Latest news with #Rourke
Vancouver Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Nathan Rourke: B.C. Lions offence needs to find a way to 'start fast' against Hamilton Sunday
The B.C. Lions have a punctuality problem. The Lions (3-4) head into a Sunday visit to B.C. Place by the Hamilton Tigers-Cats (4-2) having led just once after the first quarter this season, and having been outscored by 34 points in those opening frames so far in the campaign. They've been outscored by 16 points in total to date. B.C. is coming off a 33-27 loss at home to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last week that didn't feel as close as the scoreboard actually read. That's because Saskatchewan seemed to put it into cruise control after going up 17-1 in the first quarter. The Roughriders had a 10-0 cushion, in fact, before Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke had taken his third snap — B.C. went two-and-out on the opening drive and that was followed by a Saskatchewan touchdown, a B.C. turnover on a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and then a Roughrider field goal. 'We have to score more touchdowns and especially early,' Rourke said after practice Friday at the Lions' Surrey headquarters. 'We need to give our defence a little more cushion there, a little more confidence. 'As an offence, our goal this week is to start fast, but it's going to be a challenge, because that's a very good defence we're playing.' From today's post-practice media 🎥: FULL VIDEOS ➡️ #BCLions | #RoarAsOne B.C. has been moving the ball. The Lions (404.7 yards per game) were third in the league in net offence average going into the week, trailing only the 5-2 Calgary Stampeders (406.3 yards per game) and the 5-1 Roughriders (405.7 yards per game). Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. They aren't capitalizing enough on that success, though, to reiterate the earlier Rourke thought. The Lions (23.3 points per game) were eighth in the league in scoring going into the week. Only the 1-6 Ottawa Redblacks (21.1 points per game) were tallying less. There are clear reasons why. The Lions have a league-worst 19 turnovers on the season, and their minus-10 takeaway/giveaway ratio is at the bottom of that category as well. B.C. was also seventh in the league in penalties (7.9 per game) and penalty yardage (73.3 per game) to start the week, and that included a league-worst 13 flags on special teams. It's a hard team to get a read on right now. Rourke is on a three-game streak of 300-yard passing games and can tie his longest run of such games as a Lion if he can hit the number again Sunday. The matchup with the Tiger-Cats will be his 40th as a Lion. 'We need to first and foremost take care of the ball. We can't turn the ball over,' explained Rourke, the 27-year-old pivot. 'Secondly, we have to keep out of second and long situations. I think we showed the second time when we played Edmonton (in a 32-14 road win on July 14) that when we're second and medium we can be very, very good. If we do that, we put ourselves in a good position. 'Ultimately, we have to score touchdowns.' B.C.'s defence is looking to rally after being picked apart by Saskatchewan veteran quarterback Trevor Harris, who was 23-of-30 for 395 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception last week. Hamilton, who are winners of four straight, are led by another seasoned pivot in Bo Levi Mitchell. Mitchell, 35, has been so good this season that Pat Steinberg at was pegging him the early favourite for Most Outstanding Player honours on Friday . Mitchell came into the week leading the league in passing yards (1,812) and touchdowns (12), with just two interceptions. Hamilton receiver Kenny Lawler led with touchdown receptions (eight), which puts him on pace to better Milt Stegall's CFL 2002 record of 23 by one. Lawler was tops in the CFL in yards receiving (644) starting this week as well. B.C. defensive lineman Mathieu Betts talked Friday about the Lions' troubles being tied to execution. 'It's about playing together,' Betts continued. 'I'm speaking for the D-line and the defence, but it's the same thing with special teams, same thing with the offence. It's a hard thing to do, but when 12 players play together and do their assignments together, that's when we will be dangerous. We just need to do that, starting with play No. 1 on Sunday, and keep it up for three hours and we'll be happy with the result.' @SteveEwen SEwen@
New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Jomboy producer under fire for ‘kill yourself' comment at George Springer
Jomboy Media producer Dan Rourke is catching major blowback after he directed an offensive rant at Blue Jays outfielder George Springer on Wednesday — and it's possible MLB could get involved. 'F–k you Springer, kill yourself,' Rourke said on his 'Yankees Avenue' livestream after Springer scored to give Toronto a 4-2 lead over the Yankees in the fifth inning of the 8-4 win. 'Piece of s–t.' Advertisement The clip went viral on X and Reddit, with fans up in arms at the comments, particularly given Rourke's affiliation with Jomboy Media, which has become a major component of MLB's media ecosystem in recent years. 'I can't stress how much of a pathetic piece of garbage loser you are @DanAlanRourke,' wrote a Blue Jays fan account on X. 