I grew up in Edmonton in the 80’s when it was called the City of Champions. The Oilers were amazing winning 5 Stanley Cups from 1984 to 1990. The Eskimos were no slouches either winning 5 Grey Cups in a row from 1978 to 1982 and another 2 in 87′ and 93′. My Dad would take me to a lot of games and when we couldn’t get tickets we would watch at home (Well he would watch and I would half pay attention and play with my G.I Joes at the same time) To me the CFL was the only football league there was, I didn’t even hear about the NFL until I was teenager. The Eskimos were a big deal in Edmonton when I was a kid, not as big as the Oilers but they were still rock stars and could do no wrong. In high school a former Eskimo player, Pete Lavorato was my high school english teacher and would tell us all these amazing stories. When I got into radio I was able to work for the company that had the broadcast rights to the team and I met the voice of the Eskimo’s Bryan Hall. I did the overnight shift at the country station and he did morning sports at the talk station and we would pass each other in the halls. I didn’t care that he thought my name was Trevor, I worked with the legend Bryan Hall.
My radio career also took me to Saskatchewan, to the Mecca of Canadian football…. Regina. My wife and I moved there in the fall of 2007 right before the Roughriders won their 3rd Grey Cup. I was an Eskimo fan, I hated the Riders… there was no way I was going to cheer for the green and white. Well it took all of 3 weeks before I was hooked. I went to my first game and it was crazy, I never experienced anything like that at Commonwealth Stadium. There was a section in old Mosaic Stadium where people would stand for the entire game. Just about everybody would dress up for the games, even Grandma. If you wore another teams jersey the whole arena would let you know you were not welcome. To this day I still cheer for the Roughriders and the Edmonton Eskimos. I love it when they play each other because I know my team is going to win.
My family and I have now lived in Thunder Bay for a year and I’ve noticed that CFL is not really a big deal here. In fact I don’t know too many folks that even watch it. It makes sense, not having a team here and with a NFL team closer than a CFL team. The playoffs kick off on Sunday with the Division Semifinals. The B.C. Lions head over to Hamilton and my Roughriders host their arch enemies the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Are you going to watch? Are you a CFL fan? Anyone else a Rider fan?
Green is the Colour
Football is the Game
We’re all together
and Winning is our aim
So Cheer us on through the sun and rain
Saskatchewan Roughriders is our name
Verse 1
Let’s show our pride in the Green & White
We will fight, Green & White
Sing loud and clear till the game is won
The best is yet to come
Chorus
Green is the Colour
Football is the Game
We’re all together
and Winning is our aim
So Cheer us on through the sun and rain
Saskatchewan Roughriders is our name
Verse 2
Here at Taylor Field we are Number one
We’re the best; East or West
We’ll give our all till the game is done
Stand up and sing everyone….Hey !
Chorus (twice)
Green is the Colour
Football is the Game
We’re all together
and Winning is our aim
So Cheer us on through the sun and rain
Saskatchewan Roughriders is our name
Every Good Rider fan needs a pair of these socks
Go Riders!!!!