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Did the Hamilton Tiger-Cats make a mistake by appointing Ron Lancaster as the team’s interim head coach?
I’m changing my mind about the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
As readers of my CFL Report (only at www.metronews.ca) are aware, I picked the Ticats before the season to finish atop the Eastern Division. Since then, they’ve lost all four of their games. But it isn’t their record that’s making me change my mind. It’s still early, after all, and I’ve seen far more dramatic turnarounds in past CFL seasons.
I’m changing my mind about the Ticats because yesterday, they resurrected a dinosaur to coach, and he has no chance of leading them to top spot. Ron Lancaster was a terrific quarterback in the CFL many moons ago and he wasn’t even a bad coach for a few years, but he lost his communicative abilities earlier this decade and the game clearly passed him by. That’s why he was fired and replaced by Greg Marshall.
Last week in my CFL Report, I mentioned that Marshall was on the hot seat and probably would be fired this week. That happened yesterday, but not in my wildest dreams did I think Lancaster would be dug up from the scrap heap as interim coach.
What an absurd hiring by owner Bob Young. Lancaster has been on the Hamilton payroll, but realistically put out to pasture long ago, and yet Young et al figured they’d get something for their money by making Lancaster coach now.
Well, they will get something for their money, but it won’t be a lot of wins.
And so I must change my mind about the Ticats.
• CFL commissioner Tom Wright, incidentally, still wants to revive CFL football in Ottawa for 2007 and claims he’s received inquiries from at least three credible investors … Whispers continue that Keith Pelley, president of the Argonauts, might succeed Wright as commish, but there’s lobbying to appoint a Westerner. Also, there’s word that major changes are in store at Rogers Sportsnet, and Pelley’s background as TSN’s boss makes him a logical choice to take over at the troubled network … It certainly wouldn’t be a bad time for Pelley to leave the Argos. His team has deteriorated, and his controversial acquisition of suspended NFLer Ricky Williams is proving unsuccessful. The Argos ought to consider replacing Williams with John Avery for at least a few games.
• At baseball’s all-star site in Pittsburgh, serious discussions are taking place between the Red Sox and the Phillies about a trade that would send Bobby Abreu from Philadelphia to Boston … There’s also talk about future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux going from the Chicago Cubs to the Milwaukee Brewers … And the Blue Jays continue to chat with the Florida Marlins about Dontrelle Willis.
Marty York’s column appears Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Listen for Marty on The ROCK 94.9 FM, Monday and Friday at 8:40 a.m.
