article:
On Saturday, Ismail will headline the list of former Argos who will celebrate the 20th anniversary of that championship when Toronto faces the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Anyone know if the entire 1991 Grey Cup team will be there? Including Gretzky, McCarthy, McNall?
Actually, i’m surprised Rocket Ismail will be attending…Did he not publicly state years ago that he regretted signing with the CFL and should have gone directly to the NFL?
I would think all parties agreed in their best interest to move forward.
Not only that but the following season in 1992 the Argo’s fell to 6-12 and he was unhappy. Just enough exposure in the CFL which lead to of what he could do in the NFL. Ismail had a Personal Services contract for 4 years with the intention of him to become an ambassador, so thus his actual salary was $110,000 a year.
We don't want the CFL to do this ever again, just like MLS with Beckham, CFL doesn't need sensational advertising. Of course we want what is considered "the best" talent but the NFL is king to get that and don't compete on that basis, ever again. We have a different game and a game that ensures Canadian content, a whole different ballgame.
If it means no team in Toronto, I'm fine with that. Really, what cities can build or have an NFL suitable stadium?
well, it wasn’t all gloom for the Argos…They has nearly 40,000 average per game that year, won the Grey Cup, Ismail won GC MVP and McCarthy said that they made their money back with corporate sponsorships. (McCarthy said. “I do think it was a very good investment because it made a good football team better and also more and more corporate people became involved and so that money indirectly came back to the club.”)
If a deep pocketed owner wishes to dump a truckload of money at a player, it is his perogative. It may not always be a wise financial decision, but it is his dough.
Doug Flutie was paid in the neighborhood of 1.4-1.5 miliion (as a marquee player)during the mid nineties and I thought he was a great investment in this league, was a huge fan favorite, and arguably the best QB in the history of the CFL.
(TSN’s #1 CFL player of all time and 6 MOP’s in 7 years) I couldn’t imagine a CFL without Doug Flutie.He was worth every penny.
How depressing will it be with 5000 fans looking on at halftime during the presentation.... of the 5000 people...maybe 20 percent will be paying attention.... when I was at the skydome...you could actually hear people wondering out loud why they were punting on third down
Im sure many people expected, but hoped i wouldnt, post on this. I have some terible memories from this game. this was the first itme the stamps made the grey cup in a long time. Had they won, barret would have stayed the qb, and not flutie (IMHO). I think there was an illigal block on the rocket TD! (no i did not throw the beer at him, although i have been accused). I have been waiting since that aweful day for a grey cup rematch against the argos. there are a lot of us who think like this! Waiting, especially since flutie went to the argos, for the rematch. Every year, i want toronto to be good, on the possibility we could get revenge from 91.
I know what you mean. I feel the same way about wpg because of the 88 cup. It would be perfect if the lions beat them in the cup this yr.
94, canucks lose game 7, lions come from 3rd to win cup in bc place
11, canucks lose game 7, lions come from 3rd to win cup in bc place, and get revenge against wpg.
Its amazing what history, tradition, and fate can do in sports. is there a player on bc thats a brother of a stamp? that will win the west final on the last play? that one still hurts.
Also, BC was the last team to win a grey cup at home.
Ismail’s contract was broken as McNall’s empire was starting to crumble around him. He stopped making full payments to Ismail and tried to weasel out of paying him by complaining that Ismail wasn’t living up to his end of the deal in terms of p.r. work for the club. (Ismail had missed some public appearances and was late for the Grey Cup press conference in 91’).
McNall also made a pitch to the board of governors that every owner should pitch in for his salary that was predictably shot down.
Eastvanmark wrote:
Ismail's contract was broken as McNall's empire was starting to crumble around him. He stopped making full payments to Ismail and tried to weasel out of paying him by complaining that Ismail wasn't living up to his end of the deal in terms of p.r. work for the club. (Ismail had missed some public appearances and was late for the Grey Cup press conference in 91').
McNall also made a pitch to the board of governors that every owner should pitch in for his salary that was predictably shot down.
Well, considering that 99% of his contract was for personal services (only $110,00 claimed as Argo cap salary), Ismail should have been much more meticulous and conscientious as he was the highest paid football player in the world at that time.
If McNall offered me the same deal, I’d have licked his boots clean on a daily basis.
And to mention Ismail may of thought to highly of himself too; when he made a stomping foot act on a players helmet which led to a lot of flak. I’ve seen football players getting into it, but nothing of the such of what Ismail did.
when he made a stomping foot act on a players helmet which led to a lot of flak. I've seen football players getting into it, but nothing of the such of what Ismail did.
I remember that too. Truly disgusting and I can't think of anything else but that when I hear his name.
As a stamps fan, you would think thats the only thing i would see when i think of him, since it was during a stamps argos game. But the burning image for me will always be the run back in the grey cup (there was an illigal block on that play that was never called)
The rocket did apologise on speaker corner.
As well, as a fan of the game, i hope this isnt a pre-curser to how people will remember Nik lewis as well… the guy that ended a career.
I wonder if could start seeing the rocket around more. he loves the spot light and the argos could use some plublicity. maybe have him do those guest apperances he never did in the early 90's.
