PLAYOFFS!!!!!!!! Remembering the last East Final against the Tabbies

The year was 1986 I had began working for the Toronto Argonauts a year earlier and coming off a 3-15 I was only able to imagine what it must be like to be apart of a Grey Cup bound team. We were in the Eastern Finals in what was going to be a two game total point series between us and the Hamilton Tiger Cats. Game one would take place in Hamilton because we finished the season ahead of them with a 10 and 8 record to their 9-8 and 1 record.

Going into Ivor Wynne was not fun at all because previously that year on October 26 we lost 20-10. However, it was different now. We had first year Argo Willie Pless, Darrell K. Smith and veterans like Carl Brazely, Chris Schultz, Condredge Holloway, J.C. Watts, Rodney Harding and Kelvin Pruenster. I know I missed a heck of alot more but to save space we'll leave it at that.

Amidst the chants,"Argos Suck, Argos Suck", I could hear our player introductions and as our offence took the field I knew it was gonna be a good one. Then a mannequin dressed as an Argo player with a helmet and blue jersey drops in the endzone directly above our locker room. Followed by a sign that fans place above saying"Losers".

Then the large cheer indicating that the Tiger Cats were on their way out. "Grover Covington". I cringed. Here we go I thought. At least we'll have a home game for redemption but to my surprise we were victorious 20-10.

A week later on November 23, 1986 in front of an exhibition stadium crowd over 32,000, Mike Kerrigan led the Tiger Cats to a 42-25 victory over my beloved Argos. In shock we looked at the scoreboard realizing that we lost the two game total point series 59-56. Hamilton would go on to win the Grey Cup that year against the Edmonton Eskimos.

Its different this time, no chance for redemption until July of 2011. The loser packs up their lockers while the victor boards a Via train for Montreal.

That day in the Argo locker room I had two first time experiences, my first playoff loss and the first time seeing a football player in tears. As I cleaned the locker room I realized that my sadness that day was responsible because of those dreaded Tabbies and I knew that I wasn't the only one that felt that way.

Here's to hoping that the 2010 Toronto Argonauts understand the passion that goes behind Sunday's match up. The history the number of times we have suffered to the chants"Argos Suck" and the sacrifice the many have made to lose on labour day so that this year, on November 14, 2010 at Ivor Wynne stadium likely in front of a sell out, we, the double blue and the boatmen will be victorious and complete the second of a four game winning streak to add another page into the memories of Argo fans and staff like myself.

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

Proud Moments

Last Friday prior to the disappointing loss to the Alouettes, I was fortunate enough to be honoured at my high school to be named on the Runnymede Wall of Fame. It was truly a rewarding experience but it allowed me to reflect on a few past times when I was proud at the Argonauts and vice versa.

I reflect back to the summer of 95. Actually, back to the November of 88. The Argos players, seeing how I needed funds to carry on to University, collected money to pay for my first year. They presented me with a cheque and said that I had to graduate and show them the paper when I got it. So speed forward to the summer of '95 when the team stopped practice just to see that piece of paper I promised them. The applause was all the inspiration I needed to know they were with me every step of my University career. I feel as though all the players and staff that have been a part of my success with programs and other things are with me every step of the way.

When I finally arrived at the Rogers Centre to see the team make a great effort to almost beating the Als, I ran into Michael Clemons outside one of the suites. When I told him of my induction he was disappointed that he wasn't aware which made me feel a little more special than just a co worker, but I have never been just a co worker anyways. It was an honour to hear how this was regarded by Michael and in hindsight I should have told him but it was one of those things that I decided to be humble about rather than shout out. I suppose these moments that make me proud are partly because I have spent more than half my life with 75-100 older brothers and sisters that are new every year.

Read my next blog when I recap the Level The Playing Field program.

A Plan

Recently we all discussed plans for the upcoming year and as I thought about what sorts of community plans I would like to implement I thought about the structure of a plan in comparison to life. Back in February on Community Corner, on a ride to Angus Ontario, Jason Shivers and I discussed how life is like making a business plan. We all have Goals, Key Objectives and throughout life we take on a variety of tactics to accomplish these goals or objectives. However,the question I wonder is why is it that we arent viewed as successful when we may fall just short of our goals or objectives.

