Getting it done is what matters

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/10/2010 (5791 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Montreal skyline fades into the distance as the jet hauling yours truly home climbs into the clouds Monday morning.

And it was in that moment just before the sight of the St. Lawrence River, Olympic Stadium and Mount Royal turned puffy white that we took a moment to reflect on the spectacular weekend that was for Montreal sports fans.

Consider this: on Friday night and in front of 11,682 at the Bell Centre, Lucian Bute — the Romanian-Canadian who calls Montreal home — retained his International Boxing Federation super middleweight crown with a ninth-round TKO of Jessie Brinkley.

The next evening, 21,273 packed the same building to watch the Canadiens edge the Ottawa Senators 4-3 to improve to 3-1-1.

And Sunday afternoon a capacity crowd of 25,012 were witness to the Montreal Alouettes clinching first place in the CFL’s East Division for the third straight year and ninth time in the last 12 years.

The added bonus, just to perfectly cap off the last few days in La Belle Ville? Catholics were rejoicing the news that Montreal’s Brother Andre had been recognized as a saint over the weekend in Rome after the Pope honoured a man who had dedicated his life (he passed away in 1937) to the poor and the ailing.

Speaking of the poor and ailing, we give you the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — insert rimshot here — who are now 4-11 after Sunday’s 22-19 loss to the Als in a game that provided, again, a perfect snapshot of their 2010 season.

Loss No. 11 — the seventh by four points or less this year — featured too many mistakes, critical penalties at crucial times, iffy O-line play, so-so quarterbacking and a late rally that provided little outside of scoreboard cosmetic surgery.

And there was head coach Paul LaPolice on Monday afternoon offering up his take as to what his outfit is missing in order to transform from the lovable losers every CFL rival seems to respect immensely but also can’t wait to line up against.

Today’s theory: This squad needs a little more mental jam.

“Things are going to happen that aren’t great in your favour,” the coach explained. “You have to adapt, be mentally tough and go to the next play and continue to fight.

“As a team we have to have resiliency because we’ve faced a lot of adversity, we’ve faced a lot of losses. What I want most from these guys and what I want the leaders to project is it’s OK, they (the opposition) are going to make some plays. Don’t worry, play for 60 minutes. And we have done that at times this year and we have been able to fight back. I want it so they’re ready to go in there and make a play, be calm and ready to go. That’s the one thing I think we can do a better job of.

“Some guys just have that knack. ‘We’re going to get it done, don’t worry about it.’ It’s calmness and a mental toughness and we’re trying to develop that as much as we can from the guys.”

That’s a dandy theory. A rational one, too. But here’s the thing: What if this bunch doesn’t harden from all these losses? Experiencing it, living through it, doesn’t necessarily guarantee the result changes this Saturday against the Toronto Argonauts or at any time next season.

Seven losses by four points or less, you see, can also be explained this way: just not good enough. Remember, this team is 2-9 since opening the season 2-2. And, save for the greatest comeback in club history on Thanksgiving Monday, it would be on a five-game losing streak.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Paul Samyn | Editor's Note

Wednesdays

A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom.

Sign up for Paul Samyn | Editor's Note

Sign Up

I consent to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies.

I consent to CASL agreement.

Indeed, if the Alouettes are to be used as a measuring stick — they are, after all, the defending champs — then what we saw Monday also magnified how much work is left to do for the Bombers. The Als don’t have a lingering question at quarterback, are loaded with Canadian talent and are exceptionally well-coached.

And while they were far from perfect Sunday afternoon, they did get it done when it mattered.

It’s what Montreal players and their faithful have come to expect. And it’s what Bomber players and their faithful covet.

“(The Bombers) are probably the most underrated team in this league on both sides of the ball,” said Alouette, and former Bomber, Eric Wilson. “It’s just at the end of the game they couldn’t find a way to win. And Montreal can, and that’s as plain as I’m going to put it.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca