Labour Day is a day to celebrate the hard work that millions and millions of average citizens put in every day. What better way to celebrate those people than by giving something to those less fortunate.
Floyd, Knowlton and Johnson at CAW Local 504
Otis Floyd, Markeith Knowlton and Jamall Johnson took time on their off-day to deliver 600 Labour Day tickets, which the best Linebacking group in the CFL purchased themselves, to members of the CAW Local 504, which represents workers at the soon-to-be-closed Siemens plant.
While we could not take part in what Floyd and company did, there is a way that we can help.
Once again, the Purolator Tackle Hunger program will return to Ivor Wynne Stadium on Labour Day. This program collects food to help local food banks, and all the food donated at Monday's game will go to the Hamilton Food Share. Cash donations are also accepted.
Also, the Purolator Tackle Hunger program donates the Quarterback's weight in food for every sack during the CFL season. So when the Tabbies register a sack on Monday, not only will it be a big play for the Tiger-Cats, but it will help out those in need as well. "And with a fatty like Cleo Lemon" that could be a lot of food.
Also, everyone who brings food or cash donations will get a chance to have their picture taken with the Grey Cup. I implore everyone to bring at least one non-perishable food item and help out those in need. Let's show the country that Hamilton has a heart that matches the gold on the uniforms.
If there are any fans in Calgary and Edmonton that are reading this, they may take offense to this, but I don't care. The one and true Labour Day Classic takes place in Hamilton, Ontario.
I have said twicepreviously that the greatest rivalry in all of professional sports is Hamilton-Toronto. It's the most intense rivalry I have ever witnessed, and the annual Labour Day Classic is the apex of that rivalry.
It's not just the fans that feel this way either. Players feel it as well. Here is what Ti-Cat Centre Marwan Hage had to say about playing the Argonauts on Labour Day:
"That's what we live for." I repeat, "That's what we live for." For fans and players alike, truer words were never spoken.
One of the easiest things in the world to do is hate the Toronto Argonauts. Citizens of Toronto seem to believe that they are better than everybody else. They look down their noses at our blue-collar town. They think we want to be them, that we envy them, that only Toronto matters. Arrogance of the highest order, that is portrayed perfectly in the following video:
"How many 'o's' are there in loser?" Only one, but there are more than a couple in Toronto Argonauts, and when it comes to the Labour Day Classic, the Argos have been on the losing end more often than not. Hamilton has a record of 29-13-1 on Labour Day. It would take a winning streak from now until my recently born nephew is old enough to drive for the Argos to tie the series.
Labour Day is different from any other day; the Labour Day Classic is different from any other game. In a city where the citizens feel that an honest day's work deserves an honest wage; where hard work and getting your hands dirty is a sign of strength, not weakness; where the term "working class" is worn as a badge of honour; in Hamilton, it is nice to be able to watch the Tiger-Cats kick the living daylights out of the Argonauts. It's nice for Hamilton to be able to stick it to the elitist snobs that inhabit Toronto. Aside from winning the Grey Cup, there is no better feeling than beating Toronto. The season, regardless of record, can be considered a success if a Ti-Cat victory against Toronto is achieved. In fact, it's part of the Hamilton Code.
Labour Day is upon us. The Classic begins at 2:30PM in Hamilton. This week starts the march to the playoffs. Teams at or around .500 are positioning themselves for Grey Cup runs. Now the real CFL season begins.
British Columbia (1-7) at Montreal (6-2)
The Labour Day Weekend kicks off with the two teams furthest from one another battling in Montreal. Normally, I'd take the Als in a walk because, well, BC sucks. But Montreal will be without Anthony Calvillo, and Chris Leak will get the start. But as much as I would love for the Lions to win, it just isn't going to happen. Two weeks is a long time to prepare for a team, and the Als prepare better than anyone else. This one will be closer than expected, but the Als will pull it out.
Winner: Montreal, 28-17
Winnipeg (2-6) at Saskatchewan (5-3)
I think if any of the teams that have the ability to pull an upset, it's Winnipeg. The Bombers have had two weeks to get ready for the Riders, and Saskatchewan looked very mortal in losing to Edmonton last week. But it's that loss that I think will spur the Riders on to the win. They will not have another letdown this week.
Winner: Saskatchewan, 31-15
Toronto (5-3) at Hamilton (4-4)
The Labour Day Classic. I don't care what marketers or television ads or the league itself says, the one and only Labour Day Classic is between Toronto and Hamilton. After having played each other prior to the bye week, both the Cats and Argos will be rested and ready for Round Two. This should be a doozy, and I expect one or two fist fights to break out. When the dust settles, the Cats come away victorious.
Winner: Hamilton, 27-21
Edmonton (2-6) at Calgary (7-1)
Edmonton is on a high after beating Saskatchewan last week. Calgary, however, isn't Saskatchewan. Calgary is the best team in the CFL. Calgary steamrolled the Eskimos the last time these two teams played. Do you see where I'm going with this? Edmonton will put up a good fight, but Calgary will pull away in the end.
Simply put, Kevin Glenn has been superb. He has started every game and has played, quite possibly, the best he has in his entire career. The only year that I think even comes close would be his 2007 MOP-candidate season.
Glenn is in the top half of the league in every major statistical category and has played marvelously since the late-July game against Montreal, where rumours of benching came to the forefront.
It's hard to judge any other QB on the roster, since they haven't really had the chance to play. I will say that the change from Adam Tafralis to Quinton Porter for the short-yardage attempts has been a success. Porter's size gives him the advantage over Tafralis. Porter's ability to use his legs to make plays (even if sometimes they fail) puts him ahead of Tafralis as well.
This grade is based entirely on Kevin Glenn's play, and it has been as good as ever. Some might disagree because of a couple of lackluster games, but Glenn has been marvelous and is on his way to a standout 2010 season.
