I was a Toronto Argonaut coach, very successful as a co-ordinator. However, the team went through a bad losing streak, and fired me after a blowout loss in Montreal.

You’re thinking Rich Stubler, right? Well, it could be him. But this blog is about Kent Austin.

Those words came from an Argonaut player, but could have been spoken by just about anyone in the CFL. Don Matthews is back, two years after walking away for what we thought was the last time.

Best moments:

1) Priscilla Lopes-Schliep’s bronze in the 100-metre hurdles. Maybe it wasn’t the most glamorous event or record-smashing result. But, it had incredible drama, a stunning finish, great suspense and complete surprise.

Plus, it involved Canadian success.

I take it to such ridiculous extremes that even if I’m sitting in the crowd during a game, I won’t do it. If the entire crowd is standing, I’ll do that too. But I’ll never clap, because I don’t believe I should be seen cheering for anyone.

People have asked me if I’ve ever come close. Until Tuesday night (Beijing time), the answer was “once.”

That first time was the 2002 Olympic men’s hockey gold-medal game. When Jarome Iginla scored his second goal to make it 4-2, I almost jumped out of my seat. I literally had to grab the armrests and hold on so I wouldn’t leap into the air or clap.

Now, it’s “twice.” And the reason is Priscilla Lopes-Schliep.

Brent Hayden wins a gold medal in the 100-metre freestyle at the 2007 world championships.

Here in Beijing, he pulls out of the 200 semis after a great heat time because he wants to conserve energy. When he’s asked, 'Why change with a winning schedule?' he says, “because the Olympics are more important.”

Fine.

Anyone who says he’ll take Vancouver because it’s the best offer has no idea what the guy’s about. Before last summer, he signed a one-year, $5.5 million US offer that was below his market value. Prior to that, he never seriously considered free agency while agreeing to a five-year deal in the summer of 2002. He’s made $75 million in his career and invested it very wisely, successfully flipping several homes during hot times in the market. It’s not only about the money. He wants a fair contract, but not necessarily the biggest one.

I can certainly understand why Mike Gillis made him the big offer. Sundin is coming off a terrific season, and can handle the intense Vancouver market. He put up with us in Toronto for years, deftly ducking our attempts to get him to say anything remotely controversial. Pat Quinn used to joke (I think) that while Toronto was bad for media, Vancouver was worse. Whatever the case, Sundin can handle it.

After it ran, two people inside the CFL for whom I have great respect let me know of their displeasure. One was league COO Michael Copeland. The other was Toronto Argonauts co-owner David Cynamon.

From both men, I heard the same frustration. They are tired of hearing about how the NFL in Toronto is going to kill them. They are annoyed that more members of the media - especially in the Ontario capital - aren't being more protective of a Canadian product. And, they both believe that the CFL is in the best position it's been in years to survive in the face of this challenge.

As a long-time CFL fan, I hope they're right. But, as I wrote in the Post opinion piece, I'm skeptical.

When drills were going badly, the coaches didn’t need to do any of the talking, because the critique was coming from the guys wearing the uniforms.

Who were the leaders?

“Well ... Sid,” Therrien said. “And Darryl Sydor.”

“The Red Wings do a great job of protecting their goaltender. Their defence is almost impregnable.”

Apparently, there’s a pretty good reason for that.

“We walked through our conference,” he said. “We thought we were pretty good, and we were pretty good. Others called us arrogant, but I don’t think it was that. It was more of a cocky confidence.

“We had no idea what we were getting into.”

That was Muckler’s first season with the Edmonton Oilers. They won the Smythe Division by 26 points, scored 74 more goals than anyone else and finished third overall. In the playoffs, they went 11-1 in winning the Campbell Conference.

Next came the Islanders, winners of three consecutive Stanley Cups.

Shortly after his selection, he got a phone call from someone he’d never met before.

“It was John Stevens,” Blake said, referring to the current Philadelpia Flyers coach. “He asked me what I was doing to get ready to play at the next level. I said, ‘Not much.’ John told me to meet him at the gym.”

Someone who once worked with Guy Carbonneau describes the Canadiens’ coach this way: “Guy’s got big cojones.”

Well, he didn’t exactly say that, but you know what I mean. Now, we all know that’s true.

Two months ago, Bob Gainey made it very clear that Carey Price was THE guy in Montreal. In trading Cristobal Huet to Washington, the general manager decided that the goalie of the future is also the goalie of the present.

And it’s why the Canadiens must go back to him in Game 4.

Zdeno Chara received the first-round boos, but he’s a favourite son compared to the Gatineau native. Briere turned down the Canadiens in favour of the Flyers last summer.

There was a good story in The Globe and Mail today detailing the contract negotiations. Basically, agent Pat Brisson was contacted by eight teams, immediately ruling out three of them, and then deciding against two more. It came down to the Rangers, Flyers and Canadiens. The Rangers backed away when they signed Chris Drury and Scott Gomez, so Briere chose the Flyers partially because of his friendships with Martin Biron and Simon Gagne.