Aug
Nik Lewis wants more action
Courtesy Montreal Gazette:
Nik Lewis tried to shake himself out of an ornery mood Wednesday by wearing a costume to work on a rainy morning at McMahon Stadium.
Hey, whatever works.
“I’m getting ready for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver 2010,” Lewis said, adjusting a pair of swimming goggles on top of his patented balaclava. “I’m in the ice-swimming competition. It’s new.”
What country will he swim for?
“I’ve got to represent the United States,” said Lewis, a native Texan. “I would be afraid to go out and represent Canada and win. So then my country might disown me.
“I might be the only competitor in it, so I’ll have a pretty good chance to win.”
The land of fantasy Olympic sports is a more jovial place for Lewis these days in a time of turbulence for the Calgary Stampeders.
The defending Grey Cup champions are 2-3 — a record that gives the veteran slotback severe indigestion.
“I’m frustrated,” he said. “I reserve every right to be frustrated.
“That last game really got to me. I’m still down about that.”
Calgary fell 24-23 last Saturday to Saskatchewan in a home game the Stampeders believe slipped through their fingers.
Come November, those two points could come back to haunt them in the race for first in the CFL West Division.
“It sucks to lose,” he said.
“In my first year, we were 4-14, but it wasn’t that bad, because we weren’t that good.
“You look around the locker-room and see all the talent we’ve got, and it sucks to lose.”
Against Saskatchewan, Lewis caught just three passes for 27 years. Fellow slotback Jeremaine Copeland hauled in four passes for 45 yards.
After the game, Lewis made it clear he wants to see the ball more as one of the premier offensive threats in Calgary.
“I don’t know a receiver who didn’t want the ball,” he said. “I mean, Jerry Rice used to do it. Michael Irvin. T. O. All the greats.
“I don’t think it’s a complaining thing. I think it’s more of a thing of showing the team that you want to do what you can do.
“I mean, why pay me if I’m not doing what I’m supposed to do? I can block and everything else, but the main thing I do is catch the ball and make plays. So I just want to make plays. That’s the bottom line.”
No offence taken, said quarterback Henry Burris.
“That shows you he’s hungry,” Burris said.
“And when a guy is hungry, he’s ready to eat.”
Short Yardage: WR Ryan Thelwell plans to test his pulled hamstring before practice today. If he can’t go, expect WR Blaine Kruger to dress for his first CFL game Saturday against Winnipeg.
