Posted at 6:00 a.m.
New bullets
“I would like to know, in tennis, on which surface the new balls have the most influence. We see the player showing his opponent that he is using new balls, but is it more meaningful on one surface or another? »
Michel Charron
Response from Nicholas Richard:
New balls have no more effect on one surface than another. However, they accentuate the effect created by each surface. Let me explain. New balls are harder, firmer and smoother than worn balls. So on grass or cement, which are fast surfaces, new balls will travel faster and bounce harder. Then, on clay, which is a slow surface, but which accentuates every effect, the ball will be even more difficult for the opponent to play. For example, a bullet out effect will be accentuated and more pronounced with new bullets.
East versus West
PHOTO SEAN KILPATRICK, THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Jake Wieneke (right), of the Montreal Alouettes, runs past Antoine Pruneau (6), of the Ottawa Redblacks.
“Am I crazy? I’m looking at the Canadian football standings this morning, June 30, 2022, and in total, the West Division has played 14 games and won 10 for a percentage of 71%. The East division, she played 10 games won 2 for a percentage of 20%. From season to season, the Western Division seems much stronger. Over the past 10 years, Western teams have won the Gray Cup seven times to the Eastern three. Do you have a theory to explain this discrepancy? »
Andre Gosselin
Response from Miguel Bujold:
No, you’re not fooled, and things haven’t changed in the past few weeks. As of July 21, the West’s overall record was 19-8 while the East’s was 4-15. What’s more, in interdivisional games, the West had a combined record of 13-2! Indeed, all teams are subject to the same rules, but the dominance of the West continues. One possible explanation is that teams in the West generate considerably higher revenues than their cousins in the East, which allows them to have generally better facilities.
This reality is definitely an asset in the free agent market. Another factor, the enthusiasm for the CFL is much greater in the West, which probably serves as a motivating effect on the teams, who have more pressure on them by being scrutinized daily. A third explanation is that all five Western teams know they have to be strong in order to compete in their division. There are often a few bad teams in the East, which makes it easier for the better ones. The fact that there is one more team in the West should normally reduce the room for maneuver, but at the end of the day, there are often four teams from the West and two from the East making the playoffs. And it will probably be the case again this year.
LIV vs. PGA
PHOTO PAUL ELLIS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Dustin Johnson on the Old Course in St Andrews, Scotland, on July 17
“By joining the new LIV Golf Tour, Dustin Johnson gave us the inescapable explanation of those who decide first and foremost by dollars. Could we see a comparative table of the scholarships that will be offered in the LIV compared to those of the PGA? »
Donald St-Pierre
Response from Nicholas Richard:
The difference between the purses awarded by the PGA Tour circuit and the LIV series is still notable. In the 2021 season, PGA players earned, on average, between $1 million and $2 million. In 2022, major tournament purses have been increased. Thus, Scottie Scheffler received 2.7 million by winning the Masters Tournament, Justin Thomas received 2.7 million by winning the PGA Championship, Matthew Fitzpatrick earned 3.15 million by winning the United States Open and Cameron Smith was offered 2.5 million by winning the British Open. The major tournaments offer the most generous prize money.
On the other hand, the LIV Golf circuit offers huge contracts to golfers who join the circuit. Even before they hit a ball, they all have a guaranteed sum. It can range from a few tens of millions of dollars to 200 million, depending on the talent and notoriety of the golfers. To this sum are added others. The purse for each tournament is valued at 25 million. Some 20 million are redistributed to the players according to their result. The winner of the tournament pockets 4 million and the one who comes last, in 48e place, receives $120,000. Then, the remaining $5 million is divided between the three teams that have accumulated the highest score: $3 million for the winning team, $1.5 million for the second and $500,000 for the one that finishes on the bottom step of the podium. Each bounty is distributed among the players.
Finally, at the end of the season, when the seven tournaments have been played, a bonus of 18 million dollars will be offered to the player who points to the top of the general classification, 8 million to the one who will finish second and 4 million to the one who will complete the podium. Then, the team that will finish first in the cumulative ranking will divide 16 million dollars, and so on up to a million for the 12e and last team.