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I miss football. It has been eleven years, eight months, and 261 days since I played my last CFL game. Never once in that time have I regretted my decision to retire, nor have I ever wished that I could make a comeback. I dont miss playing football. Three weeks into the 2014 CFL season, I miss the existence of football...or at least the version of the game that Ive spent virtually my entire life watching, playing, and loving. Absent is the fast pace of the game created by the 20-second play clock. In its place are plodding affairs that often exceed three hours in length and are punctuated by penalty flags and instant replay reviews. The superstar players who had drawn me to the sport growing up have been reduced to sharing the spotlight with the men in striped shirts. The captivating chess match between coaches, which used to be about Xs and Os, has instead become about which general is able parlay his complement of replay challenges into the biggest payoff. Perhaps most disturbing to me is the apparent desire to transform football from a "collision sport" into a "contact sport." Im not going to lie, nor am I going to apologize. I crave a certain amount of "controlled violence." I enjoy mixed martial arts, dont mind fighting in hockey, and to be blunt, absolutely love big hits on the gridiron. Those hits, and the inherent physical risk associated with them, are part of football...but, in Week 3, the CFL edged perilously close to dressing quarterbacks in red "non-contact" jerseys like the ones they wear in practice. I appreciate that the relatively new concept of player safety is being taken seriously, however, the fine line between "player safety in football" and "rugby played in helmets and shoulder pads" has become a little too blurry for my liking. My complaint isnt with the leagues officials. My beef is with the rules theyre being asked to enforce, the standards to which theyre being asked to enforce them, and a review system that effectively castrates them in terms of exercising judgment. Where the officials used to be asked to enforce the rules, they have now become slaves to those regulations. For me, football has always been about the human element – played by humans, coached by humans, officiated by humans, with opportunities for human excellence and human error creating an awesome 60-minute emotional journey. Rules have always been a necessary part of the game but now they too often overshadow the game. Every physical interaction between players is at risk of being deemed "too physical". The cerebral duel between coaches that takes place over 200 painstakingly conceived plays is becoming irrelevant next to the question of "Should he throw his challenge flag?" Every raw emotional reaction to an officials call loses its edge while the play is reviewed. Its just not the same. Dont get me wrong. The games in Week 3 of the CFL schedule still possessed many of the elements of Canadian football that Ive always enjoyed. Thanks to the drama of Julian Feoli-Gudinos game-winning catch, Adarius Bowmans one-handed touchdown grab, Jock Sanders 121-yard missed field goal return, and Andrew Harris run for the ages, the game being governed by current CFL rules still offers incredibly entertaining moments...but, man, I sure miss football. Air Max 270 China . George Hill had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Pacers, who stayed atop the overall NBA standings despite losing twice on their West Coast trip. Los Angeles kept it close into the second half before the Pacers finished an easy win over the injury-riddled Lakers, who have lost five straight. Air Max 270 Outlet .Y. - The New York Yankees made it official Saturday, announcing the completion of a seven-year deal with free-agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury and a one-year contract for returning starter Hiroki Kuroda. http://www.airmax270discount.com/ .com Tour title, closing with a 6-under 64 for a four-stroke victory. The 22-year-old former North Texas player finished at 12-under 268 at Panama Golf Club and earned $112,500 to jump from seventh to second on the money list with $171,500. Cheap Nike Air Max 270 Shoes From China .FIFA said its appeals panel ruled the case not admissible.The former U.S. Attorney had objected to ethics judge Joachim Eckerts summary of the World Cup bid investigation, claiming numerous materially incomplete and erroneous representations of his work. Cheap Air Max 270 China . "I have had no discussions with Chad Johnson or his representation," Popp said Friday in an email. However, he appeared to confirm a report on Twitter from TSN this week that Johnson was on Montreals negotiation list.LONDON -- A lively Premier League weekend ended with Tottenham producing a stoppage-time winner against Southampton and Stoke coming from behind to easily win at Aston Villa as 10 goals were scored in Sundays two games. Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood launched himself down the touchline pumping his fists after Gylfi Sigurdsson completed a fight back from 2-0 down at home to Southampton to win 3-2. The victory kept Tottenham in touch with the Champions League places, with the London club six points behind fourth-placed Arsenal. Tottenham has played an extra game. Stoke climbed above Villa into 10th place after hitting back to win 4-1, the teams first away success in the league since August which took the weekend goal tally in the league to 42. Chelsea remains top of the league after crushing Arsenal 6-0, with Liverpool second following a 6-3 win at Swansea and third-placed Manchester City beating Fulham 5-0. Returning to the top four remains Tottenhams aspiration but Sherwoods defence will have to be tighter and less error-prone to achieve that. Jay Rodriguez put Southampton ahead on the break in the 19th minute at White Hart Lane after Tottenham defender Kyle Naughton managed to miss goalkeeper Artur Borucs kick. Rodriguez took advantage to slot the ball into the bottom corner of the net beyond Hugo Lloris reach. Naughton was at fault for Southamptons second, as his half-clearance went straight to Rickie Lambert who fed Lallana to sweep in his ninth goal of the season. But it was slackness in the Southampton defence that gave Tottenham a route back into the game in the 31st. Naacer Chadli teed up Naughton, whose cross was only partially blocked by Nathaniel Clyne and Christian Eriksen slammed the ball into the net at the back post.dddddddddddd Whatever Sherwood then said at halftime to his players worked. "It wasnt ranting and raving, it was considered and it was measured what I had to say to them," Sherwood recalled. "I wanted to play a high-tempo game and press them high up the field and I didnt think we had the energy to do it." But Eriksen was on target again in the first minute of the second half. Roberto Soldado outmuscled Dejan Lovren off the ball on the left flank, and squared for Eriksen to tap in from close range. Then, with it appearing the points would be shared, Eriksen laid the ball off for Sigurdsson to score his fourth league goal of the season. "It takes real guts, character and spirit to do that (comeback) and we showed that today -- brilliant," Sherwood said. At Villa Park, the hosts went in front after just five minutes through Christian Benteke. But Peter Odemwingie scored his third goal in two games to equalize in the 22nd minute and Peter Crouch seized on slack marking to put Stoke ahead four minutes later. When Leandro Bacuna and Nathan Baker both failed to clear the ball just before halftime, Steven Nzonzi scored from inside the penalty area. It took Stoke until the 90th to score again, with Geoff Cameron netting his second goal of the season. "At the start of the season we might have collapsed but we showed weve definitely improved," Stoke striker Peter Crouch said. ' ' '