Today was the official Grey Cup winning team’s parade right here in Montreal. Yes, the Alouettes became the second, Montreal based, Professional sports team to win their respective leagues championship. Many of you may wonder why I haven’t talk about The Alouettes at all this season even with Football being my favourite sport, my answer to that is… If you follow the CFL at all you’ll know that practically every year since like 2000, if not even before, actually almost every year since the team came back in the league in 96, they have been at the top of the league’s regular season standings; but has failed several times to actually win the championship. The team’s last grey cup win was in 02 but up until this past November 29th 2009 the team had lost in 4 Grey cup appearances (03, 05, 06, 08) gaining comparisons to the Buffalo Bills (NFL) who lost the Super Bowl in 4 straight years. With last years devastating lost right here in Montreal to the Calgary Stampeters in the Grey cup, I promised myself that I would not speak of the Alouettes until they WON a grey cup. (all while following their every step) It’s as if, every year, they had an outstanding regular season record (this year being 15 wins and 3 losses) but “choked” at the end, I felt like I was jinxing them by always putting them to win the Grey Cup and maybe, just maybe by not talking about them they’d win… well looks like I was right, therefore it’s because of me they won this year!! I joke, I joke.
With all that being said I could now talk about the Grey Cup win… Once the game started, I was feeling very nervous and rightfully so, the team started off the game exactly like every other Grey cup loss, falling behind early and not playing to their potential… Loosing 20 to 10 entering the 4th and final quarter, then being behind 27 to 10 it looked like it was all over, but the team’s leaders finally woke up and took over. With 10 seconds left to the game we were behind 27 to 25 and needed a few completions to get into field goal range, Calvillo, playing a brilliant 4th quarter, did what he needed to do and brought his team into Damon Duval’s field goal range. With only time for a kick to secure a well awaited Grey Cup win, Duval’s kick swirled wide right and Saskatchewan celebrated an “at the moment” win. But WAIT… there’s a flag on the field, THER A FLAG ON THE FIELD. The Roughriders are called for too many men on the field, we get a second chance to redeem ourselves and ACTUALLY kick the winning field goal. It’s good, IT’S GOOD!! WE WIN!! WE WIN!!
Notice the caps?!
That’s how I felt when the Alouettes won that game. Now, many may say that they would have preferred to see the Als win by a big margin like they had in the regular season but to me, I appreciated their comeback 1000% more, it showed me how resilient the team is and how never NEVER to give up. I give credit to the WHOLE team for fighting off the temptation to abandon their hopes of winning, trust me it’s not an easy thing to accomplish; only a solid and well coached team can do.
So with the Monkey finally off Calvillo’s back and him stating a comeback next season lest espier to another championship in 2010!!
what a game!!
Sidebar: just 2 more things about the Als,
1: I’d like to personally congratulate Danny Desriveaux, Shawn Mayne and Luc Jourdain-Brodeur, 3 personal friends of mine, guys whom I played with, went to school with and also played against, 3 guys who are role models and whom I’m very proud of, I’d also like to congratulate Étienne Boulay whom I’m not as close with but know through a friend of mine… Étienne THANK YOU for that fumble recovery!!!!!!
2: Ant his is not only towards the Als but, what’s up with everyone doing their Victory Parade in the middle of the week and in the middle of a work day??? Do you guys realize how many people have a day job and can’t make it there? It would be nice for us and also yourselves if you did it on a weekend where even MORE people can come out and celebrate…
