5 Things Football Friday

1.  What is the big deal about the cold?  This is Saskatchewan and when it gets towards the end of October and into November we get this thing called winter here.  I understand many players come from places where it doesn't get cold or it doesn't snow, but they are here now and this is what it's like and this is how it's done.  Get over it!  And for what it's worth, I think the media is making a much bigger deal out of it than the players care.

2.  That whole Shea Emry "fine" is a travesty.  If I walked up to someone on the street and punched them in the groin I'd be charged with assault.

3.  I'm glad to see Jaimie Boreham back but I was silently hoping for the return of Eddie Johnson.  I loved Eddie Johnson and I met him once.  He was great to fans.  I also loved the mustache.  He was uber cool.

4.  The name calling drama with Dominic Picard and what's-his-name-Bowman should be under review as well.  It is not okay to call anyone a racial slur.  Bowman should know better.....he does play for Montreal after all.

5.  Every week I love Corey Chamblin more.  He is a smart smart man.  I also feel the same way about Joe Lobendahn and Odell Willis, although it might be weird to lump them all together.

Parting thoughts:  With all this talk about cold I am reminded of the Western Final in 2010 against the Stamps.  Here's a little video to remind you all too.

One of Us

I've joked that we make you put on a Roughrider football jersey at the Saskatchewan border.  We Rider fans are steadfast and passionate around the province and elsewhere.  We are Rider Nation.  We are the snappiest dressed fans at CFL games and the loudest.  We wear Rider green loud and proud.  We are the 13th Man.

In Canadian football there are 12 men on the field.  We like to think of ourselves as that extra man helping out the team from the safety of the stands.  The term is much more meaningful than what the rest of the country thinks of.....which is that horrible terrible gut wrenching eye wincing falling to our knees praying 2009 Grey Cup.

I fly a Rider flag in the window of my spare bedroom.  My neighbour camps in a green and white decaled camper.  My eye doctors office workers are clad in jerseys the Friday before the game.  It's like that all across the country.  It's game day and we're ready for it by wearing our team colours all day.  It's not like that in other team cities.  Everywhere you look, there is green.....whether you go to the game or prefer the armchair in your living room. 

We are the fans who stand in line for 2 hours to see legends and future legends at the Grey Cup Train.  We are the fans who buy the most CFL merchandise.  We are the fans who eat Triple Berry Getzlaf Cereal for breakfast and Dressler chips for dinner.  We show support with our closet, our food and our pocket books.

From Wikipedia:

Fanaticism is a belief or behavior involving uncritical zeal, particularly for an extreme religious or political cause or in some cases sports, or with an obsessive enthusiasm for a pastime or hobby.

We are zealous Rider fans.  It is like a religion and it can be political. I recall it was meant to be that the Riders won the 2007 Grey Cup because Brad Wall won the provincial election that year.  I've seen fans wear priest and nun garb to the games too.  I'd say that's obsessive alright.

Sports fanaticism - high levels of intensity surrounding sporting events. This is either done based on the belief that extreme fanaticism can alter games for one's favorite team or because the person uses sports activities as an ultra-masculine "proving ground" for brawls, as in the case of football hooliganism.

HOLD THE TRAIN!  Yes, I'm a little superstitious when it comes to game day routine, however I am a woman and don't have anything to prove.  I've never picked a brawl and I'm pretty sure I'm not a hooligan.

Who says hooligan anymore anyway?

Being a Rider fan brings the community together.  I've blogged about Labour Day and how my street came alive after the big win.  I've seen two little boys become friends while waiting in line at an event to see Riders and ex-Riders. I've seen friendships form in the supermarket because someone admired the other fans Rider gear.

Those who come together, grieve together.  I will never forget the day after the 2009 Grey Cup.  The day was dull and dreary.  The sullen players had returned home.  Football was over and what was there to look forward to?  There was a hush everywhere I went that day.  I walked into the Fairlight Drive Tim Hortons where everyone was still sitting in shock.  [Except for the guy in the Stampeder jersey.]  There was a soft murmur.  No one wanted to be too loud.  It was then that I professed my love for the Riders even more.  "They need us now more than ever."  I had said.  I said it multiple times that day, holding strong to my beliefs.

It's easy to love a team when they are winning, but when your team has only won 3 championships, can you love them when they don't win too?  And that's what really defines those of us die hard stand out in the rain power goes off Rider loving fanatics.  We love them no matter what and we wear our hearts on our sleeves to prove it.

 

 

All Aboard!

When my iPod alarm went off Monday morning I briefly considered staying in bed.  But when I laid back down and thought about it I just knew I'd regret it I didn't go to see the 100th Grey Cup Train.  So after lounging in bed with a good cup of coffee I got my green on and left the house.

I rationalized that it was a Monday.  It was a school day.  Surely, most people would be at work.

Wrong.

I found a great parking spot and arrived at 10 am on the dot.  I also found I was about 200th in line.  There were two line ups.  One for regular people like me and another for school kids who were arriving by the bus load.  Yes.....I said bus load.

I think I stood in line nearly two hours.  I did think a couple of times that I must be crazy.  I chatted casually with a young family ahead of me.  They brought their two small children who were so great and so well behaved.  Behind me stood an older couple.  A man went through the line traded a loonie for a Grey Cup loonie.  I traded for two.....One for myself and one for my Dad.

A very grainy picture of the Grey Cup with 2 RCMP standing just inside the train.

When the line had advanced about half way there were some announcements.  The Grey Cup was brought to the door of the train and some dignataries made some speeches.  Mayor Don Atchisson said Saskatoon broke the record for greatest turn out.  He was presented with a football.  Then the Grey Cup was taken away by two RCMP dressed in their full red regalia.  

The Autograph Table

There was a tent selling Roughrider and Grey Cup merchandise.  I had lamented that I didn't have anything for anyone to sign.  I bought a red [and it breaks my heart to buy  a red football] 100th Grey Cup mini football.

Shortly passed the tent was a table with ex and current Riders signing anything fans were throwing at them.  I had them sign my football.  There was Al Ford, Wayne Shaw, Scott McHenry, Graig Newman, Kory Sheets & the legendary George Reed.  Ben Heenan had also been there but he was nowhere to be found by the time I reached the autograph table.

The very cool thing was I had asked Kory Sheets to take a picture.  My iPod is less than a week old and I hadn't quite figured out all the operations.  He took it from me because he has "longer arms" he said.  Then he showed me that the buttons on the side also snap the pictures too!  It was very cool.  He was so genuine and nice and of course I think he's even more awesome than I thought before.  Holy Sheets!

Myself and Kory Sheets

 After the autograph table the line was moving faster.  I let another lady stand beside me in line and we got to talking too.  She seemed nice and hadn't been out to other football events.  I liked her character.

1989 Rider GC Ring

 The first car of the train had memorabilia from very early days. One car had the walls lined with stories of memorable Grey Cup games and other inspirational stories.  Another car had all the Grey Cup rings which are HUMONGOUS!!  The coolest car was the one made to look like a player locker room.  Some of the lockers had been signed by players where the train had already passed through.

Once back outside the train there was a booth to try your kicking and a booth from Canada Post selling items to commemorate the 100th year.  A truck was supposed to hold the Grey Cup in which you could have your picture taken, but the cup had already been transported to its next location.

Having taken in as much as I could.....I made my way back to my car.

I arrived home extremely excited and so thankful that I took in the event.  I strongly urge you to go out and see the train when it arrives in your city.  It is well worth it.  My only regret is that the event lasted a short time.  I'd love to see something similar occur again and I would definitely take in the event again!  It was fantastic and memorable.