The Little General
It seems only
appropriate that, after the passing of a legendary player, coach, manager and
broadcaster, this article be dedicated to the man known throughout the CFL as “the
Little General”: Ron Lancaster.
He was an example of a guy
who didn't fit the mould of the stereotypical quarterback south of the border.
In the pre-SuperBowl era, before the NFL became the financial juggernaut that
it is, players often preferred to come to Canada.
That he was able to come
here and have the stellar career that he had is proof that you don't need to be
6'4" and built like a house to play quarterback; not in OUR league,
anyway.
Though I am old enough to have
seen him play, I actually never did, since I was not turned onto the CFL until
I was in high school. At that time Don Wittman did the play-by-play and Ron
Lancaster was the analyst on CBC's broadcasts.
My father and I would go to
my grandmother's house, and watch nearly every televised game. Much of what I
now know about football I learned from Lancaster, and to this day I quote
things I heard him say twenty-five years ago.
Part of the entertainment
for me in those days were Ron's bits of wisdom, peppered with the occasional
sarcastic quip, and delivered with that wry smile that always gave you the
impression that he was laughing on the inside.
During his time as a coach
in Edmonton, the Eskimos were my second favourite team. I quickly became a fan
of Danny McManus and Darren Flutie in those days, and was sitting in the snow
cheering on the Esks in the 1996 Grey Cup game as they nearly defeated the
Argonauts.
In 1998, Ron Lancaster
became our head coach. McManus and Flutie joined him, and that began the
longest era of competitive football I had ever seen from the black and gold.
(That's a bit sad, in its own way.)
My father, my grandmother,
and Don Wittman have all passed; and now, too, Ron Lancaster. I suppose it's
all part of getting older, that those we look up to as youngsters move on to
that higher plane, hoping we will take their place and become the ones so
admired by younger generations.
We can only guess whether
they thought themselves to be as inadequate when it was their turn to step into
their heroes' shoes.
But Ron Lancaster will be a hero for many
generations, from those who watched him play, to those who saw him coach, to
those who were touched by the many charities with which he was affiliated.
People who remember him will
speak of him to their children, telling stories of come-from-behind victories
or gutsy calls from the sidelines or speeches made at fundraisers.
He will always be missed.
He will never be forgotten.
Rest in peace, Ron
Lancaster.