OTTAWA -- The moment Corey Chamblin first started thinking about becoming a CFL head coach came while he was breaking down game film with Jim Barker years ago when the two were with the Calgary Stampeders. . They were watching tape during the 2008 Grey Cup when Barker, himself a former coach, was then Calgarys senior vice-president of football operations and player-personnel director. Barker turned to the young assistant and made what Chamblin thought at the time was a terribly bold prediction. "He said, Youll be a better head coach than an assistant coach, and if you dont decide to go to the NFL and you stay in this league, youll definitely be a head coach," Chamblin recalls. "And I was like, Jim, youre crazy. " But Barkers words were prophetic. On Wednesday, Chamblin was named the CFLs coach of the year. The 36-year-old received the Annis Stukus Trophy after leading the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a Grey Cup win on home turf in only his second season with the club. The Riders finished second in the West Division standings with an 11-7 record. They defeated B.C. 29-25 in the conference semifinal before upsetting first-place Calgary -- which posted a league-best 14-4 record -- in the West Division final 35-13. That victory earned Saskatchewan home-field advantage for the Grey Cup game, which was held at Mosaic Stadium. Before a rabid gathering of 44,710, the Riders didnt disappoint, capping their season with an impressive 45-23 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Kent Austin, Hamiltons head coach/GM, and John Hufnagel, who also holds the same dual post with Calgary, were the award finalists. In his first season with Hamilton, Austin led the Ticats to second in the East Division with a 10-8 record before the club posted playoff wins over Montreal and Toronto. Austin was named the CFLs top coach in 07 after leading the Riders to a Grey Cup title. Hufnagel, who won the award in 2008, worked with Chamblin in Calgary. He said he saw in Chamblin many of the traits that have allowed him to make the transition from a position coach into a winning head coach. "He was very organized but he also had an eye out for the entire program, not just the defensive backs," Hufnagel said. "His vision was far-reaching. "He wanted to put a program together to help make the players transition, once they did make the roster, in finding homes in Calgary and all the type of things that provides the transition, makes it easier for the players. So early on, I knew Corey did have a vision of more than just what was his particular area." Chamblin bounced around the NFL until 2004 before embarking on his coaching career. The native of Birmingham, Ala., played defensive back at Tennessee Tech. After being bypassed in the NFL draft, he signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 1999 but was waived before seeing any regular-season action. Chamblin then signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also spent time in Green Bay, Tampa Bay and Indianapolis and played in Germany with the Rhein Fire of the former NFL Europe. His first coaching gig came in 2006 as an assistant at Tennessees Cumberland University. He got his first CFL job a year later as a defensive backs coach with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Chamblin moved to Calgary and spent three seasons as the Stampeders defensive backs coach -- winning the Grey Cup in 2008 -- before becoming Hamiltons defensive co-ordinator in 2011. The following season, he landed his first head-coaching job with the Roughriders. Chamblin credits Barker, currently the GM of the Toronto Argonauts, with inspiring him to become a head coach. "It was one of those things where I was like, Yeah, Jim, I dont know why youre saying this and I dont believe you. Right now, Im a defensive backs coach, " Chamblin said. "But I took that, and I think that was something that opened my eyes, that you know what, I should start preparing myself, and I did and I got it pretty soon." [url=http://www.wholesalejerseychinastore.com/]wholesale jerseys . - A well-known member of the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame will speak out against racism later this month in a southern Manitoba town thats trying to shed any image that its racist. cheap jerseys from china . Gasol confirmed his availability for the defending champion on Wednesday after missing last years World Championship in Turkey, where Spain finished sixth. http://www.cheapjerseysfine.com/ . Klefbom suffered the injury last month while playing for Farjestads BK of the Swedish Elite League. The Swedish defenceman met with the staff of the Oilers this week before the decision to undergo surgery was made. cheap jerseys from china . Ray Allen and Shane Battier combined for 24 points in the fourth quarter, and the Heat scored the first 13 points of the period to erase Atlantas 10-point