Angry Bomber Fans

The Crappy Honker Award

by H.F. Salisbury

In the great tradition of recognizing “Cactus” Jack Wells and the Happy Honker Award given out on C-Job radio here in Winnipeg, I present for you yet another installment of the Happy Crappy Honker Award given to an individual(s) for a fantastic unforgivable performance directly related to the continued floundering of our once beloved Winnipeg Blue Bombers.  This award is handed out after every Winnipeg Blue Bomber loss.

Sorry for the delay Bomber Nation… I’ve been enjoying the time between last game and now over the bi-week break.  During this time I’ve been thinking long and hard about this award. Our team is so frustrating right now and sometimes we need to be reminded of what is really important… the basics.  Only yesterday as a result of a conversation with a coworker did I realize that I was really over thinking this one. 

I considered giving the award to Adarius Bowman.  In the game against Montreal, he dropped what should have been several routine catches (two really stand out).  In one case it would have been a guaranteed touchdown and the other for big yardage if not another major.  When you are wide open and the quarterback hits you in the numbers, you have to “squeeze that old apple” like my Dad used to say.  But then I realized, Bowman didn’t even execute his end of the plays and as a result ultimately didn’t make an impact.  No possession of the ball.  This is awful however…

Steven Jyles did touch the ball a lot.  On several key plays, he just gave the ball to Montreal. Turnovers are killing the Bombers.  When you march the ball down field and get close to scoring a touchdown but instead fumble or throw an interception it is a huge disappointment and demoralizing for your team.  It is made even worse when there are points Montreal scored as a result of the turnovers.   It would almost be better to go two and out and punt the ball rather than start something you don’t finish.  At least that doesn’t break the spirit of your teammates.  The quarterbacks job is to complete passes AND be the leader on the team.  You cannot turn the ball over at key times (if ever).  

Congratulations to Steven Jyles for winning this week’s Crappy Honker Award.  I don’t which is worse… contributing to our turnover count or not stepping up and being the leader this team so badly needs.  Either way, if you want to have a long career in the pros, you will need to work on both. 

The Crappy Honker Award

by H.F. Salisbury

In the great tradition of recognizing “Cactus” Jack Wells and the Happy Honker Award given out on C-Job radio here in Winnipeg, I present for you yet another installment of the Happy Crappy Honker Award given to an individual(s) for a fantastic unforgivable performance directly related to the continued floundering of our once beloved Winnipeg Blue Bombers.  This award is handed out after every Winnipeg Blue Bomber loss.

Against the Toronto Argonauts, we have several potential Crappy award winners.  It could have been almost any Bomber who “played” in the first quarter of Friday night’s game after all, NOBODY showed up and the Blue spotted the Double Blue a 9 – 0 lead.  Blame it on Serna for missing a field goal… nope, too easy.  Perhaps one of the Bombers who coughed up the ball for a turnover?  All solid candidates for the award.  However….  

Picture it, the start of the 4^th quarter, Winnipeg battled back to a 27 – 24 lead, Serna lines up to kick a 45 yard field goal and I remember thinking… Well, up by six with momentum would be good, at the very least a single to make it a lead by more than a field goal.  But no, not today.  Serna missed and the ball was run back 117 yards.  I say it again… 117 YARDS!!!!  For those of you new to CFL football, you need to know the field is only 110 yards long between the end zones.  Using higher math, that means seven yards deep in his own end zone, Chad Owens burned all Bomber Special Teams Members for a touchdown.  For those counting, that’s three runbacks all for majors in two games(?!?!?).  That my friends is putrid. 

Congratulations to the Winnipeg Blue Bomber Special Teams coverage squad.  Your “performance” has earned this week’s Crappy Honker Award and was instrumental in costing us a win against a division rival.