Kelly reverts to vulgar self

And now, we return to our regularly scheduled Blue Bombers.

It’s just as well, too.

Because it was getting a little bit thick, all this talk about the local 12 using Sunday’s rematch with the powerhouse Montreal Alouettes to "send a message," that it was a "statement game."

For a 7-9 team, as mom would say, they were getting a little too big for their britches.

Well, consider the message sent and the statement emphatically made.

The Alouettes’ 48-13 destruction of the Bombers proved if there was any lingering doubt about the former’s vulnerability, it was premature at best. Meanwhile, it was a stark reminder of just how bad the Bombers, now 7-10 in a wildly uneven season, can be on any given Sunday.

And that doesn’t just include the offence — or the players, either.

Because no sooner had the stinkage settled than Winnipeg rookie head coach Mike Kelly decided it would be the perfect time to remind all those fans he’s alienated during his rocky tenure why they’re not buying tickets anymore — and proceed to tear into Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Irving on CJOB’s post-game show.

Kelly was apparently angered by the attempts of Irving and colour man Mitch Zalnasky to explain why the Bombers could be so flat and ineffective. Perhaps they were looking ahead to the Nov. 8 regular-season finale death-match with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

"I’m tellin’ ya, we were focused in on this game and that’s the only thing we were focused in on," Kelly snapped. "It’s just media bullshit talking about anything else."

When Irving mildly protested, "it just didn’t look like you were focused, I’m not saying you weren’t focused," a peeved Kelly spat: "Don’t tell me we were or were not focused. This team came out and played. Period."

Then Kelly hung up. Irving was speechless.

Talk about getting your panties in a ball.

Irving called Kelly’s tirade "juvenile" and "rude" and perhaps the worst interview he’s had in almost four decades on the air.

Now let’s be clear: Kelly certainly isn’t the first head coach in any sport to lash out at a journalist, particularly in the heat of defeat. It happens. Everybody gets on with their lives. So will Irving. He’s a professional, after all.

That’s why, for all the moaning and groaning about how Kelly handles the media, there’s been little heed in this space. I never took offence when Kelly insulted die-hard fans earlier this year, either. I’m not a fan.

Besides, what comes out of Kelly’s mouth should have no bearing on the results, especially after the game has been played.

But if you listened really closely around 3:12 p.m. Sunday afternoon, that sound you heard was the folks in the Bombers marketing department screaming. Really, they’re trying their best to sell out Canad Inns Stadium for a mouth-watering showdown with Hamilton. They’re trying to get everybody to show up dressed in blue.

In short, they’re trying to repair all the damage done this season — both in the football and foot-in-mouth departments — and we’re guessing Kelly’s temper tantrum isn’t going to help. Again.

Even more curious, Kelly’s anger stemmed from the belief that it’s folly to even suggest his team wasn’t focused on Sunday. They were just spanked by the Alouettes, plain and simple, Kelly insisted. They weren’t looking ahead to the Tiger-Cats at all.

Hey, I’d rather that they were focused on Hamilton. Because at least that would be a logical reason for the schooling by the Als in Montreal — especially given that the Bombers manhandled the same opponent the previous week at home.

Clearly, the return of quarterback Anthony Calvillo was the principal reason for the Alouettes improvement offensively. But that didn’t explain why the Bombers offence regressed to the point of invisibility. It was like July and August all over again.

But such a disparity in performance, frankly, has been one of the only consistent aspects of the Bombers offence all season, right? Unstoppable one week, unrecognizable the next. Nothing shocking there.

Which, in a strange way, might be just what the Bombers needed.

A reality check. Yes, they were 4-1 in their last five heading to Montreal. They’d miraculously managed to get themselves into a playoff race — and even host the East semifinal with a victory over 8-9 Hamilton this Sunday. They were talking about getting their swagger on, which is always an ominous sign. They were talking about putting a scare in the mighty Alouettes. You know, for when they return to Montreal for the East final.

Then out of nowhere the old Bombers came barrelling back. Unfortunately, so did the old Mike Kelly.

Don’t know about you, but I could do without both of them.

randy.turner@freepress.mb.ca