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You are here: Home / Archives for Grey Cup 2009

Our League, Our Passion, Grey Cup Brings Us Together

December 2, 2009 By Brian Wawryshyn

When you attend Grey Cup, there is one thing that becomes crystal clear. The fans that attend this celebration of the CFL care deeply about this league, and the Grey Cup brings fans from all parts of Canada together like no other event in our country.

Much is made of the parties but in the years I have attended, the best part of Grey Cup has been the people I have met and look forward to seeing every year. The game itself really becomes secondary unless your team is playing. There is so much to do during the week, it’s tough to see everyone you would like to or attend all the events because there just isn’t enough time.

I had some friends in Calgary that were basically experiencing their first Grey Cup. They couldn’t believe the extent that the fans went to show their support for their teams, the costumes, the parties and the ranges in age of the participants, many having attended decades of Grey Cups.


Brewster (Left) and Timbo
Brewster (Left) and Timbo - Photo: Brent Shule


For me, there is no one that exudes the passion for Grey Cup week more than my friend Bruce Findley from Ottawa. Bruce has seen his team fold, come back and fold again. But his passion for the CFL never waivers. Oh sorry, Bruce would correct me buy making sure I know it should be the CANADIAN Football League. Bruce or “Brewster” recently retired and considers his many CFL friends family and he looks forward to this week more than anyone I know. His nephew Tim aka “Timbo” and he have more energy than any Grey Cup goers I know and they dance from early afternoon to late at night, hitting as many parties as they can in the process. On game day, Bruce and his nephew choose a team to cheer for and they paint their faces for that team, and he always makes sure there is a Canadian flag somewhere as well. He talks about his family, and how “they know” what this week means to him.

The state of the league address by commissioner Mark Cohon was a huge hit and a highlight for me. It  proved how much the hardcore CFL fan cares about this game and the league. The questions were well thought out and the commissioner seems to share the same passion as those fans. He’s accessible, he understands that the fans are the lifeblood of the CFL.


gc09_game_41
Rider Pride - Photo: BCLionsDen.ca


There is no doubt that when Saskatchewan is in the game, Grey Cup week takes on a whole new feel. Calgary turned green during Grey Cup week as Rider Nation took over the city. The passion that Rider fans show for the team is an impressive site and as a Lions fan I wish we had that passion in BC. Watching a city and a whole stadium turn green for a national championship was amazing. It was the same in Toronto in 2007 and you can be sure that Rider fans are already counting the days to the 2010 season to begin. 800 Rider fans showed up at the airport to greet the team after their crushing loss. 100 turned out to see the champs in Montreal, although the parade that followed had an impressive turnout.

Overall Calgary put on a great party and the hospitality was appreciated. The game was fantastic, and the ending will go down as one of the classics in Grey Cup history. That said, one of the disappointments for me this year was the apparent bias shown all week towards the Riders. When league hired entertainment comes out wearing Rider gear, there is something wrong. All week it was Riders, Riders, Riders and you barely heard a thing about the Alouettes. I don’t think it was deliberate, but the league should do a better job to appear neutral in my opinion.

There were long lines at the venues, making it difficult to plan your day, and cabs were scarce at times, particularly after a storm hit the city on Friday, making the streets slick.

Other than that it was a great week, and it reinforced why I love attending Grey Cup and why I love our league. It brings our country together every year, and in the process creates friendships that last lifetimes. Well done Calgary, and we’ll see all of you in Edmonton next year!

Filed Under: Featured, Grey Cup 2009 Tagged With: Grey Cup 2009

Grey Cup 2009 – Day Two – State Of The League, Tweetup, Lions Den!

November 28, 2009 By Brian Wawryshyn

I am happy to report I am feeling much better than this time yesterday. I am not sure if that’s a good thing party wise, or if yesterday I was just too busy to get into too much trouble!

gc09_day2_sol007 Friday was a busy day, starting with the first ever State Of The League address for the fans. This was an outstanding and ground breaking initiative by the league that had Commissioner Mark Cohon address fans on the state of the CFL in 2009 and field questions from them as well. The one hour event was emceed by Dave Randorf of TSN. Two hundred fans, invited by the league attended and posed some great questions for the commissioner. There were two great video presentations as well. One featuring the best highlights of 2009 and one celebrating the great history of the CFL and Grey Cup week in Canada, that choked a few people up in the crowd. If the event had a fault, it was two short at one hour, but I am sure Mark Cohon is a busy man, and the chance to hear him speak and to ask questions of him was a much appreciated one and from the sounds of it, this will be annual event at Grey Cups going forward. I just have to say, that as far as I am concerned, Mark Cohon is the best commissioner this league has ever had, and his innovative thinking is very refreshing.

stein_tweetupFollowing the event, and a bit to eat it was off to the first ever Grey Cup Tweetup, hosted by Jaime Stein (@jaimestein)of the CFL. Twitter folks like my self gathered at the Unicorn Pub and were treated to appetizers by the league as we put faces to the names of the people we follow, and that follow us on Twitter, which has become one of the most valuable social media tools on the internet. It was great to meet people such as @inthetunnel, @argobeth, @cfl_fan, @ridleyscouting and others. Tad Kornegay (@T2Dak) and Nik Lewis (@nikel18) who had a little “feud” on Twitter also stopped by and had some fun with all the Tweeps. Mark Cohon also attended and you can follow the commissioner on Twitter @canadiancommish.