lead and beat the Hawks 103-90 on Wednesday night for their eighth straight win. cheap nfl jerseys . "I think people know that," Melvin said Thursday. Melvin confirmed Greinkes availability in comments to USA Today and Milwaukees WTMJ radio earlier Thursday. Melvin did not go into detail on how many teams have expressed interest in the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner, saying only that the trade market always heats up with the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaching. CINCINNATI, Ohio -- With two key parts of the offence gone, the San Diego Padres are looking for Will Venable and others to carry them through a tough time and win some games. It really helps when the opponent makes four errors. Venable homered for the second game in a row, and San Diegos depleted offence took advantage of Cincinnatis season-high four errors for a 3-1 victory over the Reds on Saturday night. "Especially being down a couple of guys, everybody needs to do a better job," Venable said. Third baseman Jack Hannahan had three of Cincinnatis errors -- two on off-target throws to first base, another on a grounder that got through him. All San Diego managed off the errors was two unearned runs. Venable hit his team-high 15th homer off reliever Manny Parra a few hours after the Padres put outfielder Carlos Quentin on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right knee. It was their second significant setback of the week. Earlier in the week, All-Star shortstop Everth Cabrera was suspended for 50 games for taking a banned substance. Quentin had missed the last seven games with the injury. He was batting .275 with a team-leading 45 RBIs and 13 homers, second to Venable for the team lead. Now, the others have to carry on. "You cant do more than youre able to do," said Venable, who is batting .385 since July 14 and has a seven-game hitting streak. "You know what kind of player you are. Whether its making a play on defence or getting a bunt down, youve got to do all those little things." The Reds couldnt do much of anything right, finishing with as many errors as hits. "Jack just had a bad day," manager Dusty Baker said. "Hes known for his defence. We also had a couple of baserunning mistakes. I have no explanation." Tyson Ross (3-5) gave up Brandon Phillips RBI single in the first, one of only four hits he allowed over seven innings. Huston Street pitched the ninth for his 22nd save in 23 chances. Three of Cincinnatis errors came behind Tony Cingrani (5-2), who had to throw a lot of pitches to make up for the extra outs. The left-hander needed 92 to get through five innings while allowing only two hits and two unearned runs. The Padres have won thheir last six games against left-handed starters since July 11. cheap jerseys From China. The Reds had a tough time holding onto the ball all around. Catcher Devin Mesoraco threw over Hannahans head while trying to toss the ball around the infield after a strikeout. The Padres got sloppy and let in a couple of runs in Cincinnatis 7-2 win on Friday night. This time, the Reds had trouble getting a grip. "Weve been talking about our defence being pretty consistent all year," manager Bud Black said. "Last night was something we havent seen much this year." Chris Denorfia singled and scored when Venable singled and left fielder Xavier Paul bobbled the ball. Hannahan then threw wildly to first on Chase Headleys grounder, allowing Venable to score on the second error of the inning. Cingrani threw 32 pitches in the extended inning. Shin-Soo Choo drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first, stole his 13th base of the season and came around on Phillips two-out single. The Reds didnt get much more off Ross, who had several nice plays made behind him. "I know these guys will make the plays behind me," said Ross, who has four straight quality starts. "The key is to throw strikes." Paul ran the Reds out of a rally in the seventh. Jay Bruce walked and went to third on Pauls single with no outs. Mesoraco flied to Denorfia in right, not deep enough to get Bruce in from third. Paul tagged on the play and was thrown out at second. NOTES: Tennis player Mardy Fish threw a ceremonial pitch to one of the Reds mascots. The Western & Southern Open starts Sunday in nearby Mason. ... The Padres called up OF Jaff Decker to take Quentins spot. ... LF Ryan Ludwick rejoined the Reds on Saturday from his minor league rehab stint. The Reds plan to activate him before the start of a series on Monday in Chicago. Ludwick has been sidelined since he tore cartilage in his right shoulder while sliding into base on opening day. ... Hannahans three errors were a career high. ... On Sunday, Mike Leake (10-5) makes his first start since he got roughed up in a 15-2 loss to St. Louis a week earlier. Ian Kennedy (4-8) makes his second start with the Padres, who got him from Arizona on July 31. ' ' '