Ok, first of all let me make this perfectly clear. I’m writing this as a sports fan, NOT as a fan of the BC Lions. And if it were the Lions filing this protest, I would have the same opinion.
The Montreal Alouettes have decided to protest last Friday’s loss to the CFL. Not only are they protesting, but they are requesting that the last minute of the game be replayed. This is absurd.
League OFFICALS made a mistake. Just like an official on the field can make the wrong call that can cost a team a game, this is no different. Making the teams replay the last 1:00 of the game would open up a whole new can of worms and set the precedent for a wave of protests if a team feels they were jobbed by an official.
First of all, there is nothing to say 100% the Als would have tied or won that game. They still had a convert to kick and we all saw what Baron Miles is capable of in those situations, and of course there was enough time on the clock for the Lions to drive for a game winning field goal. But we’ll never know, and nor should we. The Als want to replay the last minute? If that were to happen, it should happen at BC Place, with our crowd. Not in the friendly confines of Molson Percival Stadium. Go ahead and fly them out Larry, we’ll play the last minute at 10:00pm our time, with 27,000 screaming Lions fans, just to make things really fair. We’ll also make all the players that were on the field at that time do a workout prior to the replay, so they are as fatigued as they were at that moment.
Over the years there have been many blown calls by officials. It’s part of the game. I would hope that Mr. Smith is merely doing this to make a point. I would also hope that the league gives no thought to replaying the last minute of this game.
