 |
If a guy could use only one word to describe the Eskimos' early-season turnaround, it would be "amazing."
To see a group humiliated at home by the B.C. Lions as Edmonton was and then to watch the bounce-back performance against Saskatchewan, the word fits perfectly -- and it could be written in capital letters after the Thursday's whipping of powerful Montreal.
Perhaps the consecutive victories will finally get some nay-sayers off the back of Danny Maciocia. No, probably not.
Before the Saskatchewan comeback, e-mails and blogs were full of misguided suggestions that Maciocia -- now the general manager and not head coach any longer -- was to be blamed because he somehow was picking the players on head coach Richie Hall's roster.
Now that the Eskimos have impressed the entire league with toughness and ability for a whopping two games in a row, it would be only fair for those same critics to praise Maciocia for the great job he did in selecting the roster.
The fact is that coaches and general managers and assistants always have input but Hall makes the final Eskimo player decisions -- win or lose, right or wrong.
Despite this fact, Maciocia is sure to take ummerited abuse the next time Edmonton loses a game.
REAL JOB STARTS NOW
Now that the Dany Heatley experiment has ended, Steve Tambellini faces an even bigger test: can he strengthen the Oilers after being tied up for so long in what turns out to be an exercise in futility?
I, for one, believed the team would be better off without this spoiled, talented young guy. There were obvious difficulties in team morale last season and, looking in from outside, it seemed reasonable that another attitude starting in "I" and ending in "me" could only add to the problems.
Because Tambellini, president Kevin Lowe and new coaches Pat Quinn and Tom Renney all had solid associations with Heatley on hockey's international stage, they were confident he could be shaped into part of a positive team.
Maybe they're right. If so, Ottawa -- and apparently nobody else -- will benefit.
All along, there have been questions about options remaining to the Oilers if Heatley refused to bring his ego to Edmonton.
The clock keeps ticking toward training camp. Time, as lawyers often say, is of the essence.
FORMIDABLE FOES
In the Canada Summer Games, Alberta always faces three major obstacles: Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. Our province has never finished better than fourth.
When the 2009 edition starts Aug. 15 in Charlottetown, the cards favour the three largest provinces one more time.
Pat Lechelt, Alberta's director of interprovincial and international sports, explained that many probable team members will be established at schools in the United States. It's the same for every province, "but the big advantage goes to those with more depth, especially in some sports."
Alberta's team will include 360 athletes in a group of more than 450.
START YOUR ENGINES
Are you thrilled that Edmonton Indy racers will play follow-the-leader again next July? If the financial loss is manageable, it's a good deal.
JCSHORT@SHAW.CA