Allgemeines » Always think that way

Selling the new tentative agreement to the CFLs players may be a challenge, Hamilton Tiger-Cats union rep Peter Dyakowski said Sunday. The players association and CFL reached a tentative agreement late Saturday night on a new contract. The move averted a potential players strike and, if ratified, would secure the league five years of labour peace. But the CFLPA needed more than four hours Saturday night to sell the deal to its team reps during a conference call. Once news of the tentative agreement broke, many CFL veterans voiced their displeasure on social media. "You hire a bunch of clowns and you are probably going to get a circus," tweeted Calgary Stampeders defensive back Jeff Hecht. "How it works in the 21st century: Unions are dead," Calgary running back Jon Cornish, the CFLs outstanding player last year, said on his official Twitter account. Dyakowski, an offensive lineman with the Ticats, says some of his teammates are definitely unhappy but hed expect most to vote in favour of acceptance. However, he admits other team reps will face a tougher task doing so. "Certainly we had some difficulty here with guys not embracing it, to put it mildly," Dyakowski said. "I think in higher revenue markets its going to be that much harder because they see theres money to be spent. "I could see the boys on the prairies being up in arms about this so their reps have their jobs cut out for them in explaining the benefits of this deal." The union was expected to launch a work stoppage Sunday, threatening the exhibition game Monday night between the Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. That contest will now go ahead. If the agreement is ratified, the regular season will start on time June 26. A date has not been announced for a ratification vote. The expectation is enough players will vote in favour, but one CFL star requesting anonymity isnt so sure. "I wouldnt be shocked if the guys vote against it," he said. Dyakowski, who won the CBC show "Canadas Smartest Person" in 2012, believes the deal is the best the union could secure without going on strike. "Is it what we started out going for? No," he said. "But there is always give and take in negotiations. "Ultimately, what we feel we have is the best deal we can achieve without doing significant damage on both sides. No one wants a work stoppage." However, the anonymous player felt the threat of a strike was the unions prime bargaining chip. "We had to miss pre-season games and give the owners a feeling of empty stadiums, refunding tickets, not selling merchandise, food," he said. "When the regular season approaches, at least they have a taste of it. "For us, our training camp pay doesnt change whether we play one, two or no pre-season games." Dyakowski doesnt see it that way. "The prospect of going on strike, it would be a fun adventure for the first couple of days," he said. "But at the end of the day it could just as likely be a two, four or five-month ordeal than just a couple of days of trying to send a wake-up call." The CFL got the players to agree to a $5-million salary cap with nominal $50,000 annual increases. The union initially requested a $6.24-million cap and dropped to $5.2 million before accepting the leagues offer. The CFL also got a major concession from the union on the gross revenue formula that would trigger the renegotiation of the cap or entire collective agreement. The players, who initially wanted the CBA to include revenue sharing, had called for the cap or entire agreement to be renegotiated if league revenues increased by more than $18 million -- excluding the Grey Cup -- in the third year of the deal. The CFL wanted that figure to be $27 million, which the union ultimately agreed to. "We have a lot of guys very upset about losing the revenue-sharing issue," Dyakowski said. "That was near and dear to a lot of guys hearts. "We have five years to work towards it so theres a lot of time for planning and preparation. But I think we have a workable deal, a viable deal, a deal thats good for the teams, a deal thats good for the players and puts money into everyones pockets." Another key bargaining issue for the CFLPA was having independent neurologists on the field for each game. But that wasnt included in the deal. Dyakowski did point to the minimum salary increasing $5,000 to $50,000. And even at $5 million, he said the cap represents a $600,000 increase over 2013. Players will also receive signing bonuses -- $1,500 for rookies and a tiered system for veterans that will average $7,500 each -- and see their average salary boosted to $96,000. During negotiations, the CFL maintained the average player stipend was $82,000 while the CFLPA has contended it was just under $72,000. The tentative deal removes the option year from CFL player contracts, excluding rookies, allowing a veteran to become a free agent sooner and maximize his earning potential. "Its a big win for players freedom that will help younger players earn fairer value earlier in their careers," Dyakowski said. Getting a deal in place is crucial for the CFL, which is entering the first year of a new five-year television agreement with TSN thats reportedly worth an average of $42 million a year. But games had to be played for the league -- and ultimately its teams -- to receive the money. The deal will reportedly net clubs an extra $2.75-million