Since my track days, way back when, I’ve never liked rankings which led to a
general dislike of lists. As an athlete, rankings are clear-cut, sorted out by
wins and losses. Later you get to the subjective and ‘power rankings’ all based
on one or a few ‘expert’ opinions. Yet for some reason, fans feel secure about
lists and rankings. It could be an effortless way to open discussion, I don’t
know, but despite my dislike for rankings (and hypocritical participation in
them), my pals in the league still send these things to me, likely because it
gets a reaction out of me almost every time.
Well we have yet
another list of the top Canadian players in the CFL, supposedly updated, and
fed to the fans. It's the only constant list and nothing changes: B.C. has the
most spots, and the same guys are almost always on it. Maybe the B.C. Lions buy
their four spots on a 10-spot list, crazier things have happened. I think that
since everyone else is getting a platform to draw up their silly lists, I will
too. These guys are, after all, what it means to be a Canadian Football League
player. Behold MY top 13 Buck Canucks, my good lookin' Ookpiks:
Bryan Chiu C, MTL – Why he keeps getting left off of other
lists, I have no idea, but I can’t help but notice his 12 seasons on the same
team without being a kicker. He was named outstanding lineman in 2002,
Alouettes’ most outstanding lineman in ’01 and ’02, East Division all-star for
six straight seasons as well as CFL all-star for those same six straight. The
guy’s an Alouette pillar and in case it’s been forgotten, Montreal is top of the
so far dismal East Division so I think leaving Chiu off a top Canadian list
sounds a bit absurd to me.
Ben Cahoon SB, MTL – I need to know what else this guy has
to do to beat out Canada’s sweetheart Jason Clermont. I love how a guy can have
seven of his 11 seasons over 1,000 yards, (six of them being consecutive) lead
his team AND all other Canadian receivers in receptions a few times, drown in
East Division All-Star nods, get Alouettes’ Most Outstanding Canadian a few
times, a Grey Cup Most Outstanding Canadian and CFL Most Outstanding Canadian
twice and still get beat out all while he has the nerve to have 34 catches for
396 yards to date.
Kamau Peterson SB, EDM – TSN’s and friend of The Score,
Duane Forde used the phrase “bumps in the road” but seriously, what’s a guy
gotta do? Grey Cup as a rookie, two TDs in the West Division final that year,
rebuilds from a seemingly impossible slump to finally get his 1,000 yard season,
which he’s on pace to do again. As fellow Redzone genius Jack Bedell said, "his
efforts are contagious." I want to see pretty boy Paris Jackson take that same
hit Peterson took and show the country his teammate’s number on his stomach.
Maybe if Peterson did all these things with broken hands he would break into the
top 10. He’s constantly being snubbed in these lists and it makes me laugh as it
gives support to my Lions conspiracy theory which is funny enough by itself.
Brent Johnson DE, B.C. – Easily the only B.C. Lion I feel
deserves the constant talk and list mentions that he’s been getting. Playing
every game for six seasons as a DE is impressive in itself but the guy disrupts
quarterbacks and makes sure that he’s a factor when trying to run an offence.
Defensive end is a position not often frequented by Canadians and he is likely
taken for granted because if he goes down, that would be a big load that Ricky
Foley (as another Canadian trying to make it in the defensive end world) and the
rest of the depth chart will take time before they can carry it.
Doug Brown DT, WPG – Is there anything not to like about
Doug Brown? He’s on everybody’s list and mine as well. Maybe if the Bombers were
paying off the ‘experts’ we wouldn’t hear about B.C. so much. I don’t need to
list his on-field accolades, what impresses me the most is that he’s got the
goods on and off the field being one of the faces of the Blue Bombers for years.
The Bombers seem to be having a bad season relapse but c’mon now, it’s still
Doug Brown and he’s still been making things happen recording four sacks and 24
tackles which might be staggering for Brown, but understandable.
Scott Schultz DL, SSK – The man is pretty badass and even I
can’t say anything about it. Award upon award and accolade speak for themselves
and arguing their merit would be challenging. Schultz is a large presence in his
eight seasons with the Riders. A number one overall pick in his ’01 draft class,
he’s made sure he’s a factor that offences need to account for. Schultz is one
of the common list selections I agree with because the 2007 Grey Cup was won by
the defence, in my opinion.
Marwan Hage C, HAM – Yeah the Ti-Cats' record hasn’t looked
good in a long time, but that’s the thing about team sports; sometimes but good
players do happen to teams with bad records and Hage is a talent. Nominated for
most outstanding lineman and named East Division all-star in 2007, he’s big and
physical and got my attention as a Canadian centre and in my reserved opinion,
it will be a long time before another like him or Chiu will come along.
Kevin Eiben LB, TOR – I’ll give old O’Shea a break and give
Eiben a minute or two. He’s steady being nominated as the Argo’s Most
Outstanding Canadian as well as the East Division’s Outstanding Canadian. 2007
was a nice year for Eiben and with 23 tackles for 2008 already considering
Toronto’s struggles this season; I’m not worried about him, because the guy’s
talented. I’m glad to put him on the list.
Andre Talbot WR, TOR – Does anyone remember Talbot? I do.
The Argos could stand to start remembering him - as well. I remember that time
last year when he was one of Toronto’s sure things, caught for 803 yards and six
TDs. He’s not heavily fitted with all-star nods but he is a 2004 Grey Cup ring
owner, in which he arguably saved the day by making a sweet catch and stayed in
bounds thus saving the drive. What’s this guy gotta do?
Ray Mariuz LB, HAM – Mariuz is a guy that plays like he
wants to pop you in the mouth every chance he gets. Already he has as many
tackles as he put down last season at 28, which looks to me like a career season
in the making. He’s got a sack and five special-teams tackles. He’s a good
Canadian player working hard and getting the tasks done. Dismal win-loss records
aside, he’s had shining moments in Hamilton as well as his days in Toronto where
he was mainly on special teams.
Andy Fantuz WR, SSK – His broken leg is a real shame mainly
because prior to it, he was running around accomplishing fairly impressive
things in a relatively short amount of time for a guy who isn’t particularly
fast but exploits that he has important inches over the next tallest DB’s, which
is fine by me that’s pretty much what I like most about him. He came in from the
CIS and went to work, right away. I expect him to return with a vengeance.
Dimitri Tsoumpas OL, CGY – This newbie is a credit to his
deep and talented draft class. He’s adapting well and helping to keep Henry
Burris safe as he’s one of the fewest sacked to date. He’s having a pretty good
rookie season in a tough position Calgary’s on a two-game win streak and put
them back in the hunt for the West Division. I mention him as he seems to be
flying under a lot of ‘players to watch’ radars.
Agustin Barrenechea LB, EDM – I’ve liked him since his
Hamilton days. This guy will pop you in the mouth too. He plays hard and has
been fitting in well in Edmonton save for an odd senseless penalty here and
there. He’s recorded a sack and an interception for a short return for the
Eskimos and that defence that’s campaigning up the ranks. Just to put a name out
there. Peg him as one to keep an eye on, if you will.
Why top 13, you ask? Simply put, because I can. Am I taking away from the
other Canadians on the other lists made or their abilities? Not at all, not even
close. I’m merely mentioning some others because overrating is common. My list
is just as meaningless as the others. Do I even use the word ‘buck’ in my daily
life? No. I do not. I don’t like lists, so I make one. I like the irony.
Labour Day weekend’s games should be nice. I’ve abandoned the hope for a
perfect week and I’m not expecting a bad game from any of the matchups.