Life, Football & CFL Family

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 15^th. 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 15^th.

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 15^th 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.

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!