The Debacle that is the Winnipeg Blue Bombers

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers went to the Grey Cup last year, to the surprise of many.  After starting the season 7-1, they stumbled to the finish line, ending the season 10-8, beating Montreal in the Eastern Final and then lost to the B.C. Lions in the final game of the year.

Although GM Joe Mack did not re-sign some of our star players from last season, such as Odell Willis, Brendan Labatte or Terrence Jeffers-Harris, many still believed the Bombers were a good team and headed in the right direction starting the 2012 season.  Not so.  Not even close.  In fact, things went from bad to worse so quickly, no one really knows where this tailspin will end.  Let's recap the blunders from this year so far:

- Management promised that our new stadium, Investors Group Field, would be completed in time for the 2012 season.  They failed miserably on that promise and now the Blue won't be playing in it until NEXT season.  Note:  Who in their right mind doesn't know that there are always delays in the construction business?  It happens!  It's no big secret.  While the mass majority of the public and media commented on how they believed there wouldn't be enough time to complete the project, Blue Bomber management went ahead with the announcement.  That translated into the league being forced to make the Bombers open their first 4 games of the season on the road.

-  Buck Pierce, who's battled through injury his entire career, started where he left off... Injured in Game 2.  That left relatively inexperienced Alex Brink at the helm, and after he showed no signs of improvements, our 3rd string, Joey Elliot got the call.  He showed glimmers of hope for Bomber fans, culminating in a close loss to B.C. last weekend  Note: While Pierce's injury and Brink/Elliot's inability to perform are not blunders, per se, they reveal a deeper point which I intend on making (see below).

- The security issue.  Bombers fans were up in arms after strict new policy measures were implemented once the Blue came home after starting the season 0-4.  Fans were upset because security officers were being way too vigilant in their duties; confiscating outside food, performing over-zealous body searches, etc.

- The Lapolice firing.   Following the tough loss to B.C. at home, GM Joe Mack surprised many by firing head coach Paul Lapolice and promoting offensive coordinator, Tim Burke, to the head coaching position.  The reason was said to be a mix of lack of offensive production (which, admittedly, struggled last year and this) and that Lapolice had lost the players (i.e. the players did not want to play for him anymore.)

- A week later in Saskatchewan, in the coveted Labour Day Classic (which I was able to witness first-hand) everything, and I mean everything, went to shit.  In a 52-0 slaying, the Riders absolutely decimated the Bombers from start to finish in one of the worst losses in the history of the franchise.  Like I said, being there as a fan was excruciating. It was embarrassing.  I traveled 6 hours, paid all kinds of money to come and see that (under)-performance?  After the loss, Twitter was buzzing with calls to fire GM Joe Mack.  Two days later, fans are still extremely upset and Mack's fate questionable.  The local papers are tearing him, the players and upper management apart.  Season ticket holders are questioning whether they should hang onto them or not.  The team is truly in shambles, as worse as I've ever seen it as a fan.  It seems like every move management makes is the wrong one.  Same goes for the players, who should be absolutely torn up inside after that 52-0 loss.  I know, I know, it's just football.  Life goes on and it's not the be-all, end-all.  But it's damn near close in a city such as Winnipeg with such a rich football history.

So, at mid-season we are 2-7.  95% of our fans want the GM kicked out of town.  Our new head coach inherited a mess he is not responsible for and our ex-coach is probably lighting a big fat cigar while playing 'Good Riddance' by Greed Day.  I'm no football expert.  I have no clue where the true blame lies but from a holistic perspective, it's usually a safe-bet to say that it lies in multiple places.  Joe Mack needs to be held accountable- whether the board decides to keep him or not is a mystery but if he thinks his 16-29 record as a GM is okay with fans, he's got another thing coming.  The players share the blame too.  In no way as professional athletes should you ever, EVER lose a game 52-0.  They need to pull up their socks and find ways to make plays regardless of how bad it gets out there.

As fans, all we want is results.  It's pretty simple.  Actually, at this point, all we want is the team to compete.  And that's saying a lot.  We've essentially started waiving the white flag and are simply asking our team to 'try'.  Please, just try.  Try to be a good GM, try to be good players, try to be good coaches.  Because as it stands right now, it looks like nobody's trying and we're getting sick and tired of it.

-Jpell.