in revenue. Stitched Dodgers Jerseys . Lisicki beat South African Chanelle Scheepers by a 7-5, 7-6 (7-1) margin. Next up for the Wimbledon runner-up will be Slovenian Polona Hercog, who outlasted Czech Petra Cetkovska 6-4, 5-7, 6-1. Dodgers Jerseys China . -- Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh says he isnt going to change what he does on the field. https://www.cheapdodgersonline.com/315h-...ey-dodgers.html. The Twins announced Thursday the 28-year-old Albers cleared waivers. He will join the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization. A. J. Pollock Jersey . Power had a two-lap average of 218.896 mph in qualifying Friday at the high-banked, high-speed 1 1/2-mile track for his 34th career pole. Fake Dodgers Jerseys .com) - The surging Montreal Canadiens will try to match their longest winning streak of the season when they visit the Florida Panthers for Saturdays clash at BB&T Center.ARLINGTON, Texas -- Chris Herrmanns parents were watching him play in the majors for the first time. The Minnesota catcher gave them something to tell the grandkids someday. Herrmann broke up Yu Darvishs latest no-hit bid in a big way with a tying, two-run homer in the seventh inning and Justin Morneau followed with a home run that sent the Twins over the Texas Rangers 3-2 Friday night. "They were up in Minnesota last year when I was called up but I never got to play," said Herrmann, who grew up in the Houston area. "Its just a good feeling and theyre waiting outside and I cant wait to see them." Minnesota snapped a five-game losing streak on a night when it looked as if the strikeout-prone Twins had no chance against the major league strikeout leader. Instead, Darvish (12-6) had a third straight start without a win and the right-handers home run total jumped to 22 after the Japanese ace allowed 14 his entire rookie season. "In that situation in the seventh inning, I told myself I cant allow a home run," Darvish, who has taken three no-hitters into the seventh inning this season, said through an interpreter. "And as soon as I told myself that, you know what happened." Nolan Ryan, the Rangers CEO who had the last two of his record seven no-hitters with Texas in 1990 and 1991, was watching from his usual spot on the front row as Darvish faced the minimum number of batters with 10 strikeouts through six innings. But Darvish didnt make it out of the seventh. He walked Brian Dozier to start the inning -- the Twins second baserunner of the game -- and Herrmann drove a fastball down the right-field line for a 2-all tie. Four pitches later, Morneau hit a hanging slider 409 feet into the upper deck in right. "I just feel like after that home run happened, he just kind of got rattled and things just kind of went haywire for him," said Herrmann, who has four homers. "I was the one that started it and things just got a little crazy for him, and, I dont know, it was nice. It was fun." After Morneaus drive, Darvish got Josh Willingham for his 11th strikeout and Ryan Doumit flied out. But manager Ron Washington pulled Darvish after a double by Trevor Plouffe, who struck out his first two times oon a 94 mph fastball and a 61 mph curve.dddddddddddd "He made two mistakes and they didnt miss them," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "Strikeouts are great, but the biggest thing is weve got to win the game." Twins starter Liam Hendriks (1-2) got his second career win by holding Texas to two runs -- one earned -- in six innings. Glen Perkins struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 31st save in 34 chances after relievers Brian Duensing and Josh Roenicke pitched around a one-out triple by Craig Gentry in the seventh. "You cant really think about it too much," Hendriks, the Australian right-hander, said of watching Darvish dominate on the other side. "Its me against their hitters and I need to try to match up my best and see what I can do against their guys. It was quick innings, so I didnt get too much of a breather some of the time." Darvishs other two no-hit bids came in Houston. He was an out away from a perfect game on April 2 before a single by Marwin Gonzalez, then pitched 7 1-3 hitless innings before a home run by Carlos Corporan on Aug. 12. Darvish gave up three hits in 6 2-3 innings and finished with 11 strikeouts -- his 11th double-digit strikeout game of the season. He now has 236 strikeouts, second to Ryans franchise record of 301 in 1989. For the first six innings, the Twins didnt even come close to a hit. Ninth-place hitter Pedro Florimon was so flustered he thought he had walked on a 2-2 count in the sixth -- one pitch after third-base umpire Tim McClelland kept his at-bat alive after ruling he checked his swing on 1-2. Darvish waved Florimon back to the plate as he walked down the first-base line, then struck him out on the full count. "That we were going to get him," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said of what he was thinking after six innings. "Always think that way. He was punching us out, absolutely. But we also had a couple of guys put some swings on him, so youve just got to figure out a way. Youve just got to hang in there." NOTES: Rangers RHP Neftali Feliz will skip his final rehab appearance Saturday and be activated when rosters expand Sunday. The closer turned starter hasnt pitched in the majors since May 18, 2012. He will be in the bullpen. ' ' '