SPORTS

CFL Players Fined for

 

emper Tantrums

Stephanie Smith, OP Sports Editor

fter only one game in the CFL, Ian Allen already has to pay up. Allen, who made his

Montreal Alouettes debut as offensive tackle Saturday against British Columbia, was fined,
hlong with BC Lions linebacker Carl Kidd. The fines stem an incident en route to the dressing
oom after the game. Both players were allegedly fined $300.00, although the CFL did not dis-

lose the amount in its written release.

Allen was punched twice in the face by Kidd following Montreal’s 36-20 loss. He sustained

h cut lip. The Dressing rooms at BC Place are across the hall from one another, meaning that
they players enter and exit from the same tunnel.

Early yesterday afternoon, following the Alouette’s practice, Allen had yet to be notified by
he CFL of his impending fine, and was sceptical that any fine would be issued at all. “For
what? He punched me,” said Allen.

This week Carl Kidd explained his side of the story to a Vancouver radio station. “He was
unning his mouth off the whole game.” Kidd told the Team 1040. “Then he practically used a
swim move to get to me after the game. I wasn’t trying to start a fight. I was trying to defend
yself.”
Told of Kidd’s comments, Allen sounded doubtful. “Wow. That’s completely bogus,” he
aid. “I don’t know what to say. The game was over. ‘Fuck you’ he kept saying. The next thing
know, he punched me in the mouth. I never had a chance to retaliate.”
Allen and Kidd were not the only CFLer’s to be fined this week. Edmonton Eskimo line-
backer A.J. Gass was fined for a kicking incident involving Hamilton Tiger Cat Brock Ralph.
ass claims that he regrets the incident, but goes on to say that Ralph better keep his head up
he next time the two teams meet.
The incident began when Ticat quarterback Jason Maas took his time taking a knee to run
put the clock. Usually quarterbacks are given a free ride from the defence as long as they take a
<nee right away. But Maas’s failure to do so prompted Eskimo defensive lineman Adam

Braidwood to flatten him on the next play. This prompted Ralph to try to take out Braidwood’s

ee, thus leading to Gass kicking Ralph while Ralph was on the ground after the game ended.
“We expected a fine and that’s exactly what we got,” head coach Maciocia said. In
amilton, Ticats general manager Marcel Desjardins said he doubts there will be a repeat of
ast week’s fireworks when the teams clash at Commonwealth Stadium. “I think (Gass’s) reac-
Hon on the field was instantaneous and based on losing a game they felt they should’ve won,”
e said. “I know A.J. Gass has said some things since then, not maybe in a threatening manner
but close to that. I’m sure the league is aware of it and will keep tabs on it.”

ankees Clinch Ninth

Stephanie Smith OP Sports Editor

ast Wednesday night, about 30 minutes after losing 3-2 to the Blue Jays, the Yankees sat and
watched the Twins finish off the Red Sox, 8-2, on the big-screen television in the visitor’s club-
ouse at the Rogers Centre. That was when the party began. Corks were popping and cham-
bagne and beer were flying through the air as the Yankee’s celebrated the fact that they had just
linched their ninth straight American League East title.

“When the Twins got three runs in the top of the ninth, everybody grabbed a shirt and
at,” said Mike Mussina, sporting a soaking-wet AL East championship T-shirt and backwards
at. [Manager] Joe [Torre] gave his little toast to congratulate us on our accomplishment—

en we had a little fun.” “I just congratulated them, toasted them and told them how proud I
was of them,” Torre said. “It was simple.”

The celebration looked the way any team celebration would, considering the outcome of
he season. Strange though, considering the fact that the Yankee’s have been in this situation
or almost a decade straight. But each new year, each new season, brings new players who have
et to have a taste. Players like Bobby Abreu and Melky Cabrera. “This team always goes to the
playoffs, so you always want to be part of this,’ Abreu said. “This is what it’s all about; win-
ing and celebrating.”

New York is now 92-60, holding on to their slim lead over Detroit for best record in the
AL. The Yankees will likely take on the AL Wild Card in the Division Series, with the Twins
nd Tigers looking like potential opponents. During the final 2 innings of the Twins-Red Sox
bame, the Yankees were watching close. “We were also scouting the Twins now, too, so we
Were seeing what their pitchers were doing,” said outfielder Johnny Damon. “They’re on fire
right now; they could be the hottest team going into the postseason.”

Regardless of whom the Yankees play in the first week of October, their goal will be to
dvance further than they have in each of the past two years, when they were knocked out
before the World Series. “We need to make this postseason a lot longer than it’s been for us,”
orte said. “This ballclub has a nice mix of youth and veterans, so hopefully we’re poised to
lo something special. Whoever we have to face is going to be a battle for us, but we’re certain-

bpsports@gmaiil.com

 

 

AL East Title

ly ready to do it.”

“There’s so much togetherness here; we support each other, and I hope I can be a part of
helping this team win a championship,’ Damon said. “I want to get a championship for
Giambi, get a championship for A-Rod, get a championship for Donnie Mattingly and whoev-
er else has never won one. There’s a lot of work to be done.”

“The Yankees’ nine straight division titles now ranks as the longest active streak in the
Majors. It just doesn’t get old doing this, as many times as we have,’ Mussina said. “Hopefully
we'll get to do it a few more times before:the season is over.”