Als owner Stern sorry for 'kill' Argos comment, but predicts win

TORONTO — It seems Montreal Alouettes' owner Gary Stern's bravado has fallen on deaf ears with the Toronto Argonauts.

On Tuesday, Stern boldly predicted his team would "kill Toronto on Thursday." Stern took to social media on Wednesday to apologize to the Argos for his reference to "kill," yet added "But I gotta believe (the) Alouettes win."

After an opening-week bye, Toronto hosts Montreal at BMO Field on Thursday night in its season opener. It will also mark veteran running back Andrew Harris's Argos debut but 35-year-old Winnipeg native wasn't biting on Stern's comments.

Watch tonight's game LIVE across the TSN Network and TSN Direct with kickoff at 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT.

"First time hearing it," Harris said. "They've got to do whatever they've got to do to get fired up.

"For us. we've got to worry about ourselves and let our play do the talking."

Argos defensive lineman Shawn Oakman echoed those sentiments.

"I don't do social media," he said. "We have to play Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

"Whatever he says, goes. It's his world, I'm just living in it. Being an owner I would hope my guys would bring that 'W' home."

It's not the first time Stern has shot from the hip regarding the Argos. During his first news conference as the Alouettes co-owner in January 2020, Stern, was asked why he and Sid Spiegel — Sterns' father-in-law and business partner — didn't consider purchasing the Toronto club.

“The Argos suck," he replied.

Sadly, Spiegel never saw the Alouettes play. The CFL didn't have a season in 2020 due to the global pandemic and Spiegel passed away in July 2021 before the league's abbreviated campaign, reportedly at the age of 90..

Toronto receiver Brandon Banks, an active social media contributor, said Stern's guarantee