ARGOS VS. CALGARY Coming off a decisive 30-5 win over the Ti-Cats, the 1-1 Boatmen host the Calgary Stampeders in CFL regular-season action. $20-$75. Today (Thursday, July 12), 7 pm. Rogers Centre (1 Blue Jays Way). 416-341-3000, www.argonauts.ca. Rating: NNNNN
WITH THE BIG WIN UNDER YOUR BELT, YOU HAVE TO BE FEELING CONFIDENT
We’ve got a lot of work to do. Winning, especially winning big, camouflages a multitude of sins. We are still in the second week of the season and we played like it. We played a more complete game, and defensively we’ve been solid, but we can still get better. We played the defending Grey Cup champions in week one and lost. In week two we played a team with 20 new guys on its roster – there should be a difference in continuity between playing BC and Hamilton.
DO YOU FEEL VINDICATED IN YOUR DECISION TO START QB MICHAEL BISHOP?
I’m not satisfied with others feeling we’ve made the right decision. You can’t say that because our offence produced more against Hamilton, we made the right decision. Damon Allen started against a much tougher defence in week one.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE ARMCHAIR QUARTERBARCKS?
It’s very important to listen to the fan. If a fan has a question, I will answer it as honestly as I possibly can, but the understanding is that I have more information than fans do about the team, and they have to respect that. As much as I absolutely appreciate the fans’ feelings – they’re the ones buying the tickets and watching on TV – it is not my job to make decisions based on how they feel.
FAVE SPORT OTHER THAN FOOTBALL
It would be the Toronto Raptors. I love playoff hockey, but basketball is a little bit more in my genes.
FAVE NICKNAME OTHER THAN YOUR OWN
There are so many – Nate “Tiny” Archibald, a little guy, so obviously I could relate, and I was a big fan of OJ Simpson when I was a young guy, so The Juice, Dr. J, Clyde “the Glide” Drexler, that’s a great great nickname. But I was usually rooting against him. Jimmy “the Jet” Cunningham. “Hondo” Havlicek.
EVER WISH YOUR NICKNAME WAS DIFFERENT?
When I was growing up, people tried to give me a nickname, but nothing ever stuck. Silly things like Dyno-Mike. I think Pinball’s kinda cool.
EVER PLAY PINBALL?
I did. My favourite as a little guy was Captain Fantastic, the Elton John game. It was at our corner store, and I think you had to get 125,000 points to get a free game.
Additional Interview Audio Clips
On coming off a big win vs. Hamilton
As vindication for his decision to start QB Michael Bishop
On dealing with Armchair Quarterbacks
On being a leader in the black community
