A Christmas gift for each CFL fan base

When the big guy came down the chimney last night, here are some gifts I hope he left for each CFL fan base.

B.C. Lions: renewed interest in the city

The Lions are an exciting team with an exciting, young quarterback, an explosive offense and a stifling defense, but yet attracting fans has been an issue as of late. Attendance dwindles as the team tries to re-establish itself in the Vancouver marketplace. Hopefully they are successful and B.C. Place is once again a rocking place for the Lions.

Calgary Stampeders: more of them

What do you get the team that has everything? They have been the best team in the CFL over the last nine seasons, having won no fewer than 10 games in any given year since 2008, hosting a playoff game in every year but one and making it to four Grey Cups. That type of success is something every fan base would crave, yet it seems as if success has bred complacency. Stampeders games should be sold out almost every week, and yet when you look at the stands at McMahon Stadium, even during playoff games, you see a ton of empty seats. The Stampeders are the class of the CFL and their home attendance should show that.

Edmonton Eskimos: named hosts of the 2018 Grey Cup

The Eskimos are the first of two teams that should be awarded a Grey Cup. The game has not been played in Edmonton since 2010 and that is far too long between Grey Cups for the league’s largest stadium. Money has been sunk into renovating Commonwealth Stadium and it is high time they had the chance to host the big game once again.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats: named hosts of the 2019 Grey Cup

Hamilton is more deserving of hosting a Grey Cup than any other city in the league. The league’s showcase has not touched down in the steel city since 1996 and it is high time that the league come back to the Hammer. It would be best if the 2018 game was fought at Tim Hortons Field, but with back-to-back Ontario Grey Cups in 2016 and 2017, fatigue could set in, so wait a year, let Edmonton host in 2018 and bring the game back to Hamilton for the team’s 150th anniversary.

Ottawa Redblacks: a sense of humour

Any article on 3DownNation that isn’t a glowing review of everything Redblacks brings out comments about jealousy and hate. Just go look at what was supposed to be a fun piece casting CFL personnel as Star Wars characters. There were Redblacks fans who took offense to me casting Henry Burris as Darth Vader! Who is more like Vader than Burris!? NO ONE! It is high time Redblacks join the rest of us in being able to make fun of ourselves. Hamilton fans have no teeth, Toronto fans are invisible, Saskatchewan has won just four Grey Cups in over 100 years, Winnipeg hasn’t won a Grey Cup since 1990 and the list goes on. Every team has ways to get picked on and Ottawa is no different. Take it in stride and laugh at yourself. Believe me, you will enjoy yourself more.

Montreal Alouettes: a franchise quarterback

Montreal has been looking for a true franchise quarterback since Anthony Calvillo was forced into retirement in 2013 and they have yet to find one. Players like Troy Smith, Kevin Glenn, Jonathan Crompton and Rakeem Cato have all tried and failed to make this team their own. They gave up a first-round pick to acquire Vernon Adams from the B.C. Lions and he looked decent in his three starts at the end of last season. For Alouettes fans, hopefully he can be the next star at QB for them, because if not, the down times will continue.

Saskatchewan Roughriders: patience

It has been two rough years for the Riders, but the end of the 2016 season should offer hope. The Riders got better as the year progressed, and despite calls for his head, Chris Jones has this team going in the right direction. Fans need to be patient, even when Jones does things they don’t agree with (like cutting John Chick and Weston Dressler; possibly letting Darian Durant walk away) because the man has won everywhere he has been. He will turn the Riders around.

Toronto Argonauts: a better home schedule

BMO Field is a great place to watch a football game. Sadly, many Torontonians didn’t get that memo. Their schedule sucked — they have games on Thursday, two on Wednesday and Monday, and went from September 11 to October 10 without a home game — and that contributed to their lack of attendance, which only once got above the 18,000 mark. Every team plays on Thursday, but the mid-week and early week games need to end for Torontonians to finally be able to support the Argos.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers: for 2016 to be the start of something

While Hamilton fans might disagree, Winnipeg has to be the longest-suffering fan base in the entire CFL. Their recent stretch of futility, where they won 21 games between 2012-2015 is one of the worst, non-expansion runs in CFL history. Then 2016 happened and things started to go the Bombers way. They won 11 games for the first time since 2003 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2011. For the fans in Manitoba, one can hope that this is the beginning of a Bombers resurgence and not just another one off.

For every CFL fan, player, coach, front office staff, etc.: a Happy Holidays

Jokes aside, I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holidays. Merry Christmas, everyone!