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| View from the CN Tower |
Two
months ago around this time I was getting ready to fly off to Toronto
not only for a football game but for my husband's eye surgery. It
was cheaper to fly out of Saskatoon on a Saturday so it was a big
perk that my Saskatchewan Roughriders were playing the Toronto
Argonauts at BMO Field October 15th. This is my story of
life, football and the CFL family.
Hubby,
who mostly prefers to remain anonymous on my blog and social media,
was born with pupils which were formed more tear drop shaped instead
of round. This distorted his vision in his one good eye as the sight
was lost in the other. At some time a cataract formed distorting and
discolouring everything. To complicate the situation Hubby has
glaucoma and fewer tendons than you or I. He was referred to Dr Ike
Ahmed in Mississauga who we were told “is a rockstar” and could
do surgery to correct the pupil, remove the cataract and do a
procedure to eliminate the glaucoma. Dr. Ahmed grew up in Prince
Albert Saskatchewan. He said he knew our case was special because of
where we were from. Surgery was booked for October 19 and Hubby and
I flew off on October 15th.
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| Hubby outside BMO Field |
We
arrived in the 6ix with plenty of extra time. We rented a Volkswagon
Jetta and drove to BMO Field. I was amazed at the parking. If you
were coming from anywhere else the GO Train stop was right there.
You'd almost never know a game was going to take place and the
stadium was rather deserted except for the sound of a band
practicing. We threw on our Rider jerseys and took a walk around BMO
Field meeting a few other fans who were doing a similar thing. Then
we wandered over to the Shipyard where the Riders were doing a
tailgating fan fest type of thing. It was disappointing. Other Rider
fans were there but besides a DJ playing music and games for the
kiddies not much was really happening. We spent $9 on a “rink
burger” and took in the sights from a park bench. I was wearing my
306 hat and at one point a lady came and asked me where I had bought
it. With not much really happening we decided to leave but just
beyond the gate I heard my name being called by the lovely @jfeliciao
who introduced us to @TOBenfica.
I
wish I had picture to prove it. * eyeroll * I guess that's what
leaving home at 3am gets you!
Upon
entering BMO Field we were greeted by an usher. He congratulated us
on the construction of New Mosaic Stadium and asked how this one
compares. BMO Field is a great venue! It's beautiful! I didn't
even care that the field isn't painted because of the soccer turf.
We sat on the non-bench side Row 2 right on the 55 yard line.
Terrific seats except for the crazy blue seats on field level which
don't really seem to have a function except take up valuable sideline
space.
We
met a couple seated beside us who drove from Kingston. I wish I had
caught their names but I didn't. They were so friendly and we had
fun chatting back and forth. They admitted they were casual fans and
didn't follow the team or football really. We explained how we flew
from Saskatchewan and they were surprised that we'd even come to a
football game. I mentioned that we travel 2 hours each way to go to
Roughriders home games and they were floored because as we all know
the turn out at Argo's games is rather dismal. “There's so much
going on here on any given day.” The lady talked. She said how
during one game there had been a baseball game, a concert and other
events going on. It's an aspect I truly hadn't though very much
about. In Saskie, when we mention 'going to the game' we all know
its a Rider game but in Toronto they have no idea what you're talking
about. The following week while the Blue Jays were playing I
overheard two people on the GO Train wondering why people were decked
out in Jays gear. This is the kind of city Toronto is. I would like
to hope if marketing was done properly or at all the hype to go to a
football game would be there and sadly it takes a whole lot more than
just a winning record. The players on the Argonauts deserve better
from the people of Toronto.
“Who
is your back up quarterback?” I asked.
“I
don't know. I don't follow the team. We are just here for fun.”
Guess
what? The Roughriders won! October 15th was the only
football game I saw my team win in person and I had to travel across
Canada to see it happen. Darian #SignDurant Durant was on fire. Joe
McKnight busted out of no where. WE HAVE A RUNNING GAME! I
exclaimed. I saw the likes of Willy Jefferson who made my knees
weak. Wow. This team on this day was incredible. Riders won 29 –
11. Joe Craig Jr returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown, Ricky
Collins made a crazy one handed catch and Joe McKnight rushed for 150
yards. This team....I loved this team.
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| McKnight lines up behind Durant |
I
love this league and the fans who support it. I've made friends with
people who live everywhere in this nation and some outside of it with
the common denominator being the CFL. I asked for prayers during
Hubby's surgery and got support from a myriad of incredible people
from directions, places to eat and one special person was horrified
we had been eating out and wanted to cook us a meal which
unfortunately didn't come to fruition due to scheduling. I want all
of you to know that you made our process easier and I so very much
appreciate all the support. Our prayers were answered and Hubby's
surgery was an amazing success. Dr. Ahmed said we got the best
outcome out of his patients that day and that Hubby's sight would
only get better, so much so, it would be mind blowing. It could have
been very different outcome and we had tried to prepare ourselves for
anything. Our lives were changed for the better. It was miraculous.
I am so thankful and we are so blessed.
Who
would have thought years ago when I got involved with fandom of the
Roughriders I would have found a community?! My People. We
are like family who argue but don't you dare insult my sister! We
are hard on each other being fans of different teams in the CFL but
in the end we all come together. Sometimes it's for a celebration
like the Grey Cup and other times it's mourning the heartbreaking
untimely death of a player like Joe McKnight.
The
Christmas season is upon us. It's the season of love, hope and
peace. For everyone who was there for me I wish you togetherness,
magic, wonder and more warm fuzzies than your heart can hold.
Merry
Christmas, Happy 2017 and Go Riders Go!
