It was a spectacular end to a tumultuous season. When the Toronto Argonauts captured the 100th Grey Cup, the offence was led by two key members; Ricky Ray, who threw for 231 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Chad Kackert, who rushed for 133 yards and added 62 more on receptions en route to being named games Most Valuable Player. Both are back this year and both are much more comfortable in their surroundings. Ray was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Eskimos shortly after the 2011 season ended. Edmonton had been his only CFL home for nine seasons and, like anyone in any walk of life, an unexpected major change was something that came with some trepidation. "I think the biggest fear was just coming to a new place and proving myself all over again," Ray told TSN.ca. "Here, I really had no experience with anybody other than a few other guys. Youve got to earn their respect and show that you work hard in practice and you go out and play the best you can." Toronto is looked upon by most fans as being the weak link in the league. Fans can be fickle when it comes to buying tickets and theres a perception that the city is CFL unfriendly. Ray had the same thoughts about the market and admits there is a stark difference between the two towns. "As far as football here out East, its a little bit different. In the West, theres not as much stuff to do. Here its a big city, theres other sports teams, were battling for competition with those guys. We didnt play well at home last year which didnt help us out, so this year we have to do a better job of being good at home and getting people excited to come out and watch us." A major complaint over the years in Toronto is that the Argos didnt have any players with star power to compete with the big names of the other sports. Rays name is well known in the market by even non-CFL fans, as are the names of the Chads; Owens and Kackert. The latter is back despite an offer from the NFLs New York Jets. In fact, there were reports that the running back had signed with that club, but that story quickly changed when Kackert confirmed he was coming back to the Argos. Why? "Its best to be where youre wanted," said Kackert. That sentiment may be in stark contrast to 12 months ago when Kackert was known to many for two things; being Cory Boyds backup and some ill-timed fumbles in his rookie season. He silenced any criticism as he excelled after replacing Boyd as the starter in Week 8 and fumbled just once on 123 touches. He knew his teammates had his back all along. "In the CFL, when youve got a team like we have here, its like a family. Were treating these rookies like theyve been here and theyre starting to buy in. The environment we have here isnt just something that happens, its something thats earned and takes time." Kackert earned enough respect from his Argo family to get the opportunity to start. The club chose to release Boyd, who was leading the CFL in rushing at the time. The move was criticized by an overwhelming majority of fans and media alike. The man who pulled the trigger on the move, head coach Scott Milanovich, ultimately saw the decision pay off in late November. Following the season, Kackert was a free agent and the coach thought his star running back was headed to the NFL. "I thought he was going to New York and I actually called and wished him luck at one point and he said I havent signed anything yet, so I think Kack feels good here," said Milanovich. "Hes been embraced by his teammates, hes kind of a loved guy and, not to say he wouldnt have made it in the NFL, but I think he made the right decision. This is home for him now and hes earned that." As Kackert says, "Its best to be where youre wanted" and everyone connected with the Double Blue wants him right where he is. Notes: Once again, the threat of bad weather moved practice to Holy Trinity Secondary School in Oakville... LT Tony Washington was back in uniform today for the first time since Sundays first practice... DT Khalif Mitchell sat out the second session with what appeared to be a leg injury. He was walking around with a noticeable limp as the practice progressed, but he was putting weight on it... Extremely windy conditions made things very difficult for the offence... SB Andre Durie made a couple of outstanding catches on deep balls... Spotted on the sidelines today was the Argos 1976 Rookie of the Year, RB Neil Lumsden. Hes now the running backs coach for the University of Guelph Gryphons... Theres no question the Argos have the most interesting pair of names among newcomers. SirVincent Rogers has been on the field since the first day of rookie camp and Thursday, the club signed linebacker Mister Alexander, who made his mark over the last two years on special teams with the Houston Texans... Also added today were import DB Quinten Lawrence and LB Jake Reinhart from Guelph. Reinhart is also a long snapper... When asked about who the most impressive players have been among newcomers, both Milanovich and Ray mentioned the same name in separate interviews, speedy receiver John Chiles. The QB said of him "Every time we watch film, guys are trying to press him and hes just running by them"... Milanovich said when it comes time to make cuts and if all other things are equal, the determining factor in making the decision is "character and how they fit in the locker room". Becky Sauerbrunn USA Jersey . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. McCall Zerboni Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. 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Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. India coach Anil Kumble has given his wholehearted backing for Cheteshwar Pujara to have an uninterrupted run in the Indian middle order, admitting that it is not good that a sword is always hanging on his head. Pujara lost his spot in the playing XI for the third Test in St. Lucia during Indias recent tour of the West Indies, Kumbles first series in-charge, after making 16 and 46 in his previous two innings. His replacement Rohit Sharma made 9 and 41 in that match, and both he and Pujara were included for the final Test in Trinidad, where only 22 overs were possible and India didnt get to bat.With modern cricket, everybody looks at the strike rate rather than what that particular player brings to that table, Kumble told ESPNcricinfo. Pujara is a very important cog in our wheel and when he plays at No. 3, he is a very important player. Yes, there are times when he misses out and Rohit comes in. Thats when we probably feel we need someone lower down to accelerate. Thats why in one of the Tests in West Indies, he missed out. The one good thing about this team is that all 17 who were in the squad were all available to play and all of them show that intent. If they are playing, they are fine. When they are left out, yes, they are disappointed, but at the same time, they contribute in whatever way they can. Pujara, yes, the sword is always hanging on his head, which is not good. I certainly believe he is a very important player for us and he will play at No. 3, and for us to be successful, he is important to us in the short term and long term as well.Pujara and Rohit have had to swap places in recent times as India have preferred to employ a five-bowler strategy in Test cricket, leaving room for one less batsman in the XI. Since taking over from MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli has robustly advocated the tactic. Kumble, too, is on-board with the strategy, though he said it wasnt set in stone.It is not mandatory that you look to play five bowlers.dddddddddddd It depends on the opposition, the surface and what the team requires, Kumble said. If we believe that four bowlers are enough to pick up 20 wickets and you need that additional batsman in the team, then we are open for that. It is not that the five-bowler theory is written in stone and we will approach every game like that. With four bowlers, you can win a Test match. Every team that you play has four bowlers and the fifth bowler you play is the all-rounder who fills in 10-15 overs for the other bowlers to come back again and pick the wickets. The approach will certainly be to win every game that you play.In line with the tactic to play with five frontline bowlers, India made an intriguing decision in the West Indies, asking R Ashwin to bat at No. 6. The move was instantly rewarded - Ashwin made a hundred in the first Test at Antigua and following it up with another one in the third in St.Lucia. Kumble explained that the move was made in order to ease the pressure on wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, who was struggling to come to terms with batting in the top six. Saha himself scored a hundred in the series and finished with 205 runs at an average of 51.25Obviously, Ashwin has shown in the past what hes capable of as a batsman, Kumble said. Saha was batting at six and we felt that the pressure that he was getting under wasnt ideal for him. Someone like Ashwin can take that pressure off and then Saha can bat freely, and Ashwin has shown what hes capable of. Hes scored two hundreds and made his mark at No. 6 whenever we played five bowlers.India are scheduled to begin a lengthy home season where they will play 13 Tests, beginning with a three-Test series against New Zealand from September 22. ' ' '