CFL sees great announcer jinx on Derek Slywka return touchdown

It’s always entertaining when a play-by-play voice says one thing and then the immediate opposite happens. The latest case of an announcer jinx of that variety came in the Canadian Football League Sunday night.

There, at the end of the first half, CFL on TSN lead voice Rod Smith figured the Toronto Argonauts’ Derek Slywka’s recovery of a blocked field goal might lead to him being downed in his own end zone for a single point, or rouge. That saw Smith even saying “Instead of three, it’s looking like this will be one” as Slywka reversed his initial course and became surrounded by some Ottawa Redblacks’ players. And then Slywka found another gear and streaked for a Toronto touchdown, his second of more than 100 yards in the half:

“That’s blocked! Hands up, knocked away, and rolls away into the end zone. And Slywka has it. But instead of three, it’s looking like this will be one, as Slywka keeps running around. Oh, they’re going to get out? Slywka! Hasn’t he done enough running for one day?! 105 for a touchdown on a fumble return, this time on a blocked field goal, the length of the field again. How about Derek Slywka! Touchdown, Argos! What a night!”

In fairness to Smith, it’s easy to see how he thought this would end with a single with the way the Redblacks had Slywka surrounded. But the combination of Slywka’s speed and Ottawa’s poor coverage left it anything but. For the record, here’s the first fumble return for a TD Slywka had on defence earlier in the night:

Fascinatingly enough, making plays on both defence and special teams is just the latest example of the 24-year-old Slywka’s versatility. The Waterloo, NY native played Division III football and basketball at Ithaca College from 2021-23, earning recognition as a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award as the small college player of the year. He then signed with the Indianapolis Colts that June, with them trying to convert him to wide receiver, but they released him that August.

Slywka then signed with Toronto as a DB last September, but was only on their practice roster last season. But he certainly made an impact here, and wound up adding to the recent history of announcer jinxes. And he also added to the recent discussion around the CFL’s rouge, and the kind of exciting plays it can lead to.