After a pep rally at one of the Level the Playing Field schools, Thistletown Collegiate, I had the pleasure of driving both Cory Boyd and Anthony Aldridge home from the school. We talked about a young person we ran into at the school that was dejected and not so successful at school. He was viewed unsuccessful because expectations were not met. Cory explained that sometimes when we fall short of a goal, because the goal isnt easily reached because of higher expectations we deterimine our plan to be more of a failure than success. However, to get to that goal we have had a journey, to which we have experineced things that we may not have experienced without trying for a goal new experiences should be viewed as a success. If we learn to appreciate the journey more than the destination then we will likely live our lives with very few regrets.

I actually took note of that and undestood that everyday is an adventure. Whether or not I accomplish a task or not, I will learn to appreciate the things we take for granted the most, the road to the goal.

Next blog I will chat about a humbling experience that made the sport of football seem so miniscule to the game of life.

Off to Camp

To those who read my last Blog, Thank you. Don't be afraid to comment on some of the things you read. I like to hear what you think. You will recall that instead of making the trip to Moncton with a majority of the team, myself and members of the Community team made our way to Parry Sound, specifically for the Tim Hortons Camp. The drive up with stops and all took about 8 hours but was enjoyable nonetheless.

Once we arrived we were greeted by the a few of the lead camp personnel, who on a first impression, were quite enthusiastic. We discussed the routine for the weekend and my thought was that for three high school football teams from Scarborough, Rexdale and Wilson heights area we were in for a ride for sure. Just speaking with the coaches on the buses telling us how restless they were made me think that this would be very hard to keep them entertained and well behaved. Even after the first team arrived I knew that I had to talk rules but in a motivational way or we could lose them for the weekend.

As the weekend went on with team building activities, we experienced the odd inner team scuffle but followed by team applause and the odd player coming to a revelation that he or she is lucky to have the opportunity to not only play football but to do it with an assortment of school mates. This was such a new experience for some that when served breakfast made up of sausages and scrambled eggs, they referred to it as a "rich person's" food.

The weekend was capped off with the Argos game on TV, however ending in dissappointment was still just a small part of the bigger picture. That picture was that of the Argonauts and Tim Hortons bringing football and more than just the sport to three schools who's players will have memories that last a lifetime.

My next Blog I will chat about something that Ive been through a number of times but this time it feels different. Our Company plan.

Thanks for reading

Bitter Sweet

This weekend the Argonauts make their second trip to the Atlantic Coast. The hope of expanding the CFL coast to coast is not far from a reality. For that I am quite excited, however many people in the Argonauts' front office made the trip out east while some of us stayed behind. This is what made me feel excluded. A feeling I can only compare to a time in the late 80's when our rebuilding team was heading out to BC to play in a Grey Cup against the Edmonton Eskimos. I stood around watching the team pack and even assisted in the packing but knew I wasn't going or so it seemed. I planned to work on my homework and while I was preparing to watch the team during the weekend, my family knew that the team had made a collection to get me out to BC for the weekend. My family couldn't keep it from me because they wanted me to finish my homework before Friday and pack my luggage. The cat was out of the bag but thanks to the Air Canada union, all flights out of Toronto were grounded due to a workers strike. The trip would never be.

This week as I watched everyone prepare for the trip and talk about the community events that would be happening in Moncton(a position that I manage, I couldn't help but feeling left out, especially hearing about a "team dinner" that I and some others would not attend.

As sad as that was there is a good reason that I'm not going. It's to be a part of a community occurrence just North of Toronto for an important program. This weekend Tim Hortons has arranged to have the three new football teams added through the teamwork of the Argonauts and Tim Hortons, to go to their camp in Parry Sound. It is here that we will be spending time with the players and coaches to develop teamwork and camaraderie between the players and the Argonauts. On Sunday we will all watch the Boatmen take on the Eskies on TV. So although I may have felt as though I wasn't part of the team going to Moncton, it is all for the greater good of helping youth share in an experience they will long remember for years to come.

Read the next blog to see just what went on this weekend in Parry Sound.

A Loss but AWin Evens Out

You might be thinking, what in the world does that mean. In the world of Jason Colero, Community Relations Manager yes the last game the team played was a loss, but today September 15th we brought a smile to about 150 students grades 9-12 and if you ask them if the team they met today are known as losers, right now they would tell you not in a million years. Today we brought joy to the students at Sir Robert l. Borden, Thistletown Collegiate and Downsview Secondary school by bringing their football team back after almost 30 years for a couple of the schools. As I scrambled around to make sure the microphone was working, the inflatables looked good and there were enough media that wanted to hear, I had to stop and realize why I was part of this. It came to me when one of the players that was dressed in clothing that would make some people believe he was up to nothing positive, or as some refer to it as a "gangsta" look, came up to me and simply shook my hand and said thanks. Who kows what went through his head when he saw me running frantically to make sure we had everyone ready for a jersey presentation. At the end of the day, whether its a 350 lb intimidating Defensive lineman from the Toronto Argonauts, or a tough looking grade 10 high school football player, the sport of football is one that has people from any walk of life playing on a team for a common goal. These kids surely get it and they know that our guys also get it. Today our one vision became one shared by many and now my fun begins at seeing the rewards of our labours.

Labour Day Classic or Massacre

If you are reading this blog you were directed here from the Community Corner Blog on the argonauts site. I spoke about the truly nice things that we shared with those rivals down the QEW. just less than a week from now is the most exciting time in the CFL season. Labour Day. For most kids, summer was coming to an end and Labour Day was sad because it was the last day of summer, last day of the CNE and the day when the Jerry Lewis Telethon covered TV and it was time to get back to a regular sleep schedule heading back to school. For me it was quite different, I was excited because it wa the midpoint of the season but more importantly as a youngster and ball boy it was my road trip to Ivor Wynne Stadium. Yes it was only an hour or so down the QEW but to me it was a chance to experience an away game. Probably in a place where the Double Blue were hated the most. At the age of 15 I was lucky to experience the way the Tiger Cat fans expressed their true feelings about us in two words,"ARGOS SUCK".

The beginning of the day was highlighted by our entrance into the visitors dressing room to unpack. Things have changed but we were lucky enough to have a few oscillating fans keeping us cool in a hot and humid room. We put the Defence in a room in the far back while the Offence was lucky enough to be close to the equipment staff. After all the O-line saw that as an advantage beacsue they used to drink coffee by the pot before a game. As soon as we were set up it was lunch time. We would have to trek down Balsam Ave to the local McDonalds where we actually were given dirty looks. Sheesh talk about customer service, oh yeah we had our team golf shirt on. I was still proud and wouldnt take it off for no one. As soon as we finished our lunch and had time to toss the ball for a little until the offensive lineman arrived early. The gametime was set for 7:30 onmost Labour Days. As soon as the team bus would arrive from the CNE stadium, it would become quite the intense battle. I would be so pumped up. It was 1987 and going into the game we had a bit of a slump and needed a turning point in a hurry. The action was a little lopsided in the first half and the "Argos Suck" echoed the stadium. Including a few items thrown down at us. Fast forward to the last play on the game. Gilbert Renfroe heroically scored a TD with no time on the clock to win the game and begin our quest. We managed to use that as a catapult into a few more wins eventually making an unexpected appearance at the Grey Cup. Both teams went into that Labour Day game somewhat evenly matched but one team came out on top as the hero. Labour day games were filled with intensity on and off the field. Regardless, thats only one of my fondest memories at Ivor Wynne. There are many more but the other day I had thought about the notion that the Ticats may leave the city of Hamilton. This for me was disturbing as I'm sure it is for the many fans that share memories of the labour day match up in Hamilton. It wont be the same anywhere else. I hope to see more memories formed in Hamilton.