'This guy is employed by jomboy telling players to kill themselves. F–k you.' Jomboy founder Jimmy O'Brien addressed the situation in a video Thursday night. Advertisement 3 Dan Rourke on his live stream Wednesday. @YankeesAvenue/YouTube 'Dan Rourke does his livestream for Yanks Ave … and said some stuff you can't say,' O'Brien said. 'I talked with Dan today. Everyone at the company has been talking and he came up to us … and he was feeling awful, and I think he's going to apologize and all of that.' Yankees Avenue is Rourke's personal livestream, which is unaffiliated with Jomboy Media, but Rourke is employed by Jomboy and is a well-known member of the company. 3 Jomboy Media founder Jimmy O'Brien addressed Dan Rourke's comments at George Springer. More Jomboy/Youtube Advertisement 'He grew up in gaming culture, young kid culture, you talk s–t during livestreams,' O'Brien added. 'That's no excuse to tell a player to go kill yourself. Joking, not joking, obviously you can't say that and it's terrible, and there might be ramifications from it.' O'Brien said those ramifications could be determined by MLB, which agreed to a strategic partnership with Jomboy in June. Warning: Graphic Language 3 Blue Jays outfielder George Springer scores a run in a July 24 game. AP Advertisement 'The league might call us and say, 'Hey, he's not allowed here,'' O'Brien said. For now, though, none of that has taken place. O'Brien added that he's learned to tone down his language since he's become a public figure with Jomboy, even if he never meant any of his comments in a malicious way. 'Anyone that's my age used a lot of words in the early 2000s, very freely, that you can't say anymore …used a lot of phrases, not with ill-intent behind them,' O'Brien said. 'Obviously [Rourke] didn't have any ill-intent behind them, but obviously that doesn't excuse anything.'
Hamilton Spectator
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Harris throws for three touchdowns, Saskatchewan Roughriders dump B.C. Lions 33-27
VANCOUVER - Even after a dominant win, Trevor Harris and his team see room for improvement. The Saskatchewan Roughriders struck early on Saturday and jumped out to a 17-1 lead over the B.C. Lions before the end of the first quarter. They finished the night with a 33-27 win that wasn't nearly as close as the final score suggested. On the sidelines, Harris and his teammates felt they were in charge for the entire game — and that feeling may have led them to ease up late, the quarterback said. 'It's a great lesson for us to never let off the pedal,' he said. 'I thought we played a really good four quarters for the most part offensively. But you'd like for us to be able to finish a little bit better in the red zone, and a couple little mistakes here and there. 'But obviously, any time you can get a win on the road against a good B.C. club that's been playing very, very well lately, we'll take it.' Harris connected on 23 of his 30 passing attempts for 395 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the West Division matchup. Kicker Brett Lauther added four field goals for the Riders (5-1), including a 45-yard strike in the first quarter. 'I'm very pleased with the entire team. Just how they responded to all the challenges they put on themselves is incredible,' said Saskatchewan head coach Corey Mace. 'But we're always talking about finishing and we want to finish the game even better than we did tonight. That's why I love this group — a win is awesome, and we'll celebrate that. But within those, we'll always try to find and look for ways to get better.' Nathan Rourke chalked up 337 passing yards with three TDs for the Lions (3-4). The Canadian QB made good on 27 of his 41 attempts, had one interception and was sacked once. The Riders had 506 yards of net offence across the game, compared to 373 yards for the Lions. 'I don't think we played well enough to win. I certainly didn't,' Rourke said. 'And I like to give credit where credit is due — I thought their defence, their team, that they outplayed us. But I don't think we're that much further behind. And so I think we beat ourselves.' Saskatchewan struck early on Saturday, with Harris lobbing a rainbow to Dohnte Meyers deep inside Lions' territory less than five minutes into the game. The American receiver nabbed the ball and darted into the end zone for Saskatchewan's first major of the night. The offensive onslaught continued with Harris sailing a 29-yard pass to Joe Robustelli to put the visitors back in scoring position late in the quarter. The quarterback followed up with a short dish to A.J. Ouellette, who dashed five yards into the end zone. Lauther made the convert and the Riders went up 17-1. B.C.'s offence finally found its footing with just seconds to go in the first. Rourke escaped the pocket and fired a 40-yard pass to Ayden Eberhardt, who stepped over the goal line for the Lions' first TD of the night. The two sides traded field goals in the second quarter, with Lauther connecting on 27- and 41-yard attempts and B.C. kicker Sean Whyte sending a 47-yard kick through the uprights. Saskatchewan headed into the locker room up 23-11. The Riders picked up right where they left off out of the break. Less than four minutes into the third quarter, Harris found Meyers deep in the red zone for a 30-yard touchdown. Saskatchewan's biggest problem of the game came midway through the third when Ka'Deem Carey was taken down by Lions linebacker Micah Awe, in a play that left the running back writhing on the turf in obvious discomfort. He was eventually helped off the field by two trainers, putting no weight on his right leg. Mace didn't have an update on Carey's status after the game. 