gc09_day2_Lions_16 After the tweetup, it was off to the Palomino Smokehouse, and the Lions Den party. When we arrived the place was packed. Lots of Lions fans were in attendance, as well as fans from all teams. Owner David Braley, coach Wally Buono, Lui Passaglia and Jamie Taras were there, and downstairs the popular Grey Cup band Two For The Show were keeping the dance floor full. This event is getting more popular year after year, and for that reason the team has decided to hold it over two nights this year. Admission is a reasonable $10.00, and you get a lanyard and a nice pin as well. I would like to see this party grow to the point where it could be hosted in a hotel ball room, as it was in Winnipeg in 2006. It’s always a fun time to get together with so many other Lions fans who come to Grey Cups. It’s like partying with your family! Special thanks to the Lions, and to Jacqueline Blackwell for granting me access to this event!

I ended the night at the Spirit of Edmonton as usual. The room was packed, and at one point the they had to stop letting people in. Legendary Canadian rockers Chilliwack took the stage and belted out hit after hit much to the delight of those in the crowd. I highly recommend that if you’re planning to attend the Spirit party Saturday night, you get there early.

My dogs were barking pretty loudly at me by the end of the night, so I retired for the evening. Today is another busy day, with much to see and do, starting with the Grey Cup parade.

Until the next blog, enjoy some of the sights from yesterday in today’s photo galleries! Adios CFL fans!

State Of The League Address

Lions Den Party

 

Filed Under: Featured, Grey Cup 2009 Tagged With: CFL, Grey Cup 2009, Lions Den, Mark Cohon, Spirit of Edmonton, State of the League, Tweetup

And we’re off! Night one from Grey Cup 2009!

November 27, 2009 By Brian Wawryshyn

Well, here I am in my hotel room, paying for last night’s fun with a heavy head. Cry me a river huh?

Grey Cup 2009 officially kicked off last night and as usual the regulars descended on the spirit of Edmonton for some good old fashioned national party fun. This year the spirit is at my hotel, The Westin. This is the first year I have stayed in the same hotel as the Spirit party, and I have to say, I like it. You pay a bit more but the convenience is outstanding, and this is a great hotel.

The first night at the Spirit is always a reuniting of old friends and a rekindling of the fellowship of CFL fans from coast to coast. All of them here for the same reasons; their love of Canadian football and to party the way only Grey Cup fans can.

If you’re here in Calgary, make sure to get to Spirit this week. There is no cover, and the drinks are reasonably priced at 8 drinks for $40.00. There is food available, and great live bands. Last night the outstanding lovely and talented Samantha King rocked the room, and Friday and Saturday night the band Chilliwack will headline.

The Grey Cup made an appearance, and fans flocked to have their pictures taken with the coveted and treasured trophy of Canadian football.

This morning I am off to the state of the league address with CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon, the first time that fans have been allowed to attend and I am really looking forward to it. Later is the Grey Cup CFL Tweetup and the LIONS DEN!

Until my next blog, here are some pictures from night one!


Filed Under: Featured, Grey Cup 2009 Tagged With: Calgary, Grey Cup 2009, Samantha King, Spirit of Edmonton

The Night Before Take Off.

November 26, 2009 By Brian Wawryshyn

It’s the night before my departure for Grey Cup 2009, and yes it’s like a kid on Christmas Eve. My friend Lori Bursey (@ArgoDiva)  in Toronto recently tweeted that Grey Cup was the “Disneyland for adults” and I can’t think of a better way to describe it. A lot of people that don’t follow the CFL, or who have never been to a Grey Cup, think I’m a little strange. They can’t understand why every year since 2005 I book my holidays in November.

The CFL fan is a unique breed. We’re fiercely loyal to our league and it’s unique rules and format. Because there are only eight teams, rivalries become fierce in short periods of time. But yet every year at Grey Cup the die-hards descend on the host city proudly wearing their team colours, and mingling amongst one another in harmony.

On the night before I leave, I look forward to seeing the familiar faces I have gotten to know over the years, and meeting new ones throughout the week.

This year I have the unique opportunity to blog for CFL.ca. I am excited to help portray the festivities of Grey Cup week through the eyes of the fan (even if the vision might be a little blurred at times). You can keep track of my blogs and updates at http://www.cfl.ca/fanblog and of course here on BCLionsDen.ca and on Twitter by following @BCLionsDen.

But for now, it’s off to bed to TRY and get some rest, because as my friend Linda Edwards in Edmonton would say “I’m too excited to sleeeeep!!!”

Filed Under: Featured, Grey Cup 2009 Tagged With: Grey Cup 2009

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Brian Wawryshyn is 44 year BC Lions fan who extends his passion for the Leos and the Canadian Football League to the podcast world as host and producer of the BCLionsDen.ca Pawdcast.

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