So, I received a call from Estevan’s mayor last Friday. My first thought was that he was prepared to concede the next civic election to my ownself after reading last Wednesday’s column, or abdicate the throne immediately.
No such luck. He wanted to talk about something else. I’m sure though, he understands what a threat I must be to his stranglehold on the electoral wishes of the local population.
Right, and I’m about to win the Mr. Universe contest.
But enough about politics. Let’s talk football, CFL style.
I have pontificated in this space before about how superior the Canadian game is compared with our American counterparts. They may have slightly better players, but, we have the better game.
The CFL is one truly Canadian sport we can claim as our own without having to share it with the United States. We did give them a shot at it a few decades ago, and it was an unmitigated disaster except for a few fans from Baltimore who “got it,” and fell in love with the CFL. They keep coming back for more.
We get to play our game with our rules and try to win our Grey Cup using some borrowed American players and home-grown talent.
I love every spring and summer when the rookies from the United States arrive in Canadian CFL cities with bemused smiles and not much knowledge about our country and the CFL game as we play it. They end up either tolerating the situation for a year (or less), collect their $60,000 to $100,000 in Canadian paycheques (not paychecks) as promised and get to write the year off as an interesting experience.
Most of these newcomers truly do appreciate the opportunity and the experience of playing here. We share the language, if not the football rules, although the basic concept remains the same. They often look at playing in the CFL as something a lot better than spending a season in some $100 per game arena football league or working at Foot Locker, measuring sneakers for 350 pound guys who have trouble walking, let alone running.
Many of these talented American footballers quickly embrace the Canadian game, as well as our Canadian style and culture. Some even willingly brave a Canadian winter, or two, because they land an off-season job and welcome the chance to meet more Canadian people and absorb more of our lifestyle. Some even decide to stay on a more permanent basis. They earn a bit more cash every year, explore opportunities in business and develop a professional track to take following their football career. They are recognized, appreciated and, yes, even loved by fans because fans know how difficult it was for these players to make the choice to come here, leaving a different lifestyle behind, as well as family. It’s not as if they’re isolated from their “back home” connections, but still, it’s tough. Anyone who has lived away from their home country for more than six months knows of what I speak.
So, as we enter the third week of our current CFL schedule, let’s enjoy the show and appreciate the “visiting” talent on all the teams.
It’s understood, not all these guys are wonderfully good citizen stalwarts. Some have arrived here having come through some hardscrabble living conditions in their background. It’s a steep learning curve. But most of these football visitors we have encountered over the years, are nice guys who like playing the game and meeting people, even as they adapt to the Canadian style of doing these things.
