Welcome Back CFL

It's been a while.

We've made it.  We've finally made it.  The CFL season is upon us and all the drama of the CBA and pandemic and whatever other crisis seems to be behind us.  I've had a busy spring and lot's of drama of my own so I am more than prepared to dive into this 2022 season of Roughrider football and there's plenty to look forward to after all.

My Saskatchewan Roughriders are hosting the 2022 Grey Cup.  They were originally scheduled to host in 2020 and...well, we all know what happened there.  That certainly doesn't mean they are favourites to win by any means.  In fact, Winnipeg Blue Bomber fans, who have just received replica Grey Cup rings, are licking their chops and calling for a threepeat.  GAG.  Don't get me wrong.  There are a couple really great Blue Bomber fans out there and while I know there are bad fans in every fanbase across the league, there is something about these blue and gold fans that just grate on my last nerve and gets under my skin like no other.

Except Stampeder fans.  Yeah, some of those fan interactions are "fun" too.  I had one last week call me to my face a Gopher Lover.  Well, sir, there is no other team in the CFL I'd rather align myself with other than the Creepy Gainer led green and white.  So yeah, I'm a Gopher Lover.  I wear my pride whenever I can.  I honestly think he was just jealous and likes to try to get a rise out of me.  I did point out his QB threw a number of picks in the Stampeders preseason showing last week.

Anyhow, one fan who is terrific and we lost back in April was Tony Bryce.  Many knew him as AmericanCFLFan on Twitter.  Tony was a lovely man.  He was an Argonauts fan but honestly he just loved CFL football and many things related to Canada including the Blue Jays and Raptors.  He was proud of his Redblacks flag which had his name printed on it and his other CFL gear.  He often said he tried to like the Roughriders but the fans were just too much for him.  Every day Tony would send me a greeting and check up on me and I'd do the same for him.  We shared a friendship across countries and often shared our love of recipes, baking, cooking shows and travel especially to New York City.  I knew back in April when he was suddenly missing that something had gone wrong. I found out he'd suddenly taken ill and passed away.  It's taken me several weeks to put together these words in this blog because even though I never knew him personally I was glad to have come across him on social media.

We've lost a lot these past couple of years.  Some have lost friends and family members.  My family has lost three. There's no doubt the CFL fanbase will have changed.  In our current climate gas prices are constantly increasing and new choices are constantly having to be being made.  I hope I'm wrong but I don't see a lot of sell outs this year and you bet the Roughriders who have a record of sell outs will be criticized for low attendance.  Heck, they already were in preseason.  

Here are the things I'd rather talk about.  Will the Riders have a running game?  How will Andrew Harris perform as an Argo?  Bo Levi wasn't the QB last year who we've seen in the past - will he regain his stature?  How many sacks will surfing Charleston get?  

I'm not into making predictions of who will end up in Regina in November but my little green heart sure hopes it's my Saskatchewan Roughriders.  Let's make it a memorable season.  Let's enjoy the ride.  Even though I won't be at the game Saturday you can bet I will be repping my team Saturday (and most days honestly).  After all, once the CFL season begins there are no other colours in the wardrobe except for green and white. 

As always, Go Riders!