Here are some notes, stats and observations as we head into semifinal Sunday in the Canadian Football League. Lets start by taking a look at the CFL playoffs over the last 20 years and see if history can help shed some light on some of the questions that come up at this time every year, starting with whether or not the bye week for the teams finishing in first in their division helps them or actually hurts them? Over the last 20 years, the Grey Cup has been won by a first place team 11 times. Of the 40 teams that have competed in the big game over that time, 23 of them finished in first place. Eight times in the last 20 years the game has featured first versus first, so yes there is an advantage for winning the regular season and finishing first no matter how the coach manages the bye week. How much has home field advantage helped for the second place finishers in the last 20 years? It helps them get to the Grey Cup. Second place teams have advanced 13 times, however, it doesnt seem to help them win all that much. Second place teams have only won it six times. What about the third place finishing road warriors over the last 20 years? Of the forty teams that have competed in the Grey Cup in the last 20 years, a third place team has only made it to the big game four times, but of the four appearances have won it three times. Bottom line here is that it is an uphill battle for the third place finisher but if they can run the table, they have won it more than they have lost it. There has been talk all year about how bad the East Division is compared to the West Division which is a theory that will be tested this year due to the crossover by the BC Lions. It should be noted off the top that since the crossover format was instituted in 1996 and first applied in 1997, there have been seven crossover teams (not counting this year) and every time it has been a western team crossing over to the East Division. However, never has a western team advanced to the Grey Cup. As far as the west versus the east in championships, it is almost split right down the middle with the west winning 11 times and the east nine. Notes from the regular season The review of defensive pass interference was implemented because of a missed call in last years east semifinal so after a year, how does the rules committee feel about the new rule? Glen Johnson, the head of officials, has surveyed the rules committee over the last month and said Thursday: Our process to review the implementation of challenging DPI is underway. Were early in the process, but the majority of feedback supports what we have done. It should be noted that now that it is in the rule book, it will take two-thirds of the clubs to vote to remove it. Also, it was implemented because of a missed call in the playoffs. If a coach wins a DPI challenge this year in the postseason, you can bet the rule will not be going anywhere. The sky is not falling on the CFL because scoring is down. There are actually three main reasons why it was a lower scoring 2014 regular season. Football can be cyclical due to the athletes at quarterback. In the days of Doug Flutie, Matt Dunigan, Danny McManus and Tracy Ham to name a few, coaches implemented offences that featured a wide open passing game with no backs in the backfield. This year there have been a total of 28 quarterbacks take snaps; seven of which have made their CFL debut as starters. Also, if you add up the starts of Edmontons Mike Reilly, Calgarys Bo Levi Mitchell, Hamiltons Zach Collarus, Montreals Jonathan Crompton and Winnipegs Drew Willy, you get a grand total of 104 starts. So the first two reasons for lower scoring this year in the CFL is inexperienced quarterbacks and run-first offensive game plans. One of which, of course, has led to the other. The third is that sometimes the defence wins. This year, eleven players were in double figures in sacks and another five were just one or two away from that list. In 2014, defences dominated, which is why for the first time ever a defensive player in BC Lions linebacker Solomon Elimimian is a finalist for Most Outstanding Player in the CFL. More offensive game plans feature tight ends, two RBs and a strong run game. Inexperience and injuries at quarterback, in combination with dominant defences, are the three reasons scoring is down in the CFL. On a recent radio interview on CJME Radio Regina, Hall of Fame quarterback Matt Dunigan made a great observation worth repeating. On the topic of quarterbacks in the semifinal games this Sunday; Kerry Joseph in Saskatchewan, Jonathan Crompton in Montreal and Matt Nichols in Edmonton were all backups to Mike Reilly with the Eskimos last year and will be three of the four starting QBs on Sunday. Air Max 90 White Outlet . on the 15-day disabled Monday list because of a strained right hamstring. Air Max 90 Black Buy . In mens doubles, Vancouvers Vasek Pospisil and American Jack Sock reached the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over Croatian Mate Pavic and Andre Sa of Brazil. http://www.outletairmax90cheap.com/outle...-cheap-303.html. A groundswell for raising the number of playoff qualifiers to seven in each conference figures to get plenty of support from the 32 owners. Most notably, Arizonas Bill Bidwill, who saw his Cardinals go 10-6 and not get in, while Green Bay (8-7-1) qualified by winning the NFC North. Fake Off White Air Max 90 .com) - Jimmie Johnson won Sundays AAA Texas 500 while championship contenders Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski as well as their teams were involved in a post-race fight on pit road after the two clashed in the closing laps at Texas Motor Speedway. Fake Air Max 90 Mens . Last year, Matt Kuchar closed with a 4-under 68 to beat Kevin Chappell by two strokes for his second win of the 2013 season and sixth of his career.PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. -- Hal Steinbrenner says Alex Rodriguez is "a great player" and "obviously an asset," but the New York Yankees managing general partner wouldnt discuss the third basemans possible return to the team following a season-long suspension. Speaking to reporters at baseball owners meetings Wednesday, Steinbrenner said he isnt thinking about 2015. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig suspended Rodriguez for 211 games in August, and arbitrator Fredric Horowitz cut the penalty last weekend to the 2014 season and post-season. The arbitrator found "clear and convincing evidence" the three-time AL MVP used three banned substances and twice tried to obstruct Major League Baseballs investigation of the Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic. Rodriguez responded by suing MLB and the players association in an effort to overturn the decision. Asked if he would welcome Rodriguez back, Steinbrenner said, "Hes a great player." "I have not though about 2015, nor am I going to right now," Steinbrenner said. "My focus has to be right now. But when hes on and when hes healthy, hes obviously an asset. Well see what happeens.dddddddddddd" Rodriguezs relationship with the Yankees became strained last summer, when he wanted to come off the disabled list following hip surgery before the team said he was ready. Rodriguez returned Aug. 5, the day Selig announced his suspension. In October, Rodriguez sued the Yankees team physician and a New York hospital, accusing them of mishandling his medical care during the 2012 AL playoffs. Rodriguezs salary this year was cut from $25 million to $2,868,852 because of the suspension; Horowitz decided baseball drug agreement requires he lose 162 days of pay over the 183-day season. New York was required to make a $3 million payment to Rodriguez on Wednesday, the last installment of the $10 million signing bonus that is part of the contract Rodriguez agreed to before the 2008 season. The Yankees owe A-Rod $21 million in 2015 and $20 million in each of the deals final two seasons. "Those of you that know me, Im pretty objective in my thinking," Steinbrenner said. "This is business. Im just focusing on the team, a player. Is the player an asset to the club or not? Thats about as far as I look. I dont get personal." ' ' '