Winding Down

As of November 4th, the 2011 edition of the Toronto Argonauts comes to a close. I remember past seasons, being a part of the locker room when the season ended too soon. When you are eliminated from a playoff game, all you can think about are the "what ifs" "should haves" "could haves". It wasn't too long ago, this past May, when I spoke with a bunch of our current players and could feel the optimism going into this season. I feel their disappointment now and can understand it from my past. For me the early endings I experienced on the sidelines came in 1985, 1989, 1992 and 1995. Of those, the most memorable for me was the 1992 season when we were eliminated from contention of the playoffs and a bunch of us, including our owner at the time, John Candy, talked about the disappointment and the bright future that potentially lay ahead of us. It was a memorable evening having a few chuckles despite the outcome. That would be the last time many of us would get a chance to laugh with John Candy, as he passed away in 1993.

Ever since my transfer to the community relations department, the early season end comes with mixed emotions, as I now plan for the next important season, which takes place in the schools: my work to help prevent bullying. The questions always exists, "who will be back next season?" "what free agents will remain with the Double Blue" or specifically for me "who will stay in Toronto this off season and be a part of the Huddle Up Program?"

I hope to keep you all intrigued with the various stories that both myself and the Argonauts players will experience this off season. But one thing I can guarantee is that the issue of bullying seems to escalate every day and we have a big hill to climb in order to make a difference. Rest assured, I am one person who is doing everything I can to make sure kids in my community don't have to experience what I went through during my time in high school. And believe it or not, one person can make a difference. But there is power in numbers and we need all the help we can get.

The Follow Up

First, Thanks to everyone who read my last blog and commented. It was great to see that this writing isn't just for my self amusement. So in case some of you don't follow the Toronto Argonauts, we played the "Think Pink" game and on the field it wasn't a great success as the team lost 31-24 to the Edmonton Eskimos, however it was definitely a see of pink. It was actually quite symbolic the way the team lost. Down 31-3 in the third quarter things were bleak and the stadium had already started to empty. Then things changed, call it a collapse of the Eskimos if you'd like but there are always two teams on the field and rather than letting the Eskimos finish them off, the Double Blue made a fight of it. They fought back from a 31-3 deficit to fall one play short of tying it. This is very similar to the battle one fights against this horrible disease. Many people diagnosed with this disease can simply let it take over, however I know all the people that have survived or succumbed to the disease never let it take over their lives. Fighting until the end. For all those fans that attended the game, Thanks for your support. For me, I did what I used to do a long time ago. I looked up to section 212 to imagine my parents sitting in their seats give me a wave of approval for the job we did on and off the field. Fittingly there was my moms name just beside the section. As the comment to my blog said,there are always angels watching over me.

In less than a week I will be participating in Movember and yes I'll be asked whats with the moustache, or told "looks like you have more hair on your face than on your head", "you look like an adult movie star". Despite this I will start a new form of support to help those battling prostate cancer.

My next blog I'll chat about my trips to high school football practice where I realized why I do what I do.

A battle of the ages

I submitted the following post to go on the Argonauts Community Corner, however with all the content occuring it may not go up so my hope to have people read it here for now.


It was 2003 and here in Argo land financial difficulty saw a reduction in staff. I couldn’t believe that after almost 20 years I was almost unemployed. This wasn’t the only thing my family was dealing with that summer. My mother had gone through treatment for her bout with breast cancer and it appeared as though she was in remission. November we were playoff bound to Montreal for the East Final. I was there as the mascot and very excited because it was a Cinderella story in the making. Our dreams were demolished as a last second fumble was not called and the Als were Grey Cup bound. Just before I boarded the train home, I made a phone call home and heard something that made the loss miniscule compared to what my family would deal with for the remainder of the off season. While I was away my mom was rushed to the hospital and my mom’s cancer was back and had spread. It didn’t look good. I tried to be strong on the 5 ½ hour train ride home. That year, I was also asked to work at the Grey Cup in Regina. The people at the CFL during that year had said they understood if I couldn’t make it but my mom insisted I go because the Argos and the CFL meant as much to her as much as it meant to me. My sister and I shared the moments with my mom taking her to her treatments as my dad had passed away 4 years earlier. My sister and I had each other and that was what we needed to help us through everything. The Toronto Argonauts organization was classy enough to tell me that I can take as much time off as needed to be with my mom. I continued to do the Huddle Up program to take my mind off the situation and on April 1, 2004 my mom lost her battle to cancer. Then that following September, my wife’s sister-in-law lost her battle to Breast Cancer at a young age and left behind a husband and 2 year old daughter. I knew that there are many people that fight this fight with Cancer and share similar stories to what I shared. That’s why today’s game is so special to me and many people involved with the game. I can understand what Taylor Robertson, Wes Lysack and Kevin Huntley went through when someone close to them lost their battle. I commend everyone that helps support those in need. Everyone who is going through this dreadful disease whether they are fighting the battle themselves or they are family of people that are fighting it, needs support from everyone that’s why this is somewhat of a call out for all the fans out there to not only buy a ticket for tonight’s game but to wear pink and support the survivors, the people that are battling and those that have lost the battle. Understand that Friday’s game is not only about a battle on a field.
I know that my mom is looking down on today's game with my dad beside her and somewhat proud of cheering for the team and seeing how they are giving back.

“Make your passion your Life and No one can take that away.