The Eskimos Report

For the first time in a very long time, I left Commonwealth Stadium early last Saturday afternoon.

When Ricky Ray was intercepted with just over 2:00 left to play my friend and I headed for the exit. Not because I was disgusted (although inside I was). Not because of crowd (almost 40,000 fans to watch a last place team). Not because of the weather (the temp stayed under 5 c all afternoon). There was only one reason. I simply could not bear to watch.

I know that sounds terribly dramatic and it probably is. This afternoon at Commonwealth was not so much about the game for me as it was about the streak and the players that gave us so many memories on the way to creating what should be considered as one of the greatest achievements ever by a professional sports franchise. Certainly I watched and cheered and yelled although I chose not to boo on this day. I have in the past, I know it seems hypocritical but I believe as a season ticket holder I believe I have the right to voice my displeasure. As an Eskimos fan I believe I have the right to expect excellence. Why wouldn't I? For 34 years they have found a way to take mediocre teams and make them good at the end of the year, to take good teams and make them great.

I could not muster the boo's on this day, and I couldn't help but notice that very few fans did or could. The effort was there. The breaks weren't. The football gods that came to our rescue so many times were sitting on someone else's shoulders today. Call it sloppy play, bad penalties (although fewer), poor game planning, wrong personnel, bad decision making and on and on. In the end it didn't matter what or why or how, all that mattered was the final score. How fitting that Damon Allen was there to oversee the final nail entering the coffin. He was the player on this day that started the memories parade for me.

He has a special place in Eskimo history. He began his career here. He came off the bench to lead the team to a Grey Cup win. I thought about that on Saturday. I looked at the wall in Commonwealth and saw the names and remembered the players. Warren Moon in Clarke Stadium in his first game as an Eskimo throwing a ball 50 plus yards off his back foot with a flick of his wrist for a touchdown. In my first ever game at Commonwealth a running back named Larry Washington a caught a pass and broke two tackles then ran 40 yards for a touchdown as time expired to give us the win.

Gizmo Williams taking a missed field goal deep in the end zone and taking it the length of the field for a touchdown, then coasting in the end zone and stopping to do his trademark back flip. Brian Kelly catching pass after pass in double coverage or behind the safety then zig zagging as he ran to avoid being caught. He may not have had fast feet, but incredible hands and an unrivalled nose for the ball. George McGowan was just as reliable in the role before Kelly.

Tom Wilkinson and Bruce Lemmerman, Matt Dunigan and Tracy Ham. Jim Germany and Reggie Taylor, Angelo Santucci and Neal Lumsden, Dan Keply and Dan Bass, James Parker and Dave Fennell are just a scant few of the names that rolled off the brain and down memory trail that afternoon. Who can forget the tragic end of a career as they carried James Bell off the field with a neck injury. With all these memories and all this tradition I began to wonder why anyone was that upset about the streak ending.

Sure it was a great achievement, but the enduring quality of this team is the players that have performed here past, present and future. It is the legions of fans who faithfully support the team and have been rewarded with numerous championships. It's a first class organization from top to bottom that set the standard for how things should be done in the CFL. Not just simply a playoff streak, but an integral part of the community and a way of life in Edmonton.

So on Oct 27 I'm going to take a Rider fan to game, the last one of the season. I'm going to wear my green and gold. The streak will be stowed away with the memories, never to be forgotten but rather cherished and talked about with pride. Forty thousand of us will try to out cheer the Rider fans (which is never easy, they just don't quit). I'll have bratwurst with sauerkraut and some beers. I'll buy 50/50 tickets, sing the national anthem and the Eskimo fight song. I'll visit with the fans that sit beside and around me and high five everyone when the Esks score. And I'll think to myself, this is what Eskimo football is all about and it's all good. Go Esks!

Cheers