Apparently the 11:30am flight is better than 7:30am. No line up for check in, security or Customs. W00T!
So over the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend I got a chance to watch a Canadian Football League came. Or the Canadian version of the NFL. Vancouver’s local team, the BC Lions, were playing another team whose name escapes me. To say the games are different is an understatement.
The field is longer. The end zone is gigantic, and the goal posts are in front of it. The terminology is different, almost formal sounding and the pace is sluggish at best.
The terminology is the most interesting difference. You don’t rough the kicked in the CFL. You contact the kicker. Doesn’t that sound more formal, more, what’s the word…quaint? Gentle? Contacting the kicker. I did wonder if there was a phone, tweet or email involved in contacting the kicker, and how the refs found out. If not for the visual I would have remained confused.
You also don’t false start in the CFL. Instead, you commit an illegal procedure. How formal, and legal sounding. Illegal procedure. Again, without the visual, that can mean any number of things.
Football does not seem to be that popular in Vancouver. The stadium was half empty, which might account for the sluggish pace of the game. Not quite mind-numbingly boring but I can see why there is a preference for American football, and why those who only watch the CFL find football boring.
Curious.
The difference is quite striking in tempo. Caught some of the Saints game Sunday evening. A complete 180 from the BC Lions game. Packed stadium. Screaming fans. Intense players. Rush of clawing for the lead. Incredible difference.
Perhaps I just caught the BC Lions on an off night. But judging from the commentary of the people I’ve met in Vancouver so far, the CFL is an after thought. The sport to tie them over until the NHL strike ends.