue at the present level if Toronto collapses as a franchise because sponsors won't go along, leaving this a regional, third-tier pro league with a questionable future.
And no, the NFL is not coming to Toronto.
Alouettes find a safe space — winning
Is Jim Popp, Montreal's GM/coach, a master strategist, a lucky stiff, or is the jury still out? (John Woods/The Canadian Press)
Three days after the Alouettes were crushed at home by B.C., head coach Jim Popp apparently closed the dressing room door and lit into his players, calling specific ones out, threatening careers, promising changes.
"Normal stuff," said a retired player. "Happens all the time," said another retired player.
"Our feelings were hurt," a few Montreal players quietly told the media.
So everyone got together, discussed micro-aggression in football, Popp apologized and all seemed better.
First game after? Defence played well but the offence stalled. Second game after? The Larks beat the begeezus out of the Redblacks, in Ottawa. Kumbaya has been restored.
It's only worth it if you win
Out streamed the Riders on Aug. 4 at Calgary, flexing their muscles and showing they wouldn't be intimidated by gathering on the Stamps' logo and jumping up and down.
Result: 35-15 loss. $5,000 fine. Humiliating.
Meanwhile, out in Winnipeg ...
Two weeks from now it may have come crashing down, but the Winterpeg Blue Bummers, laughing stock of the league for too many years, have won three games in a row and … we're not making this up … looked terrific doing it.
They have a good quarterback in Matt Nichols, a talented running back in hometown hero Andrew Harris, and are tied for the second best defence in the league despite giving up monster yards at times.
Now if they can just learn to win in their own division, Winnipeg might have something to celebrate. Like a playoff game.
Remember when?
Remember in Week 2 when Duron Carter knocked Ottawa coach Rick Campbell on his behind and set off a near riot on the Redblacks' bench?
Remember when the Montreal Alouettes wide receiver was given a one-game suspension and then appealed?
As you filter back from the Olympics, isn't it reasonable to assume this has long since washed down the river? We are now into Week 10 and the arbitrator still hasn't released a decision.
At this rate, Carter may serve his suspension next season.
What you missed in the CFL during the Olympics
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