Here’s why you should watch the B.C. Lions this season

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Most new parents go through that withdrawal from the world, where their existence is ruled by nap times and most conversations revolve around the colour, consistency and frequency of baby bowel movements. Fatigue is a constant oppressive weight upon your shoulders and eyelids, and your presence in your normal social group becomes a phantasm, a myth, with the two checks in the WhatsApp group chat messages the only indication you exist to the outside world.

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I had a friend emerge from this dark cocoon of toddlership, squinting his eyes against the glare of normalcy, and ask about the state of Vancouver sports. His first-born is now old enough to handle an excursion to a sporting event, and he was pondering taking him to a B.C. Lions game.

“Why,” friend asked, “should I watch them this year?”

Well, brother, let me count the ways.

The future is Grey

Vancouver is no stranger to the Grey Cup, having hosted it 16 times previously — second only to Toronto (32), although that number is skewed as the city was the game’s designated site for the first half of the 20th century in the pre-CFL era.

But while Vancouver has seen it plenty, the Lions haven’t. Only 10 appearances in the championship game, the fewest in the league and trailing the penultimate Calgary Stampeders by seven. And of their six CFL titles, two have come as the host team — that’s 30 per cent of their total.

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So the Lions are absolutely hungry to make it. Interest in the team has been resurrected by strong seasons and Amar Doman’s ownership, and they’ve been knocking on the door the past two years.

Both 2022 and 2023 saw B.C. go 12-6, finish second in the West, beat Calgary at home and lose the West Final in Winnipeg. What’s this team’s ceiling this year?

“Grey Cup, for sure,” said receiver Justin McInnis. “Why not us this year? Everyone that’s here has proved themselves, has shown that they can go out there and make plays. … The chemistry is there. You see the defence working, the offence working. I don’t know how to explain it, but just being on the field with this team, you kind of just feel it right. (The Grey Cup) is just kind of in the air. … I don’t doubt that we’ll finish the West on top, and then you’ll see us at home come November.”

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Bigger is better

There were plenty of reasons the Lions couldn’t solve the Winnipeg problem recently — the first being that the Blue Bombers are an excellent team that’s made four straight Grey Cups — but there were a couple that stood out.

First: Brady Oliveira. In two straight playoff meetings, the broad-shouldered Winnipeg native has run over, through and rundown the Lions’ defence. Two straight 100-yard games, averaging five yards plus. B.C. couldn’t handle he heaviness the power back brought.

It was the same on the other side of the ball — short yardage was an inconsistent package, with neither running back (Smoke Mizzell) nor quarterback (Dom Davis) able to get the job done.

It’s why William Stanback is now the presumptive No. 1 tailback for B.C., and Smoke — who came into camp at 180 pounds — is looking for work elsewhere. Same with Davis and Dakota Prukop, the former Bomber brought in to work short yardage, but was released in pre-season.

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Head coach Rick Campbell feels his team is bigger on both sides of the ball, and what they lack in a singular pass-rush weapon in Mathieu Betts on the defensive line is made up for with depth, numbers and run-stoppers like Christian Covington.

More of the same

The CFL is a passing league, and the Lions are the pass-happiest team of them all, leading the lack in that category the past two years.

They’ve had Lucky Whitehead blow the doors off the secondary, Bryan Burnham making tip-toe catches down the sideline, and Dominque Rhymes ‘Head-topping’ all the diminutive DBs who caught his assignment. Alex Hollins emerged from scout team obscurity to become the deep threat last year, and Keon Hatcher became the guy they turned to when they needed to move the sticks.

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This year, it’s McInnis’s turn. The Quebec native stepped up when Rhymes got hurt last season and had some spectacular games, putting up career numbers.

He was worthy of the “Mr. Junior Headtop” nickname he was bestowed for the highlight catches he made, even if he never fully embraced the moniker.

With Rhymes returned to Ottawa, and Hatcher on the injured list, it’s time for McInnis to make his own name.

“This is my real stepping-stone year,” he said. “I was kind of the No. 6 guy last year. I have a much bigger role this year. We had some big names leave, so I’m in kind of the spotlight right now. I have a big role this year with this offence, and I’m looking to take advantage of every opportunity. I really envision myself having a 1k type season. So that’s the goal, that’s the mindset I have. I won’t stop until I get there.”

For the culture

The Felions are a staple at B.C. Place, their dance routines with Roary the mascot always a fun diversion. But as fun as they are, they’re not as fun as the ones the players pull off after touchdowns or turnovers.

That league to the south might frown on such post-play celebrations, but this ain’t the No Fun League.

“We hold ourselves to a high standard for sure, we hold each other accountable, but at the end of the day … when we score, we’re all dancing together, all of us celebrating,” said McInnis. “And that’s just our culture here; you’ve just got to be as happy for the guy next to you as much as you are for yourself. That’s what makes us really like take it to the next level.”

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One reason to listen

The Lions’ radio broadcast team of Bob (The Moj) Marjanovich and Giulio Caravatta is one of the best in the business. They might be tough for the bystander to tell apart in person — one tip: Caravatta smiles more than The Moj — but their individual deliveries and distinctive styles are entertaining and informative. They made the jump back to CKNW 980 for this season, with the first broadcast coming in Friday’s pre-season game against the Edmonton Elks.

The Lions were on AM730 last year, but return to NW, where shows and games were hosted from 1988-2003.

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