'I don't know much about it, man. Just positive vibes for him,' the coach said. 'But happy as ever that he's part of this organization and he's got a lot of people in this locker room that love him.' B.C. got a spark late in the quarter when Eberhardt reeled in a 39-yard pass from Rourke. The Lions capped the drive with a gutsy play, going for pay dirt on third down where Rourke sent a rocket soaring to Stanley Berryhill III deep in the end zone. The home side then attempted a two-point convert, a move that paid off when the QB spun off a tackle and connected once again with Berryhill on a three-yard toss that cut Saskatchewan's lead to 33-19. With 19 seconds left in the fourth quarter, B.C. added one last major with Rourke handing off to Eberhardt and the receiver rushing in for his second TD of the night. Running back James Butler muscled his way through traffic for a two-point conversion that sealed the score at 33-27. That drive says a lot about the Lions, Rourke said. 'The guys want to fight, they want to play, they want to play for each other, they don't want to give up,' the quarterback said. 'That's what makes it frustrating, is that I think we've got the right pieces this year. We've just got to put it all together.' NOTES Riders receiver Samuel Emilus tallied 78 receiving yards in his return after missing three games with a foot injury. … Lions linebacker Micah Awe made the 500th defensive tackle of his CFL career. … Only Saskatchewan and the Calgary Stampeders have yet to lose a road game this season. NEXT UP Roughriders: Host the Edmonton Elks on Friday. Lions: Host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday, July 27. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 19, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
‘I feel young again': Running back James Butler hitting new highs with B.C. Lions
VANCOUVER - James Butler doesn't mind standing outside of the spotlight. And on a B.C. Lions offence featuring the likes of quarterback Nathan Rourke and receivers Justin McInnis and Keon Hatcher, a running back might skirt attention. Not Butler. The 30-year-old American has been a star for B.C. this season. He leads the league in rushing yards with 474 and will look to add to the total Saturday when the Lions (3-3) host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-1). Last week, Butler amassed a career-high 171 rushing yards, 35 receiving yards and a touchdown as B.C. downed the Edmonton Elks 32-14. 'I feel young again, wearing my college number (20),' the running back said. 'It's easy for me to just fly under the radar and just try to be the little spark I can be.' Butler's success follows a difficult 2024 campaign where the University of Iowa product saw action in just 10 games for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, tallying 522 rushing yards and two TDs. The numbers were well off the career-high 1,116 yards and seven majors he logged for the Ticats in 2023 and he was released by Hamilton in January. Just hours later, Butler signed with the Lions, the team where he started his CFL career in 2021 before breaking out with a 1,060-yard showing in 2022. The move reunited him with Rourke and the duo wasted little time in picking up where they left off. 'For us, there's so much trust,' said the Canadian QB, noting that Butler has found a way to up his game this season. 'I think he's been playing out of his mind. He's been playing better than I think he did in '22. … A lot of the times, I'm just watching. I've got the best seat in the house for watching him get to work.' The admiration goes both ways. 'I feel like when you've got No. 12 back there, he just gives you a chance. Nate just gives you a chance, and he just makes plays,' Butler said. 'We always knew he's going to be destined for a great thing. 'So just being there, being back with him is nice. Even when I was with Nate (back in 2021 and 22), I was a little bit younger. So I just feel younger. I feel young again. It's nice.' Butler and Rourke will be in for a challenge Saturday when the Lions go up against the Riders. Saskatchewan is coming off its first loss of the season after dropping a 24-10 decision to the Calgary Stampeders last week. The Lions have already gone up against the Roughriders once this year, taking a 37-18 loss in Regina back on June 28. Despite the final score, B.C. felt the game easily could have had a different result if they'd done a few things differently, Butler said. 'I don't remember the score, but I never felt like we were really out of it, except maybe towards the end of the game,' he said. 'So I just feel like if we take care of the ball, I just feel like it'll be a different game.' The Riders will be without a star returner Mario Alford for the contest. The speedster left the game against Calgary in the first quarter due to an injury and did not practice with his teammates this week. 'That's Super Mario, man. That's a tough one to lose,' said Riders head coach Corey Mace. 'Certainly he's been playing out of his mind, I thought, to this point in the season. It just sucks. But ultimately, it sucks for him.' Alford will be replaced in the lineup by Drae McRay, a first-year receiver out of Texas Tech. The game will be an opportunity for a rookie who showed 'fearlessness' in pre-season play, Mace said. 'We all have confidence in Drae to be able to go out and execute and make plays,' the coach said. 'He showed to be really dangerous in the pre-season.' SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (4-1) AT B.C. LIONS (3-3) Saturday, B.C. Place MILESTONE WATCH: Lions linebacker Micah Awe leads the league in total tackles with 46 on the season. He's now two away from 500 across his CFL career. HISTORY BOOKS: Saskatchewan holds a 107-94-6 edge in all-time matchups between the two teams. The Roughriders have fared well in Lions' territory, too, going 51-50-2 at B.C. WHYTE HOT: B.C.'s Sean Whyte has made all 12 of his field goals this season and, alongside Hamilton's Marc Liegghio, is one of just two kickers who haven't missed this season. Whyte has made 25 consecutive field goals going back to last year, marking the sixth streak of 25+ over his CFL career. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
Vancouver Sun
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
'I feel young again': Running back James Butler hitting new highs with B.C. Lions
James Butler doesn't mind standing outside of the spotlight. And on a B.C. Lions offence featuring the likes of quarterback Nathan Rourke and receivers Justin McInnis and Keon Hatcher, a running back might skirt attention. Not Butler. The 30-year-old American has been a star for B.C. this season. He leads the league in rushing yards with 474 and will look to add to the total Saturday when the Lions (3-3) host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-1). Last week, Butler amassed a career-high 171 rushing yards, 35 receiving yards and a touchdown as B.C. downed the Edmonton Elks 32-14. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'I feel young again, wearing my college number (20),' the running back said. 'It's easy for me to just fly under the radar and just try to be the little spark I can be.' Butler's success follows a difficult 2024 campaign where the University of Iowa product saw action in just 10 games for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, tallying 522 rushing yards and two TDs. The numbers were well off the career-high 1,116 yards and seven majors he logged for the Ticats in 2023 and he was released by Hamilton in January. Just hours later, Butler signed with the Lions, the team where he started his CFL career in 2021 before breaking out with a 1,060-yard showing in 2022. The move reunited him with Rourke and the duo wasted little time in picking up where they left off. 'For us, there's so much trust,' said the Canadian QB, noting that Butler has found a way to up his game this season. 'I think he's been playing out of his mind. He's been playing better than I think he did in '22. … A lot of the times, I'm just watching. I've got the best seat in the house for watching him get to work.' The admiration goes both ways. 'I feel like when you've got No. 12 back there, he just gives you a chance. Nate just gives you a chance, and he just makes plays,' Butler said. 'We always knew he's going to be destined for a great thing. 'So just being there, being back with him is nice. Even when I was with Nate (back in 2021 and 22), I was a little bit younger. So I just feel younger. I feel young again. It's nice.' Butler and Rourke will be in for a challenge Saturday when the Lions go up against the Riders. Saskatchewan is coming off its first loss of the season after dropping a 24-10 decision to the Calgary Stampeders last week. The Lions have already gone up against the Roughriders once this year, taking a 37-18 loss in Regina back on June 28. Despite the final score, B.C. felt the game easily could have had a different result if they'd done a few things differently, Butler said. 'I don't remember the score, but I never felt like we were really out of it, except maybe towards the end of the game,' he said. 'So I just feel like if we take care of the ball, I just feel like it'll be a different game.' The Riders will be without a star returner Mario Alford for the contest. The speedster left the game against Calgary in the first quarter due to an injury and did not practice with his teammates this week. 'That's Super Mario, man. That's a tough one to lose,' said Riders head coach Corey Mace. 'Certainly he's been playing out of his mind, I thought, to this point in the season. It just sucks. But ultimately, it sucks for him.' Alford will be replaced in the lineup by Drae McRay, a first-year receiver out of Texas Tech. The game will be an opportunity for a rookie who showed 'fearlessness' in pre-season play, Mace said. 'We all have confidence in Drae to be able to go out and execute and make plays,' the coach said. 'He showed to be really dangerous in the pre-season.' When: Saturday, July 19 at 4 p.m. Where: B.C. Place MILESTONE WATCH: Lions linebacker Micah Awe leads the league in total tackles with 46 on the season. He's now two away from 500 across his CFL career. HISTORY BOOKS: Saskatchewan holds a 107-94-6 edge in all-time matchups between the two teams. The Roughriders have fared well in Lions' territory, too, going 51-50-2 at B.C. WHYTE HOT: B.C.'s Sean Whyte has made all 12 of his field goals this season and, alongside Hamilton's Marc Liegghio, is one of just two kickers who haven't missed this season. Whyte has made 25 consecutive field goals going back to last year, marking the sixth streak of 25+ over his CFL career.
