I Don't Even Know You Anymore

 Everyone has one.

No, not that!  An opinion, silly!  Yes, everyone across the CFL has big time opinions on the last round of CFL games and especially what happened in the Roughriders Redblacks game.

What happened you ask?  Well, if you're the one soul who doesn't know and hasn't chimed in here is what happened.  Very late in the game Garrett Marino tackled Jeremiah Masoli low and chaos ensued.

I'm not here to rehash everything because I'm sure you can cruise the internets and find everything out.  It was the twist.  It was the celebration.  It was previous plays.  It was the history.  Blah blah blah.  Regardless of what it was and how you viewed it - it happened.  There's nothing we can do about any of it.

It's in the leagues hands now.

...which, by the way, they seem much more anxious to assess the situation than a few others - "ahem, cough cough Simoni cough cough".

I admit, personally, my initial reaction was one of  "ohmygoodness, he needs to be gone" but after some time the shock wore off and after a few days I've evolved.  I really don't want Garrett Marino gone from the Roughriders team.  I never want to see someone lose their job.  I will never advocate for that unless they've been caught doing something illegal.  Now, if you're looking for people to be reasonable social media isn't the place to see it.  I know that.  The outpouring of pure rage though is mind blowing.  I've called it a witch hunt on ABC Rider Fans because I really don't know another way to label it.  I've seen Hamilton TigerCats fans delving into college social media accounts and sharing things about previous behavior.  I've seen Jeremiah Masoli's mother posting what could almost be seen as threats.  I've seen Farhan Lalji reporting and in my opinion, leading the mob on the subject.  Anyone who dares to even show a shred of Roughriders support, we/they are immediately shut down.  No one wants to hear another perspective.  There's only support for suspensions, firings, fines, bans etc etc.

Like what the heck?  

I don't even know this CFL fanbase anymore.

I especially don't know Rider Nation anymore.

I really don't understand how or why things have changed so drastically.  The fanbase I used to know went to bat for it's players.  We defended them.  We weren't the ones leading the charge to get them released.  Maybe you find that stance foreign and so be it if you don't like what I'm saying but if we don't support our own players on our own team who is going to do it?!  Other players have come out in support and it's highly unlikely they would if the allegations are true.  Why is everyone so quick to call it all lies?  Nothing is to be believed anymore.  It's sad.  Very very sad.

I'm just a girl over here writing a blog.  I drink tea.  I love music.  I watch football every week.  I don't expect you to agree.  I don't expect a following.  What I'm asking of everyone is to be fair and reasonable in their assessment of the Roughriders and Garrett Marino.  We are messing with someone's livelihood here so please, check your emotions and words.  A raving lunatic on social media is no different than a player pumping the air as he's escorted from the stadium or a CFL Head Coach storming the bench of the opposition.  

Guess what?  Social media isn't real life and even though I'm administrator of a really great Facebook group I know fully well that the people working today and shopping today don't care about this at all.  Let's hope we can all move on and put this behind us as well because there will no doubt be something new to be outraged about by Friday.