Grey Cup uniquely Canadian and should be embraced

It was the great Dick Beddoes who coined it the Grand National Drunk, if memory serves.

And that’s quite okay with me.

The Grey Cup and its inherent celebration is something that’s uniquely Canadian – you don’t see horses plodding through some Champions League or Super Bowl hotel lobby – and since we have precious few things that are truly and uniquely Canadian, why not celebrate it with as much fervor as you want.

I know there will be Toronto snobs who pay scant attention to the game, its festival, its parties and I’m not sure anyone should are about that.

Yes, it may get lost in the big city, seen as some kind of annoyance where a bunch of hillbillies from the prairies and Alberta – and Hamilton – invade the city, cause disruptions along the southern downtown corridor but, you know what?

Let them have their day and, frankly, I think some of the tighter butts around the city could probably use a dose of fun for no other reason that to have some fun.

The horse?

The horse is cool, it’s funny, it’s something of a Canadian sports tradition and give me a list of five others, if you can.

I’ve been to a bunch of these things to chronicle them – in Ottawa and Toronto and Hamilton, Winnipeg and Calgary – and they’ve been a blast. It’s always been genuine fun and what’s wrong with that? And it’s been that way forever.

It’s the Mud Bowl and Prime Ministers doing the kickoff -- and if some dopey politician shows up in blue jeans standing next to a uniformed member of our armed forces Sunday, there’s going to be hell to pay.

It’s horses in hotel lobbies and the Spirit of Edmonton room – and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like the day iconic Edmonton columnist Terry Jones and I walked into the room in downtown Hamilton hotel some time in the early-1990s. You couldn’t move, it was that packed, but once the crowd caught sight of Jonesy, we had two prime seats at the bar and couldn’t spend a dime of our money; that’s a writer with some juice.

It’s the Fog Bowl and double pass interference – whatever the hell that is – and the Calgary Pancake Breakfast, even if you don’t like pancakes.

Know what it should be?

A parade.

Remember the Grey Cup parade? It’s gone the way of the dodo bird here, I’m afraid, and they should bring it back the next time it's in Toronto. That'd be very cool.

And Miss Grey Cup.

They should bring that back, too.

Grey Cup is Canadian sport and the celebration of it in its purist form.

Embrace it.

(And if you see me hanging around some place in the convention centre or on Front Street this afternoon or evening trying to figure out how to file to this live blog thing we’re doing, say hello)

-

Yes, I was able to see some NFL stuff yesterday and I’m not that big a fan of the game so it doesn’t really matter who won the games.

But Kenny Chesney killed Kid Rock in the halftime thing, I’d say.

So, how can you not like a song called She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy!!!!

-

Since there’s an equine feel to the day:

Horse walks in the bar. Bartender says:

“Hey, what’s with the long face?”

(Admit it, you laughed)

-

The Raptors?

Well, a bunch of ‘em took in a football game in Detroit yesterday, I’m told. Other than that, a day off was probably needed and most welcome and a chance to catch their breath a bit.

So, in other words, no news although I cannot wait for the Terrence Ross-Andre Drummond junk to start later on this evening; thankfully Not Grace Kelly will be there to deal with it, I’ll be connecting with my inner Canadianism.

-

Still with the Raptors …

Not sure this appeases anyone enough but the NBA has admitted the refs blew the last-second call on the Bargnani shot the other night in Charlotte.

Don’t know what repercussions there will be for the three officials other than censure from their bosses and there’s no more recourse for the Raptors.

Does it make anyone feel any better? Didn’t think so. It’s a flawed process but it’s the only one they’ve got.

-

I think only in America, where nothing succeeds like excess, would so many places start Black Friday sales on Thursday.

Now, I don’t get this whole “line up for sales thing and fight off other shoppers” stuff at all; not sure it’s worth the hassle or the wait, to tell you the truth.

That could just be my natural dislike of people and crowds but the very last thing I’d want to do on some holiday is battle others for some electronics or clothing.

Isn’t the idea of holidays to relax and enjoy them? What enjoyment is there in struggling through jam-packed stores?

Sorry, I just don’t get it.

-

Oh yeah, one last call for mail; no clue when I might do it but …

Click. Write. Send.

-

 

 

 

Comments

[Ken B]

Doug: Canadian Sports traditions..... Racoon skin coats in Ivor Wynn; Cowbells in curling; Tim Hortons coffee at hockey practice; Chunks of snow for goalposts when playing roadhockey; The "May Run" (at least in Northern Ontario) when locals head off into the bush for the long weekend in May to celebrate the opening of walleye season. ..... As for the blown call, I have to agree with the majority of posters, the refs have been atrocious.

[nasko]

I think the Raps need a few more shots from their starting point guard. I mean, he was so hot shooting close to 30% from the floor. Why not force some more shots?

[MauryFinkelstein]

Read a few lines of the *wretchedly searching for the Grey Cup good times and hijinx* until you, yet again, said how you (hearted) something.

I've held off on this but I can't any longer.The (hearting) this and (hearting) that is so sadly and depressingly 2005. It had gotten old (really old) before you ever used it the first time. Now, it's just embarrassing. Please stop it. (No offense. But christ Doug…)