Poll
What is the best part of the CFL?
Your vote has been counted, thank you for voting.
In the United States, it's impossible to take root as a competing outdoor pro football league in the NFL's massive shadow.
Not so in Canada. The Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts and Calgary Stampeders will play for that country's 100th Grey Cup on Sunday (3 p.m., NBC Sports Network). Canadian football history is complicated. The eight CFL teams did not just complete the league's 100th season. But the league has been around, as its fans know it, since 1958.
The CFL expanded to the United States in the mid-1990s with "south-of-the-border" teams for three seasons, including the Sacramento Gold Miners for two years. The CFL has been all-Canadian since 1996.
So how do the games differ?
The Canadian field is 110 yards long and 65 yards wide (think Iowa tucked into Colorado, when compared to the U.S. field). There are three downs and 12 players instead of 11, the end zones are 20 yards deep, and besides kickers, specialists include short-yardage quarterback sneakers.
Games are more wide open on offense (runners have much more of a corner than in the United States), and CFL fans are every bit as passionate as NFL fans.
Failed U.S. outdoor pro football leagues could fill a junkyard.
The CFL proudly continues.
What to watch
NBA, Kings at Jazz, 6 p.m., CSNCA: Can the Kings duplicate Wednesday's winning effort against the Lakers?
What to watch II
Prep football, "Final Quarter," 11 p.m., FOX40: The Bee's Joe Davidson discusses the high school playoffs in a 30-minute highlight show.
Today's poll
What is the best part of the CFL?
• Field dimensions
• Wide-open style of play
• Only eight teams
• It's no longer in the U.S.
Vote above or leave your comments in the comment field; or, go to www.sacbee.com/sports
Thursday's results
Which quarterback should start for the 49ers the remainder of the season?
• Alex Smith: 52%
• Colin Kaepernick: 36%
• Depends on who's hot: 12%
Total votes: 395
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