What the hell is this with the pre-game centre-field meet-and-greet?  Deon Lacey trying to intimidate Bo Levi Mitchell at the coin toss?  I agree with both Rod Smith and Chris Schultz.  First, someone on the Calgary Stampeders needs to step in and step on Deon Lacey when he tries that crap with their quarterback during the coin toss, and second, the Stampeders must really be inside the Eskimos’ head if they have to try that kind of lame junk during the coin toss.

I also agree with Matt Dunigan when he says that Mitchell handled it well.

I’ll also give some grudging points to Lacey for at least trying, but geez man, if you want to pull that kind of stuff, do it with a smile on your face:

I like a man who grins when he fights.

War is a game that is played with a smile. If you can’t smile, grin. If you can’t grin, keep out of the way till you can.

–Winston Churchill

As a member of Rider Nation, I hate both the Eskimos and the Stampeders, and if there was a way for both teams to lose the Labour Day Classic, I’m all for it.  However, if forced to make a choice, I hate the Edmonton Eskimos more.  I grew up during the last period of Eskimo dominance that coincided with the Roughriders’ last Dark Age (1977-1987), during which I was required to watch the Eskimos dominate the league and the Roughriders.  Hence, I hate those bastards, and any bad luck that comes Edmonton’s way is something I can really get behind.

This game ended with a whimper, not a bang.  Edmonton didn’t even go down fighting.  This is apparently Calgary’s twelfth consecutive win against Edmonton. I can’t even say I’m looking forward to the rematch this Friday if this is all the Eskimos can muster.  Lacey needs to do his trash-talking intimidator act on the field, during the game.

And smile.