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Kelly reverts to vulgar self

You knew it couldn’t last: Coach cusses out CJOB

By: Randy Turner

2/11/2009 6:42 AM | Comments: 49

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

It’s just as well, too.

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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

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49 Commentscomment icon

Here’s a link from the Bomber forums showcasing some other pro-sport blow-ups.

Really puts it in perspective for you:

http://forums.bluebombers.com/index.php?topic=10689.0

Enjoy.

They didn't sign Westwood because he's good. They signed him so that Serna would keep putting points up.

It's a very simple concept - get an easy replacement punter to keep your hot kicker scoring, and simultaneously mend relations with a potential future Bomber Hall-of-Famer.

I can't believe people are still going on about this.

Knuckles, Mitch, Geoff and Ed Tait are what we look forward to about the Bombers. This team of misfits is reminiscent of the Rheinbold era. Who thought that a quarterback would have any consistency when his toughest challenge has been his nephew in his back yard? Who really thought that Troy would be any good? We hated him for five years before he was fired. Why would singing and growing his hair have made him a better kicker than he was 2 years ago?
I am still a fan. Unfortunately, I also cheer for the 'Leafs. What do you do?

Fan's note: Do you know the difference between a columnist and a reporter? Clearly not.

Hey Brent, get ready to give up your tickets because 23,000 tickets have already been sold.

I like Kelly for adding some color and standing up for his team. If Glenn comes back to haunt him and wins does that spell the end for coach Kelly? I hope not , he brings passion to the game. Cheers and Go CATs Go !

I'm so mad at myself for reading all of these comments. I should have just scrolled down to Big Blue Fan's initial comment and saved myself the agony! Big Blue Fan is totally, 100 per cent right! GO BOMBERS GO

Brent, nothing to do with being heartless, everything to do with: no Grey Cup for 19 years, a crappy stadium, a coach who is a grown man but has the mind of a 5 year old, and that nutcase Westwood is back.

I'll bet my Grey Cup tickets (endzone) That the Bombers don't get 23,000 for the Hamilton Game. Just cause the empty seats are blue, it should not count as a "blue out". Is 23,000 to high???? Nah, heartless city.

Good column Randy. I am shocked to learn that Kelly has any support at all, although the supporters could just be Coach Kelly himself writing in under different aliases. That's the only explanation I can think of. The man has singlehandedly driven the Bombers into the ground, and if anyone thinks the Bombers will beat the Ticats next week, think again. These are two teams going in different directions as they say. p.s. Westwood is